Celebrate with Accordion Stars in Vegas

The 16th Annual Las Vegas International Accordion Convention will be held June 22-25, 2015, at the Gold Coast Hotel located at 4000 West Flamingo Blvd., in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Sponsored by Accordions International, this year celebrates the return to a summer event with the theme “Summer Solstice.”  Notable this year is nearly a complete new lineup of accordion stars!

Two-time Grammy winner Riders in the Sky (Nashville, TN) is set to open the event on Monday evening, June 22.  Grayson Masefield (Zurich, Switzerland), five-time world champion and the only person to have won both the Virtuoso and Entertainment categories of the prestigious Accordion Coupe Mondiale (CIA) will be performing Tuesday evening.  Also set for Tuesday evening, Mary Tokarski (Northford, CT), Accordions International 2015 Honorary Director will be performing.  The famous group EUROPA (Orlando, FL) will be performing Wednesday evening plus the legendary Joey Miskulin will appear.  Thursday evening will feature the 8th installment of the Las Vegas International Accordion Orchestra under the direction of the esteemed Joan Cochran Sommers. 

Completing the lineup of stars are Paul Betken (Phoenix, AZ), Jerry Cigler (Chicago, IL), Gina Brannelli, Gordon Kohl, Stas Venglevski, plus Vegas comedian Pete Barbutti!  There will be dancing Wednesday night to Europa. 

Registration fee for the event includes 7 superb Las Vegas banquet meals with concerts plus over 40 workshops and master classes taught by top experts.

Visit AccordionStars.com for complete pricing options, or contact the Las Vegas International Accordion Convention at +1 801-486-1695 for personal assistance. 

Garrett Neubauer: Polka Accordion King

By Gary E. McKee

Garrett on the farm in Altair

Audience of one

Time out for fishing

His dad, Daryl, shown in photo, would be proud

Performing with Mark Halata

CZs Brian Klekar is a mentor

Student and teacher Mark Hermes

Performing at 2014 Accordion Kings & Queens Festival

Garrett with J&S Playboys

After his big win in Austin

For almost a decade, Texas Folklife has been hosting a Big Squeeze accordion competition spotlighting young accordionists across Texas. The competition in 2014 marked the first time that grand prize winners would be selected in three categories – polka, conjunto and Cajun/zydeco. Big Squeeze winner in the polka category was Garrett Lee Neubauer of Altair. Garrett has been playing accordion since the age of 12. When his father, Daryl, passed away prematurely, he felt that the best way to honor him would be to pick up his father’s accordion and learn how to play it. His father had been an accordionist in the Tony Janak Polka Band. Between managing a rice farm, and playing, Daryl took time to guide a young Mark Hermes (of the Czechaholics) on the art of playing accordion. When Garrett made his decision, Mark returned the family favor by showing him around the keys of Darryl’s accordion, which had once belonged to Bobby Jones. Lawrence Ruether, Garrett’s grandpa, also played the accordion and taught him some songs. As Garrett’s skill increased, other members of the Czechaholics, Brian Klekar and Greg and Brian Svetlik mentored Garrett on the intricacies of music and performing. I remember going backstage several years ago at a Czechaholics gig at SPJST Lodge 88 in Houston and finding Garrett playing along while behind the curtains, learning the songs.

Down by the Pond    
Down a sandy country road that leads to a lush, serene oak grove that Garrett calls home, he would spend evenings practicing while sitting in the yard or out by the stock pond. He has ample time for this as he works in the maintenance department at Rice School district just five minutes away. Both he and his dad graduated from there. His neighbors, Gladys and Joe Salinas, big polka fans, would enjoy the notes floating across the cow pasture in the evenings.

As Garrett’s confidence and licks improved through the many hours of practice, he was asked more frequently to sit in with the Czechaholics and Texavia. The Tony Janak Polka Band has reformed as the J & S Playboys, and Garrett sits in occasionally to fill his father’s shoes. Though he loves playing all genres of music his favorite is the Czech polkas and waltzes that he grew up listening to his father play.

His desire to learn more about the unique instrument grew and now he owns four keyboard and two button accordions including the one he won at the Big Squeeze competition. In case anyone stops by and wants to jam, Garrett also owns an electric bass guitar, a keyboard, an electric six-string guitar and a set of drums. The six-string guitar is what he spends more time on now as he is still in the learning stage.

Big City Venues
The Big Squeeze competition broadened Garrett’s horizon as he went from playing the smaller Central Texas venues to performing at the Bob Bullock Texas History Museum in Austin and then in front of thousands of people at the Miller Outdoor Theatre in Houston at the annual Accordion Kings & Queens event. The large audience did not intimidate him. “I just got up there and did what had to be done.” The competition gave him a chance to see and talk to outstanding accordionists his own age playing Cajun and conjunto styles. The 2015 Big Squeeze performance will give Garrett a chance to perform once again at the big venues and to turn over his title as Accordion King to a new young performer. Garrett has some advice for those novices: “The accordion is a difficult instrument to play and the only way to master it is to practice, practice, practice.”

The Texas Dream Band, a country/polka band out of Hallettsville is Garrett’s regular gig now, playing keyboards and accordion in this band composed of the offspring of other country/polka musicians. But whenever he isn’t playing with Texas Dream, Garrett can be found with his accordions ready to take the stage wherever polka is happening. There is no doubt that his father would have been proud.

[Editor’s note: Garrett Neubauer performed at the 2015 Big Squeeze Finals on April 25 in Austin, where Brandon Hodde of Holland, TX, was crowned the new polka accordion king. Both will perform at the 26th Annual Accordion Kings & Queens event on Saturday, June 6, at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Houston.]

Vernon Drozd: Reflecting on God's Gift

By Gary E. McKee

“God gives you a gift, but you have to learn to use it,” was Vernon Drozd’s words to live by, and live by it he did from a very early age. Growing up on the family farm in Moravia, where he picked cotton across the fence from TPN founder, Julius Tupa, Vernon could not wait to get home from the fields to practice the clarinet that his dad had borrowed from neighbor Donnie Wangler. Later, when there must have been a good cotton crop, Vernon’s father bought him his own clarinet from Herbert Kloesel for $144.50. Herbert operated Herbert’s Swing Inn in downtown Schulenburg, a combination music store and drinking establishment. In Hallettsville High School, Vernon spent two to three hours a day rehearsing and then after the chores were finished he would play scales for up to two hours every night.

The practice paid off with Vernon landing his first paid gig at the age of 15 with the Joe Fajkus Polka Band from Praha. Vernon’s education on the realities of the music business was formed with the Fajkus Band when they played a venue in San Antonio for four hours and then were told that the club didn’t make enough to pay them. Joe Fajkus attempted to get gas money from the promoter but was turned down.

Joe Patek Was a Fave
Sitting in a wheel chair in his room at the Monument Hill Rehabilitation Center surrounded by likenesses of Elvis, Jesus and his son Steve, Vernon reminisced about the thousands of hours on stage and even more thousands going to and returning from gigs. As this veteran musician, whose longish graying hair was swept back, possibly denoting a former D.A. style (1950s), he sadly kept looking at his hands. The fingers that once played Yakety Sax better than Boots Randolph, are now victims of arthritis, which has robbed this 76-year-old man of using his God-given talent of playing saxophone. (He still keeps his favorite sax in his room.) Vernon comments, “My fingers have become like sandpaper.” (They are no longer worn smooth from pressing the keys millions of times.)

