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Polka Party 2009 in The Netherlands

Part #1 (By Jeanne Kearney & Peg Herbst)

"Let's Have a Party"

Polka greats wow crowds at Polka Party 2009 in The Netherlands

 

May 18, 2009 - The polka capital of the world temporarily moved from Cleveland, Ohio to The Netherlands last week when industry greats like Walter Ostanek, Eddie Rodick and a host of other polka luminaries performed at the Polka Party and Button Box Festival 2009.  

Organized by Jelse Vos and polka archivist John Hasper, manager of the website Polkas.nl, the event aimed to introduce Slovenian & Cleveland Style polka music to new audiences in The Netherlands. It was the third consecutive year for the event, which drew talent and au-diences from the U.S. and Europe.

 

Joining Ostanek and Rodick on stage during the two-night event was piano accordion notable Frank Moravcik and up-and-comer Brian O'Boyle.  Accompanying the Button Box accordionists Linda Hochevar, Ron Pivovar, 2008 individual Button Box Ron Likovic, Grammy nominated musician / producer Alex Meixner and world champion Denis Novato during the evening of button box music was the The Klancnik Orchestra led by Ed Klancnik.  Kim Rodick , 2008 vocalist of the year and drummer, and bassist Phil Srnick joined with Eric Stehle on saxophone and Ed Klancnik on drums and banjo to support both evenings.

 

 "The ongoing mission for the event is the same for polkas.nl - and that's to continue to bring the Slovenian and Cleveland-style polka music to current and new audiences," said Hasper, who helmed the event. "Every artist who performed helped to advance that mission by serving as a musical ambassador abroad."

Praise from the Artists

"Our trip to Holland was the best one that I can remember," said Canadian Polka King Walter Ostanek. "It is a great honor to have people get excited about what we do. It was so amazing that everyone knew the words to "La Ronda on my Honda," considering the fact that I have not performed the song on stage in over 30 years."

 

"The Dutch people have a love for this music that is remarkable, and their support and en-thusiasm for our style of polkas are unmatched anywhere else in the World," said Klancik. "Polka music is a common bond that many of us share, and it shows that no matter where you are from, we can all have something in common."

"I was very impressed with the wide range of ages that came to our shows and the enthu-siasm we found from all of our fans," said Moravcik. "They truly love polka music with a passion."

 

About Polka.nl

The brainchild of polka enthusiast John Hasper, polka.nl has been called the most compre-hensive and definitive archive of Slovenian and Cleveland Style polka music. Featuring in-depth, comprehensive discographies of hundreds of industry performers, today polka.nl is among the most visited web site in the trade.

 

What a success!

The Polka Party 2009 was enjoyed by everybody - public and musicians.

No one could believe the enthusiasm of the Dutch fans. Every artists was received a warm welcome and crowd went wild for the music. The audians ranged from young to old with most being in there 20s or 30s. But let's not forget that some of Holland's oldest and most trusted fans also enjoyed the shows. The artists were amazed and thrilled with the reaction of the crowds to there music. It was said that it was a long time since people come just for the music. Every artist hopes that the Dutch fans want them to come! Back as almost everyone of them left Holland with a tear in there eyes. Walter & Irene, Alex, Eddie, Frank, Ed, Brian, Ron, Ron, Linda, Kim, Phil, Eric and Denis like to thank everyone!

 

Comments from Walter Ostanek.

Our trip to Holland was the best one that I can remember. It is a great honor to have people get excited about what we do, and I hope this trip happens many times over and over again in the near future. It was so amazing that everyone knew the words to "La Ronda on my Honda," considering the fact that I have not performed the song on stage in over 20 years. I would like to thank everyone in the Netherlands for coming to see us and I hope that we get the chance to do it again. Thank you my family in Holland!

Canada's Polka King Walter Ostanek.

 

 

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