Octoberfest Music - Cleveland, OH

the spazmatics

Website: spazmatics.org

This year Oktoberfest ( oft mis-spelled Octoberfest ) is excited to announce the opening of our new Beer Garden, where the beer and food are still as German as ever, but the music... well, let's just say we could also call it a Rock Garden.

In terms of celebrating German heritage, to their credit, all the members of the Spazmatics drive VW bugs - or at the least they look like renegades from the Geek Squad.

Don't be fooled, however, these nerds can play, and regularly pack houses like The Boneyard, Scoundrels, and The Hard Rock Cafe. It may have been a while since you've heard the likes of The Buggles, Dead or Alive, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, or the wistful crooning of Howard Jones. Surely, someone always is to blame, but it's not the Spazmatics! They'll have you rockin' to The Clash, The Cars, and The Cure, so put on your best sweater vest, pocket protector and clip on tie, and come out and join the fun!

DISCO INFERNO

Website: discoinfernoband.com

Disco Inferno is Darius A. Quarius, Sonny "D" Lite, Freddy A. Groovilini, and the right Rev. Russell J. Love. Disco Inferno also includes Marvin D. Licious, Melvin D. Licious and T. Love James. DISCO INFERNO has performed with acts such as the Boogie Knights in LA, The Grooveline, The Afrodisiacs in Chicago, Disco Inferno in Florida, LeFreak in Dallas and the Polyester Pimps in Nashville.

Disco Inferno was formed in 1995 after Sonny relocated from S. California to Cleveland. Sonny was an original member of the Boogie Knights, the band that started the disco craze in '92.

Noticing that there was a serious need for a band that could bring the boogie to the Midwest, Sonny and former drummer Antonio "Diablo" Banderos enlisted the bass player from Firehouse, Darius, Johnny Crowvolta on percussion and backing vocals, and Rev. Russell J. Love on lead vocals. Disco Inferno was an instant success playing Cleveland venues such as The Basement, Shooters, Phantasm, Odeon and Fagans. Soon, everyone wanted to be like Disco Inferno. Copycat bands began springing up, but the Inferno still leads the pack, performing regularly at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Hard Rock Cafés. Disco Inferno was also featured with The Village People at the Cleveland National Rib Cook-off and headlines the annual Twilight at the Zoo benefits.

CLEVELAND's BREAKFAST CLUB

Website: clevelandsbreakfastclub.com
Myspace: myspace.com/clevelandsbreakfastclub

Voted Best Cover Band by Cleveland Scene in 2007, Breakfast Club has more pure talent and experience pretty much any other cover band you'll find. As Cleveland Scene noted, "You don't want to hear Journey; you want to feel them. And for that, you'll need Breakfast Club, Cleveland's most authentic group of '80s rockers."

Frontman Dave Brooks made his name in the Cleveland area in bands Risque, IV Play, and Gotham City. He moved to LA, and was signed to Priority Records as their first glam-metal act, Slammin' Gladys. The band sold thousands of records and toured with notable acts such as Warrant and Southgang. He has released two solo CDs and produces and engineers recordings for some of the area's top bands.

Guitarist Billy Morris rose from local to international fame with his extensive touring & recording with such greats as Paul Gilbert, (RacerX & Mr. Big), to a recent line-up in the band WARRANT and being a touring guitarist for heavy metal legends Quiot Riot. But the touring and backing up such bands became a bit much so Billy decided to stay home and dedicate his time to writing and recording new music for future release.

Bassist Brian Dossa toured the country with the Doors cover band, Moonlight Drive, and also played with local greats such as the Tony Lang Band and the Mike Farley Band. In the words of Cleveland Scene, "They're workhorses -- you'll find them playing somewhere every weekend night of the year. And their set list is vintage glitter-and-glam -- from Journey to the Outfield, Bon Jovi to the Violent Femmes. Whether you lived the '80s or missed them altogether, the Breakfast Club is your time machine. Don't forget your leggings."

JOE WENDEL

Website: wcpn.org

Dr. Joe Wendel began his broadcasting career in 1961 on former ethnic radio station, WXEN as a sportscaster! He was the voice of the Cleveland Stokers, a professional soccer team that was brought over from England by some local investors. But, the Stokers only lasted a couple of years and Joe – an Austrian native – turned his radio focus to spreading the word about Greater Cleveland’s German-speaking citizens. Sports and radio aside, Joe has also boosted the German culture through his expertise on the “stomach Steinway” --- the accordion he sports as the leader of the Joe Wendel Orchestra. This ensemble regularly tours around the country, playing numerous local festivals, as well as such entertainment hot spots as Las Vegas and the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. Music, whether it is on the radio or on the stage is a labor of love for Joe Wendel. In addition to being an entertainer, Joe has a long history as an educator, holding a doctorate in Educational Administration and School Law.