Over the decades, since his first gig in 1944, Vernon has shared the stage with many prominent musicians. The list is long, but his two favorites are Joe Patek (three years), and Johnny Bush, which led him to backing up Willie Nelson. Ray Krenek, Henry Brosch and Gil Baca also had Vernon’s sax and clarinet sweetening the sound. During the 1970s, Vernon fronted his own band called The Texas Brass, which had two saxes, two trumpets, bass, drums and guitars playing country and polkas with a passion.

When asked whom he had wished he had performed with, Vernon motioned towards the large Elvis artwork on the wall, and then thought, and lamented that he never got to play with Merle Haggard.

Curly Long and the Wild Ones with Texas Brass members Vernon Drozd (left) and Brian McWhirter (center).

Texas Brass

Gil Baca Band

Vernon Drozd (center)

Gil Baca Band

American Folklife Festival in Washington D.C. 1967

1969 Album

Re-released as 40th Anniversary CD in 2009

Taylor Crowds Were Great
The SPJST upstairs hall in Taylor was one of Vernon’s favorite places to play, as the acoustics were great and the 600+ crowds kept the dance floor full, and ensured a payday at the end of the night.

His first venture into the recording studio was in 1958, with Ed Copeland producing the Joe Patek Band. Vernon’s respected reputation as a sideman also meant he was featured on dozens of other recordings.

Vernon’s legacy is carried on in the form of his son, Steven. Steven began playing drums at the age of 10 and later graduated to playing honky-tonk piano in various bands in Houston. Steven then made the leap to the big time when he joined the Flaming Lips, a progressive rock band that has won seven Grammy Awards and has an international following. As a guest at an Oklahoma university music class, Steven credited his dad with instilling the love of music at an early age: “Polkas and waltzes are all I remember hearing at an early age…One night, when I was fifteen, the phone rang, and it was Dad, he told me his drummer didn’t show up, and to pack my drums in the car and have my stepmom drive me to some VFW in Houston. That was my first paying gig, and I got $50, which bought a lot of candy and cool clothing.”

'Ahead of Their Time'
Vernon Drozd and the Texas Brass has been digitized and made available over the Internet as a 40th Anniversary Release. The album features Vernon, Gene Lichnovsky, Brian McWhirter, Johnnie Voldan, Jimmy Ryza and Otis Pitts as primary musicians; with Sonny Hall, Norman Barnes, Tom Martin, Eddie and Jimmy Copeland, sitting in on various tracks. The album notes proclaim: “Recognized as ‘ahead of their time’ in the world of polka, Vernon Drozd and the Texas Brass energized polka music by mixing a bit of big band swing, a touch of south Texas country and western, a little rockabilly, and a whole lot of Czech polka.” This band tears through songs such as: The Clarinet Polka, Moravia Waltz, Take Me Back to Bohemia and Three Yanks to name a few.”

Vernon Drozd, the man who amazed crowd by playing three saxophones at once, is living proof that practice and dedication rewards those who recognize God’s gifts and shares them with the world.

Weimary Wonderfest Set for Dec. 6

By Theresa Parker

Originally appeared in November 2014 issue of Texas Polka News.

Patrick and Sue Gibson

The land around Weimar, where I spent many a summer vacation on my grandpa’s farm, has always been known for the three Cs – cotton, corn and cattle. Imagine my surprise when I learned the land is also good for growing grapes. It kind of took Patrick and Sue Gibson by surprise, too.  
         “Sometimes life gives you a direction to follow that is not a part of your plans. When we purchased the land, we certainly did not expect to be establishing a vineyard and tasting room! One thing led to another, ideas were tossed about, and when mixed with a passion for working the land and great wine, this turned into our happy accident.”
          The Gibsons planted vines in 2009, and now have a little over four acres of Blanc du Bois and Lenoir (Black Spanish) - roughly 3,000 vines- and boast 13 labels and counting at The Weimary on Sedan Road!
          Originally from El Paso, Patrick and Sue had lived in Austin for 39 years until he came to live in the farmhouse at the vineyard full time a while back to tend to the farm. They now have a house in Weimar, and while Sue still occasionally commutes to Austin for work, they are loving small town life! 
          You know the wine is going to be good because Patrick tends to the vines and grapes with the lively sounds of polka music floating through the vineyard. “We even play polka during our volunteer harvest to keep it fun. Lindsi (Graham), our Operations Manager, grew up watching polka with her father every Saturday morning, so she gets a kick out of it as well,” Sue said. The Ennis Czech Boys will be providing some live polka music at the Weimary’s Wonderfest on Saturday, Dec. 6.
         The Gibsons found a unique way to tie in family to the labor of love in producing the wines.  All the labels on the wine bottles feature vintage photos of family members or those who have direct ties to the land itself. “Not only are the pictures gorgeous, but they each tell a story and are a great way to keep their legacies alive,” Sue said. “It is such fun to explain the labels during our tastings and see our guests’ faces light up as they share in our stories.”
          So which wines would they recommend for a polka party to go with sausage and sauerkraut? “For a fabulous polka pairing, you can go red or white,” Sue said. “This food combination has beautiful, bold tastes that go well with medium to full-bodied wines with plenty of flavor. “For the whites, our Fred and Frieda, a Blanc du Bois done in a Riesling style, would be lovely with the sauerkraut. Our Silk Stocking, a semi-sweet Blanc du Bois reminiscent of a Pinot Grigio, would pair with the sauerkraut or spicy sausage. “If you are a red fan, our Texas Merlot, The Competition (which is lighter), or Strong Arm Jack (our full-bodied Petite Sirah) would both perfectly accompany a good sausage.” 

SqueezeBox Farewell Tour Includes Texas

By Theresa Parker

I think I speak for all Texans in wishing Ted and Mollie the best and know that they will be successful in whatever direction life leads them. Photo by Mark Hiebert.

Mollie B and Ted Lange will waltz across Texas one last time as the band SqueezeBox Jan. 15-18. They start with a dance in Hallettsville on Jan. 15, then visit the snowbirds at the Mission Bell RV Resort in South Texas on the 16th. They head north to Granger on the 17th, then end their tour in Houston on the 18th.

The tour will be bittersweet for the band and their fans. Mollie and Ted announced in August that they will no longer be performing together after the Southern Tour ends Feb.1 in Holiday, Florida. They have taken on one engagement in Georgia after February, but as of now, that is the only performance they are doing together. 

SqueezeBox began in the late 1990s as the Bratwurst Boys, which was a spin-off band consisting of members of the Grammy-nominated Toledo Polkamotion. In 2005, band members were Ted Lange on accordion/bass and vocals, Dave Burner on drums and vocals and Ted’s mother, Betty Lange, on second accordion.

Mollie Busta added her talents in 2006, and in 2007, they changed the name to SqueezeBox. “It has been quite a journey,” Mollie says. “Starting with 10 gigs a year and building up to 100-plus gigs in 20-plus states each year has been exciting and rewarding.”

Ted agrees. “We have met some of the greatest people all over the U.S., and it has provided us with many great memories!”  

He says the band’s success was a musician’s dream. “I’m still in awe when I look at what we have achieved. I’ve also been blessed to work with other great musicians who have performed with us through the years, and of course, my wife, Mollie, who is one of the hardest working and most talented people I know,” he adds.  

“SqueezeBox did not fit the mold of the average polka band, which can make it a little harder to be accepted,” Mollie says. “That was NOT the case in Texas. We were not only accepted, we were embraced. Texans sure know how to make a Northern girl feel loved.” 

