Today the Kinde Polka Fest comes roaring back to the Upper Thumb with over 60 volunteers and a full slate of Polka entertainment over two days at the Friends of Kinde Palace. Kinde Polka Festival organizers are optimistic that attendance will return to the pre-COVID levels of past years.
Festivities kick off this morning (Saturday, Sept. 17th) with the 5K run at 9 am. The Kinde Polka Fest 5k run-walk will raise money for athletic scholarships.
The musicians that perform at the festival come from both within and outside of the state, with some coming from as far away as New York, as close as Chicago, and as far away as Pennsylvania. The festival’s master of ceremonies is “Polka” Paul. The show begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday and at Noon on Sunday. Adults 21 and over pay $15 to enter. Those 16-20 pay $10, and 15 and under are free.
Kinde Polka Fest Band Rotation
All these acts will be performed in the Friends of Kinde Palace, which was constructed in 2017 specifically for this event. This old-time dance hall offers plenty of room for attendees to dance and enjoy the tunes. Here is the band rotation for the Festival
Pan Franek Zosia & the Polkatowners
“Pan” Franek, the band’s frontman and father, founded the Polkatowners in 1974. Since then, he and his lovely wife Zosia have raised five musically gifted children and grandkids dedicated to sharing Polish culture and good-sounding Polish polka music!
Style Stix
Classic polka band, which is well known across Michigan.
Jimmy K And The All Stars
This polka band has entertained people for almost 50 years.
Darrell Weltin And The New Brass Express
The new Brass Express consists of Darrell Weltin – accordion, concertina, keyboard – (leader), Tommy Reder – clarinet, sax, John Rzyhak – trumpet, clarinet, vocals, Larry Chonowski – trumpet, Mark Durocher – bass, Paul Romanowski – drums, vocals. Each member of the ensemble has over 20 years of polka experience. They are proficient in the ‘traditional’ style of Polish polkas. The band recently finished recording at Peppermint Studios.
Kielbasa Kings
Appearing on Sunday, The Kielbasa Kings Polka Band, founded in July 1999, entertains with polkas, waltzes, and obereks sung in Polish and English. Five men that like having a good time!
Steve Drzewicki Band
The Steve Drzewicki Band, performing for almost 30 years, was inducted into the Michigan State Polka Hall of Fame in 2019. You can stream Steve Drzewicki Band on Amazon for free
Sunday at the Kinde Polka Fest
Sunday, Sept. 18, begins with a breakfast/ brunch benefiting North Huron School’s National Honor Society and student council. St. Mary of Czestochowa will host a Polka Mass beginning at 10 a.m.
Bands From Kinde Polka Fest On Amazon
Fun Fact – What is Polka Music?
People have been enjoying the energetic and lively sounds of polka music for centuries. The music found at this year’s Polka Fest is no exception. However, the origins of this beloved style are somewhat disputed. Here are some of the claims across Eastern Europe.
Austria
The most likely place to find polka music is in Austria. It is a form of folk music that originated in the 19th century. It has since become a beloved staple of contemporary Austrian culture and a popular genre throughout Europe and North America.
Polka music is characterized by its fast tempo and upbeat sound. It’s best known for being played at dances—and it’s one of the earliest forms of dance music, dating back over 200 years!
Bohemia
Bohemia is a region in the Czech Republic that’s home to what we know as polka music. The roots of polka music can be traced back to 19th century Bohemia when it started being played at social gatherings across Europe by Czech Roma (gypsies). They were known as “bohémiens” or “bohémiens de l’est.” Their folk songs spread throughout Europe
Poland
If you’re a fan of polka, then you’ll be happy to know that Poland is the birthplace of this style. If you travel there today, you’ll find many different types of polka music and dance! Poland has a rich history of polka music.
Germany
The polka originated in Bohemia, a part of the former Czech Republic. The word “polka” comes from the Czech word “půl,” which means half—a reference to its two beats per measure. The dance became popular in Germany and Austria during the early 1800s, and by 1844 it was being played at balls and dances across Europe.
Serbia
In Serbia, polka music is prevalent. The Serbian folk dance known as the kolo (pronounced “ko-lo”) is performed in traditional Serbian folk music. It is a circle dance that involves groups of people—usually men and women—moving in a counterclockwise direction around the floor.
Several countries in Eastern Europe claim to be the birthplace of polka music
Polka is a dance that originated in the mid-19th century in Central Europe, where it’s still very popular today. Polkas are known for their fast tempo and lively beat, which makes them perfect for dancing.
Polka music also accompanies many social gatherings like weddings and festivals. It’s often played at these events in countries such as Poland and Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic). These countries claim to be the birthplace of polka music—and they’re likely right!
