They're Back! The Alex Meixner Band
Must see!
Have you ever heard Ozzy Osbourne's Crazy Train played on an accordion?
Coming together from across the country, 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.
Make Some Noise!
Nationally acclaimed, recently inducted into the International Polka Hall of Fame, Grammy-nominated musician and producer, Alex Meixner will have you screaming, "now that was FUN!".
Shout out to one of the greatest AMB photographers of all time, Jennifer Kopp!
Two Shows Only!
Headlining The Oktoberfest Stage:
Saturday 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Sunday 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
From a first time Das Fest guest:
"I thought it was going to be background music, but this was a show. It was so entertaining, I came back to see it again the next day!"
Alphorngruppe Alpine Echoes
Alphorngruppe Alpine Echoes
Alphorngruppe Alpine Echoes
Strolling the Grounds
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.
Alpine Thunder
Alphorngruppe Alpine Echoes
Alphorngruppe Alpine Echoes
SATURDAY
The Oktoberfest Stage
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Start your Saturday with this lively, fun, interactive band performing German, Austrian, and Swiss folk/pop music, mixed in with yodeling, cow bells, and alphorns.
Alpine Thunder has 20 years of experience, including residency with the Hofbräuhaus and Edelweiss Restaurant in Illinois, and they perform at more than a hundred Oktoberfest shows and Christkindlmarkts annually.
BB & the Honey
Alphorngruppe Alpine Echoes
BB & the Honey
FRIDAY
The American Bier Hall Stage
6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Have some serious fun on Friday night in the American Bier Hall with BB and the Honey! Are you in the mood for jazz, blues, classic rock, old school country or something contemporary? They have you covered. BB's soulful voice and emotional interpretations of your favorites are complimented by the extremely talented players around her.
Copper Box
Ed Wagner's Brass Band
BB & the Honey
SUNDAY
The American Bier Hall Stage
1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Familiar songs with a Copper Box twist in a multi-genre accord (polka-rock-blues), as well as their own originals. Go on a fun, one-of-a-kind musical journey with Wisconsin's very own, award-winning Copper Box Band!
Ed Wagner's Brass Band
Ed Wagner's Brass Band
Ed Wagner's Brass Band
FRIDAY
The Oktoberfest Stage
3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Opening the fest on Friday! Get ready to raise those steins!
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.
Jeff Winard
Ed Wagner's Brass Band
Ed Wagner's Brass Band
SATURDAY
The Oktoberfest Stage
1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Over the years, Jeff Winard and his Band have remained a favorite with crowds throughout the Greater Milwaukee Area, Midwest, and other parts of the United States and Canada. Jeff and his band are known for their polka and waltz music in the popular "Yankovic Style". Jeff began performing with the legendary Frank Yankovic, "America's Polka King" accordionist and drummer. The band has produced several recordings currently available on CD. Jeff Winard has twice been inducted into the Wisconsin Polka Music Hall of Fame and most recently into the National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame in Ohio.
LUDY and his LADY
Midge & The Hitman
Midge & The Hitman
SATURDAY
The American Bier Hall Stage
2:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Get ready to sing along, dance along, and have some FUN with LUDY and his LADY Nicole, performing a catalog of music by your favorite artists. This vocal powerhouse couple delivers an interactive show featuring the best music from the past 11 decades with Rock, Pop, Jazz, Country and more. There is something for everyone in this highly acclaimed, one-of-a-kind show.
Midge & The Hitman
Midge & The Hitman
Midge & The Hitman
SUNDAY
The American Bier Hall Stage
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Country, rock, alternative, and many more genres of music with powerhouse vocals that will fill the bier hall. Famous covers from artists such as, Heart, Amy Winehouse, Paramore, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Miranda Lambert, and many more!
Pieptone!
Midge & The Hitman
Pieptone!
SUNDAY
The Oktoberfest Stage
2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
From Chicago, Illinois, Pieptone! plays German Schlager and European chart hits, rarities and oddities of the 50's, 60's, and beyond.