At the present moment, it is not clear exactly what will happen to Squeezebox . Mollie intends to keep the Mollie B Polka Party going on RFD-TV and will resume performing again. “I just don’t know with who, when or where, but hopefully I will have performances in Texas again,” Mollie says. No word yet on Polka Party taping locales for the future.

Ted says it’s time for a break. “We’ve been working at a break-neck pace for the past four-plus years, and that takes its toll physically and mentally when you’re running your own business, and trying to balance that with family time and everything else that life throws your way,” he says. “I intend to take several months off to reorganize and work on some other projects. Beyond that, I know that I will be performing in some capacity.” 

Ted has not ruled out a return for SqueezeBox. “Maybe after some time off we’ll be prepared to pursue our performing careers together again, but I also have not ruled out forming a new band or bands and moving forward from where SqueezeBox left off.”  

Mollie says she’s taking things a day at a time. “The uncertainty of the future is a little uneasy, but I keep reminding myself, God’s got this,” she says. “I wish continued success for all polka bands and for Ted. And to all you polka fans, keep the support coming for the polka music and bring your friends out to dances. Polkas are alive and well in Texas. Keep them that way!”

New Release: Fritz Hodde and the Fabulous Six

Fritz and the Fab Six Continue the Journey

By Theresa Parker

Fritz and the boys celebrated the band's 50th anniversary with a party at SPJST Lodge 18 in Elgin in September 2013, and just recently released a CD – Fritz Hodde’s 50-Year Journey with The Fabulous Six. The band chose the songs to record based on what their fans request the most at dances.  “While it’s difficult to record all songs requested on one CD, we recorded a few on this CD and will select others on the next CD.  We do try to record new songs for each CD, as well, in hopes that they might become synonymous with our group’s name.  Others may have recorded the same song, but we hope that people might like our rendition of ‘The Fabulous Six’ style,” Fritz says.

Fritz is the only original band member still playing after 51 years. His son, Scott, joined in 1984. Russell Kalkbrenner became a member in 2002; Scott’s son, Brandon, in 2005, and Gary Greener, joined the group as the drummer last year although he sat in on occasion for about four years. Gary is also a good dancer, as he and his fiancé, Kara Walker, were voted King and Queen of this year’s National Polka Festival in Ennis.

Although the group numbers five, they decided to keep the Fabulous Six name to honor those who have gone before them. 

“After losing many band members over the years, we decided we wanted to continue with our trademark, the original name The Fabulous Six,” Fritz says.

One band member they’ll never forget is George Strmiska. George played for years with the Vrazels then became one of the Fabulous Six, playing from 1998 to 2002. George passed away in 2003. “One of the songs chosen for this CD - I Told a Lie to My Heart - is dedicated to George.  His guitar playing was remarkable and Brandon, following in George’s footsteps and loving George’s musical ability while playing guitar, did a great job emulating George’s unique style on this song,” Fritz says.

Fritz is happy that his son and grandson are continuing the polka band tradition. “Not only do they exceed my musical ability with all of the instruments they play, but both have excelled in the pronunciation of the Czech language and we couldn’t be more proud. I respect and admire their many talents and I’m proud and honored to share the stage with them,” he says. 

Brandon has also produced his own CD – All By Myself (A JA SAM) – in which he plays and sings all parts. He has also gotten some of his polka buddies together to form a new band - The All Around Czechs. Their debut performance is set for Saturday, December 13, at Sefcik Hall in Temple.

Over the years of performing, Fritz has noticed the generation gap among the dancers widening. “But we are very proud to see the younger generation’s involvement of late to help carry on the polka tradition.” 

One thing that hasn’t changed are the band’s fans, he says. “We have maintained quite a few loyal followers over the years that have always been there for us and we are proud to call them friends.” 

Fritz Hodde and the Fabulous 6
Fritz Hodde’s 50-Year Journey with the Fabulous Six
15 tracks: 6 polkas, 5 waltzes, 4 country
Polkabeat faves: Who’s Gonna Love You Polka, Grinders Polka, Katherine’s Waltz, I Told a Lie to My Heart

Brandon Hodde All By Myself (A Ja Sam)
15 tracks: 8 polkas, 6 waltzes, 1 country
Polkabeat faves: A Ja Sam, El Golpe Traidor, Isabella Waltz

Available: Polka On! Store

Polkabeat Buys Texas Polka News; Publishing to Resume in September

Polkabeat Inc. has purchased the Texas Polka News.  The transaction was completed on July 26 and the first issue under the new publisher, Theresa Cernoch Parker, is expected in September. 

The newspaper was started 26 years ago by musician and polka promoter Julius Tupa of Houston as a way to provide dance enthusiasts with a monthly schedule of events and the latest news of the Texas music scene.

When Julius Tupa passed away in 2002, his friend, John Rivard, became the editor of the newspaper with Tupa’s wife, Marie, at the publishing helm.  The monthly newspaper has grown to have almost 2,000 readers, not only in Texas, but across the country. 

Theresa Parker, Gary E. McKee and Marie Tupa toast the sale of the Texas Polka News with Shiner beer and kolaches.

“I am happy to announce the sale of the paper and see Julius’ legacy live on,” said Marie Tupa.   “I can’t thank John enough for his dedication and friendship over the years. And I can’t think of a more fitting person to take the publication to the next level than Theresa.  She grew up around polka and continues to promote the music, bands and dance halls through her website.”

Cernoch Parker founded polkabeat.com in 2010 to honor the memory of another polka lover, her father, Willie Cernoch, originally from Dubina, Texas.  The website provides monthly listings of dances and festivals, as well as news, photos and videos from events. The site also has a Polka On! store featuring polka apparel, accessories, gifts and CDs/DVDs.  More than 1,200 subscribers receive a weekly e-newsletter featuring the weekend lineup of events in Texas. 

“I know Julius and my dad are looking down on us with a smile. The two of them were good friends who thought polka was the best music genre ever.  The Tupas and John have provided a wonderful service to Texas music fans over the years and I am honored to be given the opportunity to continue in their footsteps,” Cernoch Parker said. 

Cernoch Parker is also pleased to announce that Gary E. McKee of Fayetteville, Texas, will serve as editor of the paper. “Gary’s photojournalism and writing skills have been crucial to the success of polkabeat.com.  I look forward to working with him as we help readers of Texas Polka News polka on.”

Click here to subscribe or renew your subscription. For more information on advertising in the Texas Polka News, email theresa@polkabeat.com.

Alfred Vrazel Elelected to Polka Music Hall of Fame

Legendary Texas Polka DJ and Bandleader Alfred Vrazel has been elected to the International Polka Association Polka Music Hall of Fame.  This is a great  honor for Alfred, who is being recognized for his long-standing service as a polka D.J.

Alfred is the FIRST TEXAN to be elected to the Polka Music Hall of Fame by the International Polka Association, which is headquartered in Chicago. 

Alfred has been invited to be a guest of honor in Independence, Ohio, where he will receive the Pioneer Award.  This award is given to those who have made outstanding contributions over the years to the advancement and promotion of polka music. The presentation will be made at the International Polka Association, Polka Music Hall of Fame and Music awards Banquet  at the 46th Annual Festival  and Convention on Saturday, August 30, 2014, at the Embassy Suites in Independence, Ohio.

