They're back! The Alex Meixner Band.
Headliner
Have you ever heard Ozzy Osbourne's Crazy Train played on an accordion? This band, led by the one-and-only Alex Meixner, brings a contagious, high-energy, cross-pollination of exuberant Central European party music, letting die-hard polka fans enjoy and embrace evolution, and hipsters discover all there is to love in the underappreciated, innately fun genre.
As a leader in the polka music cultural renaissance, Alex Meixner performs fluidly in styles hailing from Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, Spain, Poland, and America/Cleveland. Nationally acclaimed, recently inducted into the International Polka Hall of Fame, Grammy-nominated musician and producer, Alex can play over 12 instruments, and sing in 11 languages.
Don't miss Das Grand Finale in the Fest Hall Sunday at 6:30 PM!
Fest Hall Stage
FRIDAY 8/2
7:00 - 10:00 PM
SATURDAY 8/3
4:00 - 7:00 PM
SUNDAY 8/4
4:00 - 7:00 PM
DON'T MISS! The Red Hot Chilli Pipers.
Must See!
The most famous bagpipe band on the planet.
Bagpipes with attitude. Drums with a Scottish accent. A blazing rock band and show so hot, it carries its own health warning! It’s Bagpipes. It’s Rock. It’s Bagrock. AC/DC meets the poet Robert Burns. Where rock anthems sit comfortably alongside the great tunes from the glens and the mountains of Scotland.
It’s The Red Hot Chilli PIPERS – (NOT the Peppers!), a 9-piece ensemble consisting of pipers, guitarists, keyboards, and drummers who have been rocking the world from New York to Beijing to Melbourne and everywhere in between with musicianship of the highest order and a passion for pipes that will leave you breathless. The band has four music degrees from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and all the pipers and drummers have played at the top level in bagpiping.
This is their first time appearing at the Bavarian Bierhaus, and the only place you can catch them in the Milwaukee/Chicago area this summer!
AbracadabrA
Alpine Blast
AbracadabrA
SUNDAY 1:30 - 3:30 PM
The Backyard Stage
Spanning the 50's through the 90's
Like magic, this local rock 'n' roll band will have you on your feet singing and dancing to all the classic hits.
Alpensterne
Alpine Blast
AbracadabrA
FRIDAY 3:00 - 6:30 PM
Fest Hall Stage
SATURDAY 6:00 - 9:00 PM
The Backyard Stage
These upbeat Minnesota musicians play all the polka greats. You'll dance along, you'll drink along, you'll sing along, you'll maybe even yodel along. Fun side note: band leader Jim Strehlke mastered the art of European jodeling (yodeling) from one of Germany’s greatest, Sepp Diepolder. Jim was hired by Walt Disney to jodel "The Silly Song" from Snow White featured on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Ride at Walt Disney World in Orlando.
Alpine Blast
Alpine Blast
Alphorngruppe Alpine Echoes
SATURDAY 6:00 - 9:00 PM
In The Bierhaus
The latest in Alpine Musik to hit the local Milwaukee Area music scene!
Alphorngruppe Alpine Echoes
Alphorngruppe Alpine Echoes
Alphorngruppe Alpine Echoes
ALL 3 DAYS!
Practice your "Ricola" and get your cameras ready, Alphorngruppe Alpine Echoes will be strolling the fest grounds all weekend.
In Switzerland and the German Alpines, the sweetest grass for cows is high in the Alpine Meadows. 200+ years ago, the Alphorn provided a way for shepherds to communicate with their family in the Valley below, and believe it or not, the sound would soothe the cows. Mozart even wrote a symphony incorporating the Alphorn.
BB & the HONEY
Alphorngruppe Alpine Echoes
ED WAGNER'S BRASS BAND
SUNDAY 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
The Backyard Stage
A rock, blues, soul, old school country band born on the back porch.
With a soulful voice and emotional interpretations, BB & the Honey is the perfect start to your Sunday fun-day.
ED WAGNER'S BRASS BAND
Alphorngruppe Alpine Echoes
ED WAGNER'S BRASS BAND
SUNDAY 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Fest Hall Stage
An authentic Chicago area German Brass Band started by "Bro" Wagner in 1945. Now, over 75 years since it all began, the band is still playing throughout Chicagoland and the Midwest at numerous German, Austrian, and Czech cultural events as well as countless Oktoberfeste. The band is comprised of second and third generation musicians, most of which are descendants of the original members.
The Freistadt Alte Kameraden Band
The Freistadt Alte Kameraden Band
The Freistadt Alte Kameraden Band
SATURDAY 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Fest Hall Stage
Whether you listen to their rendition of the Armed Forces Medley, polka to traditional tunes, or stuff a dollar bill in their Loferl (sock) while they play Gloria from atop the tables (all of the money goes to charity), you are sure to revel in their authentic, lively entertainment.
