Thank you to Dan Grauman for providing the two videos above.

The Reading Liederkranz hosted the second annual Button Box Festival on September 2-3, 2017, which was well received by an appreciative crowd.

The festival, organized by Cody McSherry and his parents along with the Reading Liederkranz, brought together five of the best button box players from across the United States along with several very talented side musicians.

The button box players were Frank Vidergar, Jr. from Colorado, William Hayes from Virginia, Ron Pivovar from Pennsylvania, David Bey from North Carolina, and Cody McSherry from Pennsylvania. Hurricane remnants forced the festival indoors, but did not dampen the festive mood of the musicians and audience.

The button box players rotated through half hour sets accompanied by side musicians on bass, drums, keyboard, and even banjo-ukulele. Authentic German food was available for purchase throughout the event, and dancers enjoyed the opportunity to dance to live German and Slovenian polkas and waltzes.

The 2018 Button Box Festival is already in the works, so mark your calendars for Labor Day weekend next year.

Picture below: (l to r) David Bey, William Hayes, Ed Wasacz (bass), Cody McSherry, Jim Martin (drums), Ron Pivovar (guitar), Frank Vidergar, Jr.