You can hear Alfred's show every Sunday on KMIL  105.1 FM and on the Internet at kmil.com  from 12:15 until 2:30 p.m.  The show has been on the air every Sunday since 1955 and is in its 59th year of  continuous broadcasting.  It is believed to be the longest running weekly polka show in America. 

For more  information on the IPA Polka Music Hall of Fame:    www.internationalpolka.com

Garrett Neubauer Wins Big Squeeze Polka Title

Texas Folklife is pleased to announce the names of the talented young accordionists who were chosen as the 2014 Big Squeeze Champs. They are Garrett Neubauer, Grand Prize Winner for Polka; Randall Jackson, Grand Prize Winner for Zydeco; and Aaron Salinas, Grand Prize Winner for Conjunto.

Big Squeeze Grand Prize Winners: Aaron Salinas in the Conjunto Category (San Antonio) Garrett Neubauer in the Polka Category (Altair) Randall Jackson in the Zydeco Category (Dallas)

The winners were chosen at the Big Squeeze Finals and Concert held on the Lone Star Plaza at the Bullock Texas State History Museum last Saturday. Nine finalists and three honorable mentions performed before the large, enthusiastic Texas roots music loving crowd. The program featured Grammy Award-winning Sunny Sauceda, Curtis Poullard and the Creole Zydeco Band, the Austin-based Fabulous Polkasonics, and Michael Ramos, the reigning Big Squeeze Champ.

This year was the eighth annual Big Squeeze accordion contest for up-and-coming Texas musicians. In order to better nurture young Texas talent, Texas Folklife has expanded the popular contest. Instead of one Big Squeeze Champ, three Final Grand Prize Winners were chosen to represent the three main accordion genres—polka, zydeco, and conjunto. The polka genre includes German, Czech, and Polish traditions. Zydeco includes Creole and Cajun musical traditions. And conjunto includes norteño and Tejano. There were eight talent showcases scheduled around the state that were free, open to the public, and featured performances by local musicians. Six showcases have already occurred: Houston Creole Festival (February 1); La Joya High School (February 8); McDonald Public Library in Corpus Christi (February 9); Texas Polka Festival and Symposium in Schulenburg (February 22); MECA in Houston (February 23); the Latino Cultural Center in Dallas (March 23); and Los Fresnos High School (March 29), and the Gallista Gallery with Conjunto Heritage Taller in San Antonio (April 4). 

This year saw a large increase in the number of participants and the number of audience members throughout the state for the contest. There were 49 contestants and over 3,000 individuals who attended the eight talent showcases. There were over 500 in the audience at the Final Playoffs and Concert, with many getting up to joyously dance and root for the young the squeezeboxers.

All three winners will perform at Texas Folklife’s highly acclaimed annual Accordion Kings & Queens Festival at Houston’s Miller Outdoor Theatre on Saturday, June 7, 2014. The three young winners will hit the jackpot because this will be a special year to perform at Accordion Kings & Queens as it will be the 25th anniversary! In addition, the three Big Squeeze 2014 Grand Prize Winners received a prize package valued at more than $4,000, including a cash prize, a brand new Hohner accordion, performance opportunities in Austin and Houston, publicity, professional development, and other professional opportunities. 

“The Big Squeeze contest has turned a corner,” said Executive Director Cristina Ballí. “This year, throughout the state, thousands of Texans have come out to see the next generation of culture bearers. We are grateful to our partners in the contest who have helped us make a difference in these young people’s lives and their communities by encouraging the state’s traditional music scene. In addition, we are glad to have broadened the scope of the contest by creating three Grand Prize Winners, because we had the largest number of young squeezeboxers in the contest and all of them are fine young musicians with incredible talent. I guess you could say that accordions are taking over the world!”

Big Squeeze Polka Finalists Announced

Congratulations to the three finalists in the polka category of Texas Folk Life's Big Squeeze Contest - Rebecca Huck of Harker Heights, Chris Trojacek of Ennis and Garrett Neubauer of Altair!  They will compete for the grand prize at  the Bullock Texas State History Museum on Saturday, April 26. The event will be held from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. on the Lone Star Plaza in front of the museum (in case of rain it will be held inside), and is free and open to the public. 

Finalists in the other categories are: zydeco - Randall Jackson of Dallas, Je'an-Trel Jolivette of Marvel and DeJe'an Jolivette of Marvel and conjunto - Aaron Salinas of San Antonio, Luis Gonzales of Grand Prairie and Mariano Resendez of La Joya. The contest this year attracted 49 contestants, the largest number in its history. Seventy-five percent of the contestants were conjunto accordion players. Because of the larger number of conjunto contestants, there were three Honorable Mentions in that category: Rito Peña of San Antonio, Alan Guerra of Mission, and Nizhoni Begay of San Antonio.

The Big Squeeze finalists will perform before the judges and the public at the Bullock Museum. While the judges deliberate on the winners, the crowd will be entertained by an all-star musical line-up. This year’s program is headlined by Grammy Award-winning Sunny Sauceda, a Tejano star who likes to collaborate and “mix it up” in other genres, allowing him to stand out, breakout and crossover into one of the top solo artists performing today. Also on this dynamite program are zydeco accordionist Curtis Poullard and the Creole Zydeco Band and the Austin-based Fabulous Polkasonics famous for their “old country polkas.” And Michael Ramos, the 2013 Big Squeeze Champ, will join this exciting group of musicians who will no doubt wow the crowd with all things accordion.

After the event, from 7:00-10:00 p.m., join Texas Folklife for the “Big Squeeze Backyard Bash,” an evening of food, drink, and live music. All proceeds support the Big Squeeze program. To purchase tickets and for more information, including the location of this fabulous party: http://www.bigsqueeze2014.brownpapertickets.com/browse.html

This is the eighth annual Big Squeeze accordion contest for up-and-coming Texas musicians, 21 years of age or younger. In order to better nurture young Texas talent, Texas Folklife expanded the popular contest this year. Instead of one Big Squeeze Champ, there will be three Final Grand Prize Winners chosen to represent the three main accordion genres—polka, zydeco, and conjunto. The polka genre includes German, Czech, and Polish traditions. Zydeco includes Creole and Cajun musical traditions. And conjunto includes norteño and Tejano.  

All three grand prize winners will perform at Texas Folklife’s highly acclaimed annual Accordion Kings & Queens Festival at Houston’s Miller Outdoor Theatre on Saturday, June 7, 2014. The three young winners will hit the jackpot because this will be a special year to perform at Accordion Kings & Queens as it will be the 25th anniversary! In addition, the three Big Squeeze 2014 Grand Prize Winners will receive a prize package valued at more than $4,000, including a cash prize, a brand new Hohner accordion, performance opportunities in Austin and Houston, publicity, professional development, and other professional opportunities. 

Big Squeeze Contest Finals Coming April 26

Free Concert and Playoffs to be held at the Bullock Texas State History Museum on Saturday, April 26

Three Grand Prize Winners will be selected in each category: Polka, Zydeco, and Conjunto  

Texas Folklife and the  Bullock Texas State History Museum are pleased to announce that the Finals for the annual Big Squeeze accordion contest will take place at the museum on Saturday, April 26. The event will be held from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. on the Lone Star Plaza in front of the museum (in case of rain it will be held inside), and is free and open to the public. Big Squeeze finalists, whose names will be announced on April 11, will perform before the judges and the public. While the judges deliberate on the winners, the crowd will be entertained by an all-star musical line-up.

