These guys make me grin….

From Wikipedia:

Fogo Island is also home to the island’s one and only ‘Fogo Island Accordion Group’, which started up in the 1990s with 5 girls from the fogo island central academy with one of the islands teacher’s ‘Gerald Freake’. The group has been recognized by various communities, the province of Newfoundland & Labrador, not only for their talent, but their motto ‘keeping tradition alive’ and traveling the country, coast to coast, bringing Newfoundland music to many provinces as well as recording 5+ CD’s and 3 videos.

The Fogo Island accordion group has been separated since 2001 since they’ve graduated from high school and moved on with their lives, spreading throughout Canada, getting jobs, but still playing their button accordions. They came together once again in 2006 for a reunion on Fogo island, and was approached by CBC (Canadian Broadcast Company) – Land & Sea, Where they did a 1 hour long show, telling their stories, playing the accordion, and keeping tradition alive once again.

Members Of The Fogo Island Accordion Group: – Gerald Freake (Teacher, Group Manager, Guitarist) – Melanie Penton (Accordion Player) – Heather Penton (Accordion Player, Vocals) – Angie Penton (Accordion Player) – Serena Adams (Accordion Player) – Jennifer Furlong (Accordion Player, Lead Vocals) – Jamie Hancock (Guitarist, Vocals)

Various members of the past group still perform at both the brimstone head festivals and Ethridge point festival, Jamie Hancock who is seen ever year playing in Joe batt’s arm with another band which he is apart of, as well as Melanie penton who still lives on the island, and has played with her cousin who is also an accordionist.