Joe Wendel Bob Kravos

Website: bkboysintheband.com

Bob Kravos was born in Cleveland, Ohio into a full-blooded Slovenian family where the heritage of Slovenian-American style polka's flourished. Bob is the great nephew of the legendary Polka King Frank Yankovic, who popularized the Cleveland-style of polka music and made polkas attainable for all ethnic peoples of all ages. At the age of six, Bob saw his great-uncle playing the accordion on stage and decided he would like to do the same.

Bob's greatest musical mentors were Frank Yankovic and another legend, Joey Miskulin, who was a member of The Yankovic Band playing second accordion for many years. Bob was honored with a grant from The State of Ohio to take lessons with Joey while Bob's great-uncle Frank would also periodically stop by the house and give him a few pointers. Frank Yankovic taught him how to be an entertainer and Joey Miskulin showed how to do excellent finger work on the accordion keyboard. Bob is known for his accordion runs and fill finger work repertoire

Right out of high school, Bob traveled with Frank Yankovic for a period of seven years. Bob played all across the country with Frank, from California to Maine & Alaska. With Frank, he had the opportunity and the pleasure of opening for some famous artists, such as Marie Osmond, Bob Hope, Florence Henderson, Slappy White and Rich Little, and many more. Being with the Yankovic Band, Bob also did television appearances on "The Polka Variety Show".

In 1987, Bob formed his own band, The Boys In The Band which plays a wide variety of music. Though focused on Slovenian-Style polkas they also enjoy performing country, pop, swing, rock, and more. Bob's Kravos-Style music is a twist between Yankovic, Rodick, Vadnal and his own Kravos flavor. He has recorded on over 69 recordings and counting, including 16 CDs of his very own!

Bob is a prominent entertainer in the Cleveland area. Bob's name is mentioned at the top of the list for "good music". Bob has been featured on a number of local television stations here in Cleveland. Ohio's largest newspaper "The Plain Dealer" did a small bio feature on Bob playing his accordion at the Severance Hall grand re-opening and McDonalds had Bob's sound track on one of their new sandwich ad commercials.

Bob is keeping the heritage and tradition of polka music alive and fresh and he puts his heart and soul into his music. He plans to play as long as there are places to play and there are people who want to hear his music. Bob remains and will remain one of the best.

the bier band

Website: thebierband.com

Make way for The AWARD WINNING BIER BAND! With the motto, "The more you drink, the better we sound," The Bier Band know how to get a party started. Oh, and by the way, just because they wear Lederhosen doesn't mean they won't launch into an occassional Jimmy Buffett tune. If you're a traditionalists, fear not. They still know their German standards and Polkas.

The BIER BAND is based in Cincinnati, OH, a city rich with GERMAN heritage. An eleven piece ensemble, they are comprised of two accordian players, a brass section, a percussion section and singers/crowd participation specialists. That's right, the Bier Band isn't an act for a hushed auditorium. They're bringing a party, so be ready to join in! Consider it German Mardis Gras.

ETHNIC JAZZ

Website: ethnicjazzohio.com

Jason
Nicknamed "The Tin Voice Of Polkas", Jason Uzl is one of the better known faces around polka music. He's played with Eddie Blazonczyk, Tower City Drive, and more. One of the finest trumpet players in the business, he's a Cleveland icon!

Jimmy
Jimmy K began playing professionally at age 11. He's composed regional hits, and has a strong following. For nearly 20 years, Jim led the "Harmony Jac's". He later played with the Dynabrass, The Polish Kid, and then formed "Jimmy K & Power Play" in the mid-90's. Lured from retirement by Mark Janson & the Brass Express, he agreed to join if he could play bass, do vocals & MC work. He played for 5 years, before being approached by Toledo Polkamotion to play accordion. Having not picked up an accordion in 8 years, the prospect was daunting, but he did it anyway, and stayed with TPM until they disbanded. Ethnic Jazz's own Jack Beachly (a former TPB bandmate), persuaded Jimmy to join Ethnic Jazz in 2006.

Joe
Joe Rosinski (aka J.R.) has played with TBC, Bruno Mikos, Ray Budzilek, Tower City Drive, other Cleveland bands, and has filled in for numerous "road bands". Joe started playing drums at 5, and has carved quite a niche for himself in the music scene with his unique style of drumming.

Jack
A fixture in polka music. Jack Beachly played with Lenny Gomulka, Frankie Liszka & TBC, the Trel Tones, Toledo Polkamotion, Dynasonics, John Gora & Gorale & more. He's filled in with dozens of Polka bands all over the country, and toured coast to coast. An accomplished concertina player, Jack excels on bass guitar, plays trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax, alto sax, guitar, keyboard, accordion, banjo, mandolin, violin, and about 50 others. Thanks to his trademark smile, Jack's made thousands of friends in music during his relatively short career (20+ years is short to the old guys!)