This year’s program is headlined by Grammy Award-winning Sunny Sauceda, a Tejano star who likes to collaborate and “mix it up” in other genres, allowing him to stand out, breakout, and crossover into one of the top solo artists performing today. Also on this dynamite program are zydeco accordionist Curtis Poullard and the Creole Zydeco Band and the Austin-based Fabulous Polkasonics famous for their “old country polkas.” And Michael Ramos, the 2013 Big Squeeze Champ, will join this exciting group of musicians who will no doubt wow the crowd with all things accordion.   

This is the eighth annual Big Squeeze accordion contest for up-and-coming Texas musicians, 21 years of age or younger. In order to better nurture young Texas talent, Texas Folklife expanded the popular contest this year. Instead of one Big Squeeze Champ, there will be three Final Grand Prize Winners chosen to represent the three main accordion genres—polka, zydeco, and conjunto. The polka genre includes German, Czech, and Polish traditions. Zydeco includes Creole and Cajun musical traditions. And conjunto includes norteño and Tejano. 

There were eight talent showcases scheduled around the state that were free, open to the public, and featured performances by local musicians. Six showcases have already occurred: Houston Creole Festival (February 1); La Joya High School (February 8); McDonald Public Library in Corpus Christi (February 9); Texas Polka Festival and Symposium in Schulenburg (February 22); MECA in Houston (February 23);  the Latino Cultural Center in Dallas (March 23); Los Fresnos High School (March 29) and the Gallista Gallery with Conjunto Heritage Taller in San Antonio (April 4). 

Nine finalists (three from each genre) will be chosen from the field of performers at the showcases by a panel of esteemed music professionals. Accordionists will be judged on their technical proficiency—skill in playing, and technical and musical accuracy—as well as their song interpretation (stylistic choices, innovation, and originality) and stage presence (level of comfort on stage and attention to personal appearance). The nine finalists will be announced on April 11.

The finalists will perform at the Finals Concert and Playoffs at the Bullock on April 26. As mentioned, there will be three Grand Prize Winners selected. All three winners will perform at Texas Folklife’s highly acclaimed annual Accordion Kings & Queens Festival at Houston’s Miller Outdoor Theatre on Saturday, June 7, 2014. The three young winners will hit the jackpot because this will be a special year to perform at Accordion Kings & Queens as it will be the 25th anniversary! In addition, the three Big Squeeze 2014 Grand Prize Winners will receive a prize package valued at more than $4,000, including a cash prize, a brand new Hohner accordion, performance opportunities in Austin and Houston, publicity, professional development, and other professional opportunities. 

“This is a big year for Texas Folklife,” says Executive Director Cristina Ballí. “It is the eighth year for the Big Squeeze, the 25th anniversary for Accordion Kings & Queens, and Texas Folklife turns 30. We are extremely gratified that we have been able to make a difference in young people’s lives with this contest by encouraging the state’s traditional music scene. But what we have discovered in our travels and seeking out the best young Texas accordion players is that a larger emphasis needs to be placed on certain accordion traditions. So we have broadened the scope of the contest by creating three Grand Prize Winners, three Big Squeeze Champs. I guess you could say that accordions are taking over the world!”

The Big Squeeze is supported by the members and Board of Texas Folklife and by Hohner, Inc.; by grants from Texas Commission on the Arts and the Texas Music Office, the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division, the City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board, the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, the Houston Endowment, Humanities Texas, H.E.B., Texas Gas Service, and Central Texas Accordion Association. Additional support is provided by regional businesses including SugarHill Recording Studios, Antone’s Records, Hacienda Records, and Frank+Victor Design.  

Red Ravens CD Voted Best Czech CD in the Nation

By Theresa Parker

The Red Ravens' latest CD, Playin' Ole Classics, was chosen as the Best Czech CD in 2013 by polka fans across the nation. The voting took place on the Polka America Corporation (PAC) website in March.

I am so excited because for the first time in several years, the ballot had a Czech CD category. As a member of the PAC board, I was only too happy to make my recommendations for the category. The full Czech category consisted of:

Live At Saengerrunde Hall - Czech Melody Masters
Keeping The Tradition Alive - Incredible Music Makers
Czech Sprit Will Live On - The Moravians
Playin' Ole Classics - The Red Ravens
It's Our Time - Texas Sound Check
Ctyri - Czechaholics
All By Myself  - Brandon Hoddef
George's Concertina Band - Faded Memories
Our Heritage - Joe and Don Fojtik and the Czech All-Stars 

So, not only do we have a Czech winner, it's from a Texas band! Yay!

Thanks to everyone who voted. Here are all the winners for 2013:

Best Polish CD—John Gora “Butterfly”
Best Original Song—John Gora “Butterfly”
Best Slovenian CD—Steve Meisner—“Meisner Time”
Best Czech CD---Red Ravens—“Playin’ Ole Classics”
Best Variety CD—Mollie B Christmas Polka Special
Best German CD—Fred Ziwich-“Let’s Get Festive”
Best Re-release—Ray Henry—Ballroom Polkas

I look forward to presenting the trophy to the Red Ravens in the next month or so. And BTW: the Red Ravens CD is available in the Polka On! Store!

Polka on, y'all!

Texas Polka Festival & Symposium Coming to Schulenburg

Austin, Texas – January 15, 2014 – Texas Dance Hall Preservation, Inc. and Texas Folklife announce their partnership to produce the Texas Polka Festival & Symposium to be held in Schulenburg on February 22, 2014.  With support from a Humanities Texas grant, the event will feature the state’s European polka traditions of German, Czech and Polish heritage.  The Festival & Symposium will be held at the historic Sengelmann and Turner Halls in Schulenburg and will feature esteemed Texas polka musicians and exhibits and discussions on European history, dance hall architecture, food, music and dance in Texas. 

Bands performing include The Boerne Village Band (German), Brian Marshall (Polish), Czech Melody Masters, Mark Halata (Czech), and special appearance by Santiago Jimenez Jr. (Texas-Mexican.)  The program will include a showcase of up and coming polka accordionists in the state as part of the Big Squeeze Accordion Contest produced by Texas Folklife.  Other polka master musicians will be presented in panel discussions on the history of the music and efforts to preserve and promote polka in Texas.

A symposium portion of the program, sponsored by Humanities Texas, will include discussions by scholars and lay cultural workers on the history and culture surrounding polka music in Texas.  Confirmed speakers include Patrick Sparks and Steve Dean of Texas Dance Hall Preservation, Inc. (TDHP), Dawn Orsack and Lori Navar of PolkaWorks moderating a panel on food, John Novak and Frances Burton on documenting Texas Czech songs, and Dan Margolies and Cristina Ballí on sustainability of Texas polka music.  More speakers are being added to the program and updates can be found at www.texasfolklife.org.

The festival and symposium will take place in two historic dance halls in Schulenburg.  Activities will begin at 10:00 AM at Turner Dance Hall, with a welcoming of accordion music and kolaches to view an exhibit on Texas dance halls.  Panels and music presentations will then move over to Sengelmann Hall (531 N. Main Street) at noon for the rest of the program, to last until 9:00 PM.

“We are very excited to partner with Texas Folklife to produce this unique event in Texas,” says Patrick Sparks, co-founder and president TDHP.  “We want to nurture a living culture of dancing across Texas to sustain our historic dance halls.  This event will further our appreciation and understanding of Texas polka music and culture, but will also just be a lot of dancing fun.”

