On the weekend of October 25th, the Slovene Club in Fontana staged an Oktoberfest with a Slovenian band, the Alpen Vagabund performing. The band had just spent 3 weeks performing in Leavenworth, Washington, where 4 bands perform in 4 different halls simultaneously over each weekend. They had one more week of work and then they …
On Sunday afternoon October 5 the masses assembled at the Oakland Nature Friends (NF) club for Oktoberfest with the Bajuk Trio performing. The club occupies 3 acres studded with oak and eucalyptus trees in the Oakland foothills overlooking the San Francisco Bay with a clubhouse & kitchen, outside dance floor with picnic area and biergarten. …
On the weekend of September 27, Jimmy K & the Ethnic Jazz performed at the Sons of Italy Hall in Fontana, Ca. Gail & I joined Gene Swick, a long-time polka promoter on the west coast, to bring Polish bands out west. We bring bands into Fontana, California and Phoenix, Arizona during the season. I …
The Moose Lodge in Sonoma staged a two day Oktoberfest the weekend of September 20. On Saturday Polka Power and the Bajuk Trio alternated shifts from noon thru 8pm. And on Sunday Showcase performed in the evening. We attended on Saturday, unable to join the crowd on Sunday. Traffic in the California metropolitan areas is …
The 4-day Oktoberfest in Mount Angel, Oregon was held September 11-14. This event has been staged for 49 years and draws the largest crowds of any Oktoberfest on the west coast. They report that over 300 thousand people attended. The small town of Mt. Angel is virtually closed off for 4 days for the fest. …
On Sunday August 3 the Steve Balich Band performed in the afternoon at Swiss Park in Newark. Steve Balich Sr. is recovering from surgery, so Steve Jr. (aka Stevie) will play solo accordion until his dad is back on his feet and can rejoin him. Stevie did a fantastic job, backed up by Art Wood …
On August 2 Lydia Katchmar celebrated her 80th birthday by throwing a spectacular party at the Moose Lodge in Vallejo. Lydia was resplendent in her red dress with Sam on her arm in his formal suit looking very gallant. Sam and Lydia hosted over 100 people with a marvelous dinner and dancing to music provided …
Lydia Katchmar Celebrated 80th Birthday In Style Read More »
The Sonoma Moose stage a polka dance every Sunday from 4pm to 8pm and on July 27 Polka Power performed. The Sonoma-Napa area is famous for its wines and those grapes love the hot days and cool nights. The lodge is not air conditioned, but a cross draft helps to make the hall tolerable for …
On July 19, Polka Tom Haslett, who broadcasts on KCAA 1050 AM from Loma Linda on Saturday mornings and 247PolkaHeaven, threw another wingding party at his home in Escondido, California which is 40 miles north of the Mexican border. This is Tom’s second annual polka party – it takes at least 2 parties to enter …
During the summer, the Baumann family, who own and operate Teske’s Germania Restaurant in San Jose, provide polka music in the outside dining patio a couple of times each month. On June 7th the Internationals performed. The group formed in college at Chico State University over 40 years ago and learned their German music by …
Internationals At Teske’s In San Jose – June 7th Read More »