Verne
Verne Maddie is our bass player & sometimes concertina player.

Rich
In 1964, at age nine, Rich Benkowski started to play a Start Concertina his father'd brought home from Chicago. After training several years under Mr. Adam Wisnieski in Pittsburgh, in 1969 the Polka-Aires of Ambridge asked him to join the band, with whom he would record three albums between '69 and '73. Rich then played for, and recoreded 4 albums with, Bruno Mikos’ Harmony Stars from '74 through '79. From 1979 to 1987, Rich organized, performed, and recorded six albums with the award-winning Brass Connection. In the past two years Rich has performed with Ethnic Jazz, Freeze Dried from Chicago, and Badinov of Toledo.

The Bier Band The Black Bear Pipe Band

Website: blackbearcpb.com

Formed in February 2005 under the vision of Pipe Major Emeritus Scott MacLeod, the Black Bear Caledonia Pipe Band has been performing throughout the greater Cleveland area ever since. The band has participated in numerous community parades and festivals as well as local church and school events. The main objective of the BBCPB is to promote the arts of Scottish piping and drumming through performances and teaching while providing a place for more accomplished pipers and drummers to perform. The focus within Black Bear is always on the music and the camaraderie of working and playing together.

Black Bear Caledonia Pipe Band proudly wears the Holyrood tartan. The Holyrood tartan represents the district of Holyrood in Scotland, home to the royal palace and ruined abbey adjacent to King's Park in Edinburgh. For years it has been the Royal residence of the Scottish sovereigns, most notably Mary Queen of Scots. The Holyrood tartan was created as an adaptation of the Royal Stewart. This tartan has taken on a new relevance following the seating of the first Scottish Parliament in 300 years, based at Holyrood in 1999.

the good times orchestra

The "Good Times Orchestra" is based in the Detroit, Michigan area, and is comprised of five seasoned musicians who have collectively performed for over 250 years, playing a variety of musical styles, including polkas, waltzes, modern, latin and country. Between all of the musicians, they have played largely in the Midwest and various other states, as well as in Canada, South America, and Europe, and on various Caribbean and Hawaiian cruises.

The leader Herb Schroeder on piano accordion has played in his own groups as well with the late Frank Feil Orchestra for over 50 years. Eddie Adamic, also on the piano accordion, has entertained with his own groups as well as with others, for nearly 60 years. Eddie was inducted into the Michigan Polka Music Hall of Fame in 1982, and as a Trustee in the Cleveland Solvenian Style Polka Hall of Fame in 1990. George Pierson plays electric guitar, banjo and harmonica, and has been an entertainer for nearly 65 years, accompanying major entertainers such as Ray Price, The Platters, and many others, as well as playing with local polka groups. Drummer Kurt Schroeder has also played for about 45 years, being a key part of various groups throughout his career. Tuba player Mike Masten has entertained for nearly 40 years. A very versatile musician, Mike has played with many bands, and has experience playing all styles of music.

The Jagermeister Girls the JAGER GIRLS

Website: jagermeister.com

Carrying vials full of precious liquid and plenty of gear, the Jager Girls look ready to call roll for Chemistry Lab... but for the fact that they're better looking than most chemistry teachers, and their experiments don't involve dry ice and a magnet, but rather injecting curiosity seekers with a German concoction said by many to cause elevation. If you doubt its effects and aren't running for office any time soon, have one of your friends take pictures. Also on hand, for obvious reasons, will be the Red Bull team. With all that orange and red flaring up everywhere, the Jager Bomb sniffing dogs should have a field day.

BURNING LEAF CIGARS

Website: blcigars.com

Burning Leaf Cigars will be on hand in the Bier Garten selling premium quality cigars which you can enjoy at one of the umbrella tables outside the Bier Garten, or just as you meander around the festival. Burning Leaf is coming to us from Columbus, where they are a regular at the local Oktoberfest. Their store on West High Street has a walk-in humidor and a tremendous variety. If you enjoy an occassional cigar, there's no better occassion that the Oktoberfest, and no better vendor than Burning Leaf.

Burning Leaf Cigars BEST OKTOBERFEST MICROBREW COMPETITION

Website: bereaoktoberfest.com/microbrew.php

The Labor Day Oktoberfest "Best Oktoberfest Microbrew" competition will be held Friday, Aug. 29th, 2008 at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. The Bier Garden will be cooking with the sounds of Disco Inferno, and your votes will determine the People's Choice as the Best Oktoberfest Microbrew. Competing breweries include Berea's own Cornerstone Brewing Company, Great Lakes, Rock Bottom, Rocky River Brewing Company, Brew Keepers, Buckeye Beer Engine, Willoughby Brewing Company, The Brew Kettle, and Thirsty Dog Brewing Company. Click here to find out more about the contest and our competing breweries.