Video 1: Texas Folklife Organization Overview

Video 2: Accordion Kings & Queens (AKQ) showcases the incredible musical diversity of Texas accordion styles, featuring legends of conjunto, polka, country western, zydeco, Cajun, and more. Accordion Kings & Queens draws an over-average crowd of over 4,000 annually to Houston’s Miller Outdoor Theatre. The event celebrates the cultural diversity of Texas by bringing communities together for an evening of dancing and roots music played on the accordion.

The 33rd Annual Accordion Kings & Queens took place on June 4th, 2022. Featuring performances from Las Fenix, RJ & Kreole Smoove, Cameron Dupuy & the Cajun Troubadours, and the 2022 Big Squeeze Champions. Watch the full show on the Texas Folklife YouTube Channel.

Texas Folklife returns to Miller Outdoor Theatre during its 100th Anniversary Season with the 34th annual Accordion Kings and Queens (AKQ) music festival on Saturday, June 3, 2023 from 7 to 10:PM. Featured on the program are Cedric Watson et Bijou Creole; Grupo Imagen; and Alex Meixner Band. Guest performers include Texas Folklife’s 2023 Big Squeeze statewide youth accordion contest champions. 

The Grand Prize Winners of Texas Folklife’s 2023 Big Squeeze Statewide Youth Accordion Contest Champions are:
Polka: John Hickl, 22, Elmaton, TX
Conjunto 16 & Under: Giovani Guerrero, 15, Mission, TX
Conjunto 17-21: Anthony Ortiz Jr
Grand Prize: Eligio Martinez, 20, San Benito, TX

The show will be simultaneously live streamed via Facebook. As always, admission is free and open to all at Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, 77030. Tickets for advanced assigned seating are available exclusively to Texas Folklife members. Free tickets are available on a first-come-first-served basis at the Miller Outdoor Theatre website the day before the performance at 10:00am.

Accordionist Performers include:
Cedric Watson et Bijou Creole: One of the brightest young talents to emerge in Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco (Louisiana French) music over the last decade, Cedric Watson is a four-time Grammy-nominated fiddler, singer, accordionist, and songwriter. Originally from San Felipe, TX, Watson has performed French music in 17 countries and on 7 full-length albums with various renowned groups, including the Pine Leaf Boys, Corey Ledet, and Les Amis Creole with Ed Poullard. Watson’s albums are a tapestry of pulsing rhythms and Creole poetry, and his live performances are unforgettable, at once progressive and nostalgic.

Grupo Imagen: Grupo Imagen is a Tejano-Conjunto band based out of Corpus Christi, TX. The 2015 recipient of the Tejano Music Awards Best New Group category, Grupo Imagen performs across Texas and has recorded three studio albums, performing primarily their own original compositions. The band is fronted by accordionist Silvia Navarro and vocalist Lorissa Chapa and continues to break barriers in the industry in their commitment to centering Tejana voices in their projects.



Alex Meixner Band: Alex Meixner is a nationally acclaimed musician, performer, bandleader, educator, and a leading advocate of polka music. Formally trained in classical, jazz, and ethnic music, Meixner has cross-pollinated his versatile playing styles through pop music, funk, jazz, and polka. He is an active ambassador for polka music. Meixner is on a mission to provide a much-needed positive experience that pulls communities together to celebrate history, culture, and genuinely good times.

“No other event celebrates the legacy and lasting impact of Texas accordion music traditions like AKQ, and no other venue creates a vibrant atmosphere for this music and our diverse audience more than the Miller Outdoor Theatre,” said Charlie Lockwood, Texas Folklife Executive Director. “We look forward to a night of amazing accordion performances and dancing, and we hope to see you there!”  

Media & Program Contact: 
Charlie Lockwood, Executive Director
(512) 441-9255; akq@texasfolklife.org

About Accordion Kings and Queens: Accordion Kings & Queens has showcased the extraordinary accordion music of Texas at Houston’s Miller Outdoor Theatre since 1990. The event celebrates the cultural diversity of Texas by bringing communities together for an evening of dancing and roots music played on the accordion. 

Accordion Kings and Queens is supported by the Board and Members of Texas Folklife and the City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board. Additional sponsorships and support provided by Texas Commission on the Arts, The Morales Memorial Foundation,  Capital Group, AARP Houston, Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids, Hohner Accordions, Restoration 1, Raven Grill, Que Onda Magazine, and many other community partners. Please reach out to sponsorship contact above for more information on sponsorship opportunities.

About Texas Folklife: Texas Folklife (TXF) is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to presenting and preserving the diverse cultures and living heritage of the Lone Star State. TXF is designated by the National Endowment for the Arts as the official folk and traditional arts organization for the state. Since 1984, TXF has honored traditions passed down within communities, explored the importance of traditional arts in contemporary society, and celebrated the state’s vibrant heritage by providing arts experiences enjoyable for all generations.