POLKAS FOR CHARITY – POLKA FEVER
A CD to benefit St Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Available at the festival!
CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE DETAILS!
FRIDAY EVE -
MARCH 27TH
7:30pm-12am
$12 Door/$10 Advance
Full Circle
featuring Polka Hall of famers, Lenny Gomulka, Jimmy Weber and Al Piatkowski,
along with Mike Stapinski, Roger Malinowski, and Mike Matousek
DyVersaCo plays a wide variety of music from polkas, waltzes, and schottisches to cajun and country.
Craig Ebel plays concertina with DyVersaCo and is the band's leader. Craig has been involved in music all his life with his mother, LaVay, singing and playing guitar in country western bands and his father, Elhart, building and operating the Bel-Rae Ballroom from 1964 to 1971. The Bel-Rae became one of the most popular dance spots in the upper Midwest and a great influence on Craig's musical career, which has spanned over 30 years. Craig has played drums, concertina, and keyboard in all styles of music including rock, country, big band, and polka. He has performed with "America's Polka King" Frank Yankovic, Grammy Award Winner Walter Ostanek, Myron Floren, Dick Contino, Karl & The Country Dutchmen, Roger Bright, Joey Miskulin, and countless others. Craig is also the host of "It's Polka Time!" a syndicated radio show heard across the United States and over the Internet. His knowledge of the music makes him the perfect person to front the band. The musicians who make up DyVersaCo have quite the experience of performing in not only different types of music, but also in different styles of polka music. Polka music is just that - polka music!! Division based upon ethnic backgrounds only stands to weaken the polka music industry. Therefore, DyVersaCo urges you to support all styles of polka music. Whether you listen to it on the radio or regularly go polka dancing, promote the music proudly and encourage others to do the same.1pm-12am
$16 Door/$14 Advance
(1pm-6pm only $12/$10 Advance)
Minnesota State Amateur Old Tyme Waltz Championships
Minnesota State Amateur (Standard)
Polka Dance Championships (Adult Divisions)
The Bill Koncar Band (MN) AFTERNOON
at Gasthof zur Gemutlichkeit (Minneapolis, MN) Bayrischer Hof Bavarian Restaurant (Montrose, MN),
Winzer Stube German Restaurant (Hudson, Wisconsin), Hessen Haus (Des Moines, Iowa) and various
other public & private events and parties including the Minnesota State Fair.
The Bill Koncar Band plays a variety of music including polkas, waltzes, fox trots, swing, Latin rhythms
(including rhumbas, cha chas, tangos & sambas), and classic rock & pop tunes.
The Versatones classic six piece format and multi-influential roots have developed from a mixture of past Rock & Roll experience, Country & Western, Cajun, and Tex-Mex music. But it’s the progressive sound which the Versatones have achieved with their six pieces which has modernized polka music. Heralded as “today’s true alternative dance music”, this is no longer your grandparents’ polka!
Born in 1967, Eddie Blazonczyk Jr. was raised in the music industry. Obviously influenced by his father’s career, he followed in his footsteps playing polka music and by 1989 he was touring with the Versatones as well. In 1997, after playing and singing alongside his father the previous 8 years, Eddie Blazonczyk Jr. took over the operations of the Versatones. In 2002, Eddie Blazonczyk Sr. retired from the band due to health reasons. The following year, Eddie Jr. and the Versatones received their 14th Grammy nomination for their recording “My Father’s Shoes”. Today Eddie Jr. and the Versatones proudly carry on a legacy started over 40 years ago on the South Side of Chicago, the evolution and advancement of polka music and their heritage. To see Eddie Blazonczyk’s Versatones perform “live”, you will truly understand why they have been proclaimed the Nations #1 Polka Band!
featuring Polka Hall of famers, Lenny Gomulka, Jimmy Weber and Al Piatkowski,
along with Mike Stapinski, Roger Malinowski, and Mike Matousek
Full Circle's mission is to celebrate and perform some popular styles from the past that are seldom
played or heard anymore. In life and in music, certain things we experience have "Gone Full Circle."
As it was so eloquently stated by a fellow cruiser, "Old friends singing the songs of old friends."
Members of the Full Circle band are: IPA Hall of Famers Lenny Gomulka (MA), Jimmy Weber (NJ),
Al Piatkowski (NY) and Mike Matousek (MD) along with Mike Stapinski (IL) and Roger Malinowski (IL).
Click here to view polka videos of the Full Circle polka band. Click here to listen to live Full
Circle polka music. Click here to read the bands biography.
** Please note: Several of our web pages launch a short live polka music clip when opened.
SUNDAY - MARCH 30TH
1pm-7:30pm
$15 Door/$13 Advance
Minnesota State Amateur Hop-Polka Dance Championships
(Open and Jr. Divisions)
Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones (IL)
& Stephanie (Buffalo, NY)
and "Her Honky Polka Band"
America's Polka Sweetheart!
Junior Division and Open Divisions - Hop Polka
Open Division - Standard Polka and Waltz
Cash/Trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in Open Divisions
Junior Division Prizes - Trophies
3-Day Pass $38/$35 Advance
Children 12 and under free, must be accompanied by an adult. All advanced tickets must be purchased at least 1 week prior to event. Group rates available. Online tickets available and www.medinaentertainment.com (extra fees may apply) or mail check or money order to
MN State Polka Festival PO Box 65833 St. Paul, MN 55165
(For more info call Julianne @ 651-260-6600 / 888-682-2283 or email info@mnstatepolkafestival.com).
The Medina Inn Web Site
The Medina Inn is located right next door to
The Medina Entertainment Center.
Call 763-478-9770 or 1-800-643-9211
for information and rates
The Comfort Inn Web Site
Axel's Bonfire Web Site
3000 Harbor Lane, Plymouth, MN, 55447
Phone: (763) 559-1222 Fax: (763) 559-7819
Preferred Hotel accommodations:
Red Roof Inn Web Site
2500Annapolis Lane, Plymouth, MN 55441
763-553-1751 (SE Corner of Hwy 494 and Hwy 55)
MENTION THIS EVENT AND RECEIVE 15%
OFF ROOM RATE!