Presentations at Turner Hall are free and admission to the festival at Sengelmann Hall is $15.  Tickets can be purchased at www.texasfolklife.org. 

The Texas Polka Festival and Symposium is supported by the members and Board of Texas Dance Hall Preservation, Inc. and Texas Folklife, by a grants from Humanities Texas and Texas Commission on the Arts. Additional support is provided by regional businesses including Sengelmann Hall and Texana Country Inn.

About Texas Dance Hall Preservation, Inc.

Texas Dance Hall Preservation is committed to saving historic Texas dance halls and the authentic music and culture that is still found in them.  We accomplish this mission by: Developing informational programs to promote public awareness and use of Texas dance halls as living venues for community assembly, music, and social dancing;  keeping an inventory of all traditional dance halls in Texas, including those that have been lost;  documenting and publishing the history of Texas dance halls;  serving as a clearinghouse for information that can aid the preservation of Texas dance halls;  providing assistance to list dance halls on the National Register of Historic Places or to complete grant applications for preservation projects; providing financial, technical, or organizational assistance for the restoration, rehabilitation, and preservation of historic dance halls. 

About Texas Folklife

Texas Folklife is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to presenting and preserving the diverse cultures and living heritage of the Lone Star State. For more than 25 years, Texas Folklife has honored the authentic cultural traditions passed down within communities, explored their importance in contemporary society, and celebrated them by providing accessible and joyful arts experiences. It is located in Austin, Texas, in the SoCo neighborhood—one of the city’s vibrant commercial and arts district.

Big Squeeze Accordion Contest expands search for top talent

This year's Big Squeeze Contest sponsored by Texas Folklife is going to be bigger and better this year. Instead of one grand prize winner, three will be chosen, one in each category - Polka, Zydeco and Conjunto. Yay! The Texas Folklife folks had been trying to figure out a way to encourage more polka and zydeco contestants and I think this is a great solution!

Here are the details:

Texas Folklife announces its eighth annual Big Squeeze accordion contest for up-and-coming Texas musicians, 21 years of age or younger. The non-profit that endeavors to preserve and promote Texas’s diverse cultural heritage is looking for great players in all genres of the Lone Star State’s accordion-based music, including German, Czech, and Polish polka; Creole, Cajun, and zydeco; and conjunto, norteño, and Tejano. 

In order to better nurture young Texas talent, Texas Folklife is restructuring the popular contest this year. The contest will go on the road again this spring in order to meet the young accordion players in their communities in “talent showcases.” Three Final Grand Prize Winners will be devoted to the three main accordion genres—polka, zydeco, and conjunto. The polka genre will include German, Czech, and Polish traditions. Zydeco will include Creole and Cajun musical traditions. And conjunto will include norteño and Tejano. The showcases will be free, open to the public, and feature performances by local musicians.

The Big Squeeze 2014 talent showcases:

·      February 1:    Houston Creole Festival

·      February 8:    La Joya High School

·      February 9:    McDonald Public Library in Corpus Christi

·      February 22: Texas Polka Festival & Symposium in Schulenburg

·      February 23: MECA [Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts] in Houston   

·      March 23:      Latino Cultural Center in Dallas

·      March 29:      Los Fresnos High School

·      April 4:          Gallista Gallery with Conjunto Heritage Taller in San Antonio

Nine finalists (three from each genre) will be chosen from the field of performers at the showcases (and those who send in their performances to Texas Folklife) by a panel of esteemed music professionals. Accordionists will be judged on their technical proficiency—skill in playing, and technical and musical accuracy—as well as their song interpretation (stylistic choices, innovation, and originality) and stage presence (level of comfort on stage and attention to personal appearance). The nine finalists will be announced on April 11.

The finalists will perform at the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin on Saturday, April 26. Three Grand Prize Winners will be selected. There will be one winner for each accordion category—polka, zydeco, and conjunto. All three winners will perform at Texas Folklife’s highly acclaimed annual Accordion Kings & Queens Festival at Houston’s Miller Outdoor Theatre on Saturday, June 7, 2014. The three young winners will hit the jackpot because this will be a special year to perform at Accordion Kings & Queens as it will be the 25th anniversary! 

Interested players are encouraged to reserve a showcase slot at a venue in their region by contacting Texas Folklife. Those who cannot attend a showcase may also mail or e-mail their entries to arrive at Texas Folklife no later than April 7, 2014. The complete contest rules and entry forms are available online at www.texasfolklife.org or by calling (512) 441-9255.

The three Big Squeeze 2014 Grand Prize Winners will receive a prize package valued at more than $4,000, including a cash prize, a brand new Hohner accordion, performance opportunities in Austin and Houston, publicity, professional development, and other professional opportunities. 

“The Big Squeeze contest is becoming a tradition across the state,” says Executive Director Cristina Ballí. “We are truly gratified by the way the contest has been embraced by local communities. But what we have discovered in our travels and seeking out the best young Texas accordion players is that a larger emphasis needs to be placed on certain accordion traditions. We have broadened the scope of the contest by creating three Grand Prize Winners, one winner for each genre. In particular, we are focusing on zydeco and polka at several of the showcase events and are developing more ways to safeguard their important place in Texas music.”

The Big Squeeze is supported by the members and Board of Texas Folklife and by Hohner, Inc.; by grants from Texas Commission on the Arts and the Texas Music Office, the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division, the City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board, the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, the Houston Endowment, Humanities Texas, H.E.B., and Texas Gas Service. Additional support is provided by regional businesses including SugarHill Recording Studios, Antone’s Records, Hacienda Records, Frank+Victor Design, and Embassy Suites Hotel in Austin.

About Texas Folklife

Texas Folklife is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to presenting and preserving the diverse cultures and living heritage of the Lone Star State. Celebrating its 30thanniversary in 2014, Texas Folklife has honored the authentic cultural traditions passed down within communities, explored their importance in contemporary society, and celebrated them by providing accessible and joyful arts experiences. It is located in Austin, Texas, in the SoCo neighborhood—one of the city’s vibrant commercial and arts district.

When it's wintertime in Texas, it's time for polka tours!

There are some great polka acts from up North and across the pond coming to Texas in January and February ready for warmer climes, smiling polka lovers and good ol' Texas hospitality. Mark your calendar to see these great performances.

Moravska Jedenactka
One of the most popular dechovkas (brass bands) of Moravia
January 10-19

Friday, January 10
West: Knights of Columbus Hall Dinner/Dance, 6 PM

Saturday, January 11
Ennis: KJT Hall Dinner/Dance, 6:15 PM

Sunday, January 12
Austin: Gethsemene Lutheran Church Dinner/Concert, 1 PM

Monday, January 13
Denton: Voertman Concert Hall Concert @ University of North Texas, 8 PM

Tuesday, January 14
Caldwell: Caldwell Civic Center Dinner/Concert, 5:30 PM

Wednesday, January 15 (New listing added since poster was created)
San Antonio: with Conjunto Puro Corazon at La Tuna Grill, 7 PM

Thursday, January 16
La Grange: Fayette County Fair Pavilion Dinner/Dance 5 PM

Friday, January 17
Houston: Czech Center Museum Concert/Dinner/Dance, 6:30 PM

Sunday, January 19
Dallas: Sokol Hall Dinner/Dance, 12:30 PM

See the poster for more details.

