Accordion to Whom?

Whelan is optimistic that this will eventually be the case in his adopted homeland. But until that fine day, he hopes that his troupe (which is supplemented by guitarist and bouzouki ace Robin Bullock, a member of Whelan's New York-based band who's the lone American on the jaunt) will be able to convince people that the belly-bellows can do more than either Myron Floren or "Weird" Al Yankovic ever imagined. In his view, musicians may think they're being rebels when they're playing Les Pauls through Marshall stacks, but they're actually conforming. "To do it with an accordion, though--that's something else."

Once Upon an Accordion, with John Whelan, Daniel Thonon, Chris Parkinson and Robin Bullock. 8 p.m. Friday, January 23, Cameron Church, 1600 South Pearl Street, $15, 830-TIXS; group rate available at 777-0502.