The Happy Players
The Freistadt Alte Kameraden Band
The Freistadt Alte Kameraden Band
SATURDAY 1:30 - 5:30 PM
SUNDAY 4:00 - 7:00 PM
The Backyard Stage
From Nebraska, these young, energetic musicians have won the hearts of many with their love of polka and charming smiles. It started with a 2013 Christmas gift and the Beer Barrel Polka on a cell phone, and they've quickly become one of the hottest young polka bands in the Midwest.
Don't miss The Happy Players as they join the Alex Meixner Band on Sunday for the Grand Finale in the Fest Hall.
Peggy Mueller & Friends
The Freistadt Alte Kameraden Band
Peggy Mueller & Friends
FRIDAY 5:30 - 8:30 PM
In The Bierhaus
German folk music accompanied by acoustic guitar, concertina, and assorted rhythm instruments.
Pieptone!
Simply Billy, Simply Elton
Peggy Mueller & Friends
SUNDAY 1:30 - 3:30 PM
Fest Hall Stage
From Chicago, Illinois, Pieptone! plays German Schlager and European chart hits, rarities and oddities of the 50s, 60s and beyond.
Simply Billy, Simply Elton
Simply Billy, Simply Elton
Simply Billy, Simply Elton
SATURDAY 11:00 am - 1:00 PM
The Backyard Stage
Simply the best of Sir Elton John and Billy Joel. Get to the Backyard early for a seat to see this magical tribute. Virtuoso pianist Brian Harris has performed throughout the U.S. and abroad, combining dazzling pianistic technique with brilliant vocals, wild costuming, crazy stage antics, and boundless energy.
The Steve Schultz Band
Simply Billy, Simply Elton
Simply Billy, Simply Elton
FRIDAY 5:00 - 9:00 PM
SATURDAY 12:00 - 4:00 PM
The Biergarten Pavilion
Spend time in the biergarten with family and friends while enjoying the traditional sounds of polkas and waltzes. Accordion to our sources, you're going to love this up and coming German band!
The Swing Crew
The Swing Crew
The Swing Crew
FRIDAY 5:30 - 8:30 PM
The Backyard Stage
It's Toasting Time! FUN is the bottom line with this interactive, acoustic band. The show features a wide variety of music, audience participation, jokes, stunts, cornball humor and toasts. They play classic rock, country, pop, swing, "island beat", and about any other genre you could possibly come up with.
If you want to hear something in particular just ask them, they most likely know it.
Entertainment around every corner!
D'Oberlandlers
Luke's Lost Arts
Luke's Lost Arts
German Dance Performances
FRIDAY
6:50 PM The Backyard, 8:20 PM Fest Hall
SATURDAY
2:30 PM The Backyard
5:20 PM Fest Hall
Founded in 1928, SVEV D'Oberlandler Milwaukee uphold traditional dances, music, costumes, and customs of Bavaria.
Luke's Lost Arts
Luke's Lost Arts
Luke's Lost Arts
SATURDAY 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
SUNDAY 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Demonstrations of carving techniques used for centuries in the Netherlands and across Europe. Learn the history of the klompen (wooden shoe).
Mack Glass Art
Luke's Lost Arts
Spielmannzug Milwaukee
ALL 3 DAYS!
The creators and skilled glassblowers of the World's Tallest Glass Tree perform LIVE. The team will create beautiful glass pickles and beverage vessels live in person with liquid hot glass.
NEW!
GLASSBLOWING EXPERIENCE
FRIDAY 3:00 - 8:00 PM
SATURDAY & SUNDAY 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
You know you've always wanted to try it!
Here's your chance!
Learn the art of glassmaking from the creators of the World's Tallest Glass Tree, Mack Glass. 20-30 minute workshops are available all weekend. Participants will select, make, and take home their own piece! Tap the button below to learn more and reserve your spot. Space is limited!
Ages 7+
Spielmannzug Milwaukee
United Donauschwaben of Milwaukee
Spielmannzug Milwaukee
SUNDAY 3:30 PM
The Biergarten
The Spielmannszug Milwaukee Drum and Bugle Corps was founded in 1957 by a group of dedicated people who wanted to maintain the German culture and music in the United States. 60+ years later, the Spielmannszug is still going strong with Fanfaren, Fifes, Drums, Lyres, Hunting Horns and Cymbals.
United Donauschwaben of Milwaukee
United Donauschwaben of Milwaukee
United Donauschwaben of Milwaukee
German Dance Performances
SATURDAY
1:45 PM Fest Hall, 4:00 PM The Backyard
The Donauschwaben are ethnic Germans that lived outside of Germany in the Slavic regions of Eastern Europe predominately along the Danube River. Since 1945, the purpose of the United Donauschwaben of Milwaukee is to keep the Donauschwaben heritage alive while promoting the language, foods and customs to the public at large.