Squeezebox Band with Mollie B and Ted Lange
January 16-19

Thursday, January 16
Pharr: Tropic Star RV Resort, 7 PM

Friday, January 17
Mission: Mission Bell Resort, 7 PM

Saturday, January 18
Granger: Church Rec Center, 6 PM

Sunday, January 19
Houston: SPJST Lodge 88, 3 PM

Barefoot Becky and the Ivanhoe Dutchmen
February 16-23

Sunday, February 16
New Braunfels: Eagles Hall, 3 PM

Monday, February 17
Mission: Mission Bell Resort, 7 PM

Tuesday, February 18
Harlingen, Sunshine RV Resort, 7 PM

Thursday, February 20
Mission: Riverside Club, 2 PM

Friday, February 21
Pharr: South Park, 7 PM

Saturday, February 22
Houston: SPJST Lodge 88, 8 PM

Sunday, February 23
Elgin: SPJST Lodge 18, 3 PM

Polka bands close out 2013 with new CDs

Several Texas polka bands introduced new recordings at the end of the year. Chances are you got one for Christmas. If you didn’t, they are now available online in the Polka On Store. To celebrate National Polka Month, all January orders will receive a free polka bumper sticker.                        

Chris Rybak
Texas Our Texas

If you’re a proud Texan (and who isn’t) you will want this CD for your collection. Chris said he’s proud to be a Texan and wanted to bring the feeling and flavor of Texas to everyone through music. There are 14 great tunes. “These songs have always been my favorites. I wanted to include songs of the Wild West, some campfire songs, the state song ‘Texas Our Texas’ and two college fight songs for UT and Aggies,” Chris said.

The CD is pure music. No vocals. Chris spent six months working on the music, playing all the parts of each piece. “I wanted to focus on the instruments. I wanted people to feel the music,” he said.

My faves are The Yellow Rose of Texas, Waltz Across Texas, Red Rive Valley and Cotton-Eyed Joe. Sorry, as a University of Houston grad, I can't endorse the UT and Aggie fight songs, although they are classic.

Red Ravens
Playin’ Old Classics

The drought is over, at least for new Red Raven music. It has been five long years since the guys’ last CD Polka Cruisin’. Enjoy 17 songs, including my faves Little Goose Polka, Muziky Muziky Polka, Katherine’s Waltz and Chappell Hill Special. Red Raven Shane Lala said you won’t find any of these tunes on their other CDs. “We produce a new song list every time we record,” he said.

Texas Sound Check
It’s Our Time

Another long time in coming is a new CD by Texas Sound Check. The group made a list of 200 possible tunes to record and whittled it down to 24. Maybe that’s why it took so long :-) It was worth the wait. Band Leader Benny Okruhlik and this group of musicians have been playing together for a few years and they decided it was time to record, hence the CD title It's Our Time. My faves: Amerika Polka, Mountain Valley Waltz, Dreamboat Waltz and Polka Celebration.

Czech Melody Masters
Live at Saengerrunde Halle

Lots of great polka party songs on this CD, including my faves No Beer Today, In Heaven There Is No Beer, Corn Cockle and Beer Barrel polkas and great waltzes like Westphalia and Blue Skirt. This group bills itself as Austin’s Only Authentic Czech Polka Band. Thomas Durnin, the group’s bass player, has a show called Czech Melody Time on KOOP 91.7 FM in Austin every Sunday from 9-10 AM. Trumpet player Dennis Svatek also produces a 90-minute Internet radio show each month called, appropriately enough, The Polka Show, which features Dobre Muziky.

Incredible Music Makers
Keepin’ the Tradition Alive

This CD has been out a while, but is new to the Polka On Store. It features 17 all-time favorites: Czech songs and more. My faves are If I Were a Bird, Barbara Polka, Haunted Garrett Waltx and in the “more” category, there are some great Hank Williams hits like Your Cheatin’ Heart, Hey Good Lookin’ and Jambalaya. IMM bills itself as A Texas Polka Band from Across the Land (that’s Flatonia, Moulton and Port Lavaca). These guys are great and the only polka band that wears purple shirts (I love purple!)

Shop now! Remember proceeds from the Polka On Store allow polkabeat.com to reinvest in the polka community by sponsoring festivals, dances and bands.

Polka for the Park

A group of Houston polka lovers are hosting a benefit on Friday, November, 8 to raise money for their family and friends who were affected by the plant explosion in West, Texas. The Polka for the Park event will be held at SPJST Lodge 88 in the Heights and the evening of fundraising will be full of entertainment, including an auction and dance. Grammy-winning band Brave Combo will be headlining the event. Proceeds will help West residents rebuild their city park honoring First Responders. Table underwriters will be invited to a pre-event reception with the guests of honor West Mayor Tommy Muska and his wife, Lisa. Polkabeat visited with Karen Carr, one of the organizers to find out more about the event.

Who all is involved in planning the event? Family and friends of West residents. There are 12 of us that have worked together to plan the event. My mom, Barbara Fisher, was raised in West and the mayor, Tommy Muska, is our cousin. In no time at all we had people eager to pitch in and help.

Why did y'all decide to hold the event? Several of us went to West several days after the explosion to help in any way we could. There were tremendous relief efforts in place but we still wanted to do something more. We thought this event would be a nice way to keep the momentum going and to allow those that could not make it to West to show support in Houston.

Why did you select the park as the beneficiary? Tommy mentioned that this would be a gift the whole town could benefit from. The park was destroyed in the blast. Then when we learned about Parker’s Park Project, we knew it was the right thing to do. Parker’s father Joey, is one of the fallen first responders. It’s Parker’s wish to rebuild the city park, a project his father was a strong supporter of. He has a great “grass roots” effort, and the support is swelling.

Why Brave Combo? Brave Combo has been a part of the Westfest lineup for years. The tent is always packed and the band is legendary. They play polka, salsa, rock, zydeco and bring their own infectious fun to every event that they headline.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at http://center4gracefoundation.org/donations.html.

Vote for Your Favorite Polka Albums

The Polka America Corporation (PAC) is accepting votes from the polka-loving public for its annual PACE Awards in five categories -- Best New Original Song, Best Polish Album, Best Slovenian Album, Best German Album and Best Variety Album. Voting is open until April 15 and the awards will be announced a few days later. I asked PAC President John Ziobrowski about the absence of a Czech Album category. "We allow the categories to self generate. We add a category when we receive six submissions of a specific style of polka music. We would love to have a Czech category," he said. Don't stress. I am on the case and will make sure there is a Czech music category next year!

You'll see some Texas bands in this year's categories -- Brave Combo, Das Ist Lustig, Czech and Then Some and Jodie Mikula and some favorites of Texas fans -- Mollie B, Alex Meixner, Jimmy Sturr and Lynn Marie.

PAC is a nonprofit organization that encourages, supports and promotes polka music at all levels. Chartered in Wisconsin, the executive committee, board of directors and sub-committees are an all-volunteer group of polka music enthusiasts from many parts of North America.

John explained the awards are completely people’s choice. "The voting is tabulated by an outside agency. PAC has no involvement with nominations or picking the winners, we just provide the format for the polka nation to support their favorite artists."

Cast your vote today!

