The Winter KraftBrew Fest brought a capacity crowd and long lines around the block at San Jose’s Landmark Ballroom on Saturday. Attendees tried specialty brews from several Bay Area Breweries and regional brewers that offering 8oz and 4oz samples. Metro photographer Jennifer Anderson was on hand to catch the action.

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One might expect that the accordian is a dying art, or even be cheering its demise. But there’s a player from the Bay Area who’s earning comparisons to the squeezebox greats—and not only that, but his inventive, fiery style is enough to get even the haters pumped about the accordian. He’s Andre Thierry, who headlines the Winter Kraftbrew Beer Fest 2012 in San Jose on Saturday.

The story goes that when Thierry was only three years old, the “King of Zydeco” Clifton Chenier predicted that he’d grow up to be a great accordian player. His parents could have chosen exorcism, but instead they let him keep the accordian given to him at a young age by Billy Wilson, and he was performing “Give ‘Em Cornbread” in his grandparent’s house not long after.

By age 12, he’d formed his own band, which he still plays with today. Thierry’s furious brand of zydeco emphasizes the music’s connection to reggae, ska, and a whole spectrum of other influences.

The Winter Kraftbrew Beer Fest 2012 will be held at the Landmark Ballroom Saturday from 3pm-9pm, with the Kavanaugh Brothers and the Pimpsticks opening.