The American Graffiti Band
The American Graffiti Band
The American Graffiti Band
FRIDAY
The American Bier Hall Stage
3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
The American Graffiti Band takes you back to the 50’s & 60’s Sock Hop favorites we all know and love. Sure to keep you dancing all night. So don’t be a square and join us for a groovy good time!
The Blooze Brothers
The American Graffiti Band
The American Graffiti Band
SATURDAY
The American Bier Hall Stage
6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
You won't want to miss this entrance!
"We’ve got gas in the Blooze Mobile, a briefcase full of rhythm and blues, and are headed toward the on ramp for the expressway to your heart."
Be there when the Blooze Mobile shows up and get ready for one of Chicagoland's most in-demand show bands.
The Box Band
The American Graffiti Band
FRIDAY
The Oktoberfest Stage
7:00 to 10:00 p.m.
This quintet is always pushing boundaries of what can be done in a bluegrass style instrumentation.
Plan on more FUN than you can imagine - yes! in a dirndl or pair of lederhosen - with The Box Band!
The Freistadt Alte Kameraden Band
SUNDAY
The Oktoberfest Stage
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Opening Sunday Funday with an ALTEmate performance. 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're sure to revel in their authentic, lively entertainment.
The Jimmys
The Sipos & Young Band
SUNDAY
The American Bier Hall Stage
5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
An award-winning, high energy, 7-piece funky blues band with touring experience throughout the United States, the Caribbean, and Europe.
“The Jimmys are excellent musicians, wildly fun entertainers, and perform a slew of strong, original songs. They’re a treat for any fans of roots rock, old school R&B, and straight-up blues. every performance is like a party!” - Bruce Iglauer, Alligator Records
The Sipos & Young Band
The Sipos & Young Band
SATURDAY
The American Bier Hall Stage
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
A local favorite, their urbane Americana style pulls in the listener with intelligent song and verse that celebrates life’s spirited highs and acknowledges its undertows in a beguiling presentation unheard on everyday airwaves. This band is going to get your Saturday off to a fantastic start!
The Steve Schultz Band
The Steve Schultz Band
The Steve Schultz Band
FRIDAY 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
SATURDAY 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., and 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
SUNDAY 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., and 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.
The Barrel Room Stage
Spend time 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 Steve Schultz Band
The Steve Schultz Band
SATURDAY
The Oktoberfest Stage
4:00 to 6:30 p.m.
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. The Swing Crew is the perfect segway to the evening's headliner, The Alex Meixner Band.
The Vegas Magic Guy
The Steve Schultz Band
Strolling ALL 3 DAYS!
Plus 2 shows!
Times TBA
Voted by peers as the best dressed magician that worked on Fremont Street, the Vegas Magic Guy is bringing the magic to Das Fest! With top notch entertainment there's sure to be smiles galore as the Vegas Magic Guy wanders the grounds. He'll also perform family friendly shows in the Barrel Room on Saturday and Sunday. Check back for times.
A few more announcements are still coming!
A few more announcements are still coming!
Entertainment around every corner!
D'Oberlandlers
Luke's Lost Arts
Luke's Lost Arts
German Dance Performances
SATURDAY
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 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
SUNDAY 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
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
The Muller Fasching Verein Nordamerika
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 to 8:00 p.m.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
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! Space is limited!
Ages 7+. Registration link coming soon.
The Muller Fasching Verein Nordamerika
The Muller Fasching Verein Nordamerika
The Muller Fasching Verein Nordamerika
Strolling the Grounds
Founded on January 23, 1996, in Germantown, Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Mullers perform Tyrolean (Austrian) folk customs. This group is the first of its kind in North America.
Spielmannzug Milwaukee
The Muller Fasching Verein Nordamerika
United Donauschwaben of Milwaukee
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
The Muller Fasching Verein Nordamerika
United Donauschwaben of Milwaukee
German Dance Performances
SUNDAY
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.