Polka News: Final Mollie B Lineup

Thursday, February 21: Music from 1:00 - 10:00PM1:00 Squeezebox (OH) with Abby Broeniman (WI) 1:30 Squeezebox with Jim Busta (MN) 2:15 Matt Hodek & the Dakota Dutchmen (ND) 4:00 Die Kurtzbuam (GA) 5:00 Karl & the Country Dutchmen (WI) 6:00 Squeezebox (OH) 6:45 Chris Rybak (TX) 8:00 Czech & Then Some (TX) 9:00 Max Baca & The Texmaniacs (TX) GRAMMY WINNER

Friday, February 22: Music from 1:00 - 9:00PM 1:00 Shiner Hobo Band (TX) 2:00 The Red Ravens (TX) 3:30 Das Ist Lustig (TX) 4:30 Texas Tribute Band (TX) 5:30 TubaMeisters (TX) 6:15 Eurofest (TX) 7:15 Texas Sound Czech Band (TX) 8:15 Jerry Haisler & Melody 5 (TX)

Saturday, February 23: Music from 1:00 - 10:00PM 1:00 Polka Nuts (CO) 2:30 Polka Nuts w/ Mollie B 3:00 The Moravians (TX) 4:00 Texas Dutchmen (TX) 5:00 The Bohemian Knights (OK) 6:00 Jodie Mikula Orchestra (TX) 7:00 David Farias & the Farias Brothers (TX) GRAMMY WINNER 8:00 Ennis Czech Boys (TX) 9:00 Brave Combo (TX) GRAMMY WINNER

Sunday, February 24: Music from 1:00 - 9:00PM 1:00 Squeezebox with John Gora (Ontario, Canada) GRAMMY NOMINEE 1:50 Squeezebox with Al Piatkowski (NY) GRAMMY WINNER 2:15 The Royal Klobasneks (TX) 3:15 Conjunto Kidz (TX) 4:00 Kenny Brandt (WI) 5:30 Walburg Boys (TX) 6:30 Yesey G & Her Stars (TX) 7:15 Alpenfest (TX) 8:15 Czech Harvesters (TX)

Polka News: Mollie B Update, ECB On Air, Big Squeeze, and Cowboys

Mollie B Update: Looks like a great lineup for Mollie B’s Polka Party taping at Sokol Hall in Ennis February 21-24, featuring 29 bands and five special guest appearances. Buy tickets!

Thursday, February 21 1:00 SqueezeBox with Abby Broeniman (WI) 1:30 SqueezeBox with Jim Busta 2:15 Matt Hodek & the Dakota Dutchmen (ND) 4:00 Die Kurtzbuam (GA) 5:00 Karl & the Country Dutchmen (WI) 6:00 SqueezeBox 7:00 Chris Rybak (TX) 8:15 Czech & Then Some (TX)

Friday, February 22 1:00 Shiner Hobo Band (TX) 2:00 Red Ravens (TX) 3:30 Das Ist Lustig (TX) 4:30 PM Texas Tribute Band (TX) 5:30 TubaMeisters (TX) 6:15 Eurofest (TX) 7:15 Texas Sound Check (TX) 8:15 Jerry Haisler & the Melody 5 (TX)

Saturday, February 23 1:00 Polka Nuts (CO) 2:30 Polka Nuts with Mollie B 3:00 The Moravians (TX) 4:00 Texas Dutchmen (TX) 5:00 The Bohemian Knights (OK) 6:00 Jodie Mikula Orchestra (TX) 7:00 Ennis Czech Boys (TX) 8:00 Brave Combo (TX) 9:00 David Farias & the Farias Brothers (TX)

Sunday, February 24 1:00 SqueezeBox with John Gora and Al and Robbie Piatkowski 2:15 The Royal Klobasneks (TX) 3:15 Conjunto Kidz (TX) 4:00 Kenny Brandt (WI) 5:30 Walburg Boys (TX) 6:30 Yesey G & Her Stars (TX) 7:15 Alpenfest (TX) 8:15 Czech Harvesters (TX)

Ennis Czech Boys on the Air: The Ennis Czech Boys and their new CD "You Have The Right To Polka" will be featured on Ray Zalokar’s American Polka Hour on Monday, February 18 at 8 PM Central. The program will be streamed live on www.247polkaheaven.com. The CD can be purchased online in the Polka On Store at polkabeat.com.

The Big Squeeze Is Calling Young Accordionists: Texas Folklife announces its seventh annual Big Squeeze accordion contest for up-and-coming Texas musicians, 21 years of age or younger. The non-profit that endeavors to preserve and promote Texas’s diverse cultural heritage is looking for great players in any genre of accordion-based music, including zydeco; Cajun; German, Czech, and Polish polka; Tejano; conjunto; and norteño; as well as other genres.

The popular contest kicks off its 2013 season with two auditions in Houston! On Saturday, February 23, the audition will be held at Talento Bilingüe de Houston. Registration and auditions will begin at 3:00 p.m. An accordion jam will follow with former Big Squeeze champ and Houstonian Johnny Ramirez and Tina Vega of Promesa Mortal, a young, energetic Houston-based family band. The next day, Sunday, February 24, the action moves to The Big Easy Social Club. Again, registration begins at 3:00 p.m. and auditions begin at 3:30 p.m. Zydeco squeezeboxers will lead the accordion jam to follow the auditions—former Big Squeeze champ Keyun Dickson and finalist Ruben Paul Moreno. The Big Easy will host the National Zydeco Foundation’s Accordion Jam at 8:00 p.m., but it is only open to those accordionists 21 years and older.

Additional dates include: March 2: Edinburg at the University of Texas—Pan American March 3: Corpus Christi at Hacienda Records March 8: San Antonio at Gallista Gallery in partnership with Conjunto Heritage Taller March 23: Tomball at the German Heritage Festival, Bluegrass stage March 24: Dallas at the Latino Cultural Center Auditions are free and open to the public. Contestants may register on site or in advance by calling Texas Folklife at (512) 441-9255 or online at www.texasfolklife.org. Those who cannot attend the audition may mail or e-mail their entries to arrive at Texas Folklife no later than April 1, 2013. The complete contest rules and entry forms are available online or by calling Texas Folklife.

Semifinalists selected by audition or mailed entries will be hosted in Austin to take part in the Semifinals held on April 20 at The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. At that time, up to four finalists will be selected. The finalists will be awarded a cash prize and hosted in Houston to compete for the title of The Big Squeeze Grand Prize Winner at the Accordion Kings & Queens Festival on June 1.

The Big Squeeze 2013 Grand Prize Winner will receive a prize package valued at more than $4,000, including a cash prize, a brand new Hohner accordion, performance opportunities in Austin and Houston, publicity, professional development, and other professional opportunities.

It’s All About the Cowboy: “If you don’t come early and stay late, you’re gonna miss something. And don’t worry about the weather—you’re not getting stuck—we just go indoors as we did with 7 inches of rain last year!” That’s the message for the public from the originators of the captivating 5th Annual Best Little Cowboy Gathering planned for March 5-7. This celebration of cowboy culture (with proceeds going to youth scholarships), held at the Fayette County Fairgrounds (one mile north of La Grange on Highway 77) has become not only a tradition but an educational venue to those that may have not ever embraced that “cowboy persona.”

A full day of activities has been added to this rapidly growing event that is earmarked with incredible music, trick ropers, fiddling, cowgirl ball, all-star swing band, horse clinic, the “Best Little Cook-Off in Texas,” the Brazos Valley Cowographers, Single Action Shooting Society, Cowboy Art, Exhibit Booths, church wagon exhibits cowboy art, dutch oven cook-off, and loads of children’s events, food, arts and crafts. If you know nothing about the history, culture, and climate of the cowboy, you’ll leave with some lasting memories through music, demonstrations, and activities for all ages—and all at a small cost for the entire family that can’t be beat. Check out the great music schedule!