Image by sunflower19020 via FlickrAbout a week ago Polka Quads (they were supposed to play at the Spring Hill Hall on Saturday and Sunday - March 5 and 6) had to cancel their participation in Suncoast SNPJ Lodge 778 biggest event of the year - Florida SNPJ Days 2011. Here's what John Salov, the band leader of Polka Quads sent to me in an email:
Daria:
It breaks my heart to cancel but all 3 0f my guys (2 because of work and 1 guys daughter is playing softball in Kentucky) could not make it. These things just came up and I shed tears over it. You people have been good to the Quads and I apologize from the bottom of my heart.
Please pass this info on to anybody who asks.
Again I am sorry but I can't come there without my best band.
I hope this clears up any rumors that you have heard.
John Salov - Polka Quads
Therefore, our three day weekend - Florida SNPJ Days 2011 on March 4 - 6 will now go as follows:
- Friday, March 4, 20011: All day jam session with Pete November from Ohio from 1 to 6 pm. Admission $5, for jammers who bring in instruments and participate in one of the jam sessions admission is FREE. All instruments welcome. To play as a group, sign up by calling Daria at: (727) 753-9631. As always, polka and waltz dancers (and your family and friends) are more than welcome as well!
- Saturday, March 5, 2011: Alex Meixner Band from 6 to 10 pm. Admission $10.
- Sunday, March 6, 2011: Alex Meixner Band from 2 to 6 pm. Admission $10.
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As always, food and cash bar will be available. For any further information and reservations call Daria (phone number above).
For those of you who don't know Alex Meixner or have never heard him play before, he is a Grammy nominated musician and producer - and here's the description of his music performance I found on his website:
Alex Meixner carries on a Family Tradition of music brought to the USA by his Austrian great grandfather. Building upon this foundation and extensive performances/ touring with his father in The Al Meixner Trio for many years, Alex has developed a fresh musical voice that has made him one of the most exciting performers on the American polka scene.
Alex’s high energy performances of everything from old time polkas and waltzes to more jazz and pop influenced repertoire has won over audiences throughout North America and continues to attract new fans. Equally at home with traditional and contemporary styles, performances on about a dozen instruments (including the 12 foot long Swiss Alphorn and trademark Meixner Button Box sound) and vocals in English, German, Slovenian, Croatian, Czech and more- the band’s reputation continues to grow.
From dynamic polkas and waltzes to Gypsy folk songs to Rocktoberfest parodies, Swing, Latin and Country dance music- the dizzying array of music is perfect for everything from World Music Concerts and family friendly folk festivals to a frenetic non-stop dance party.
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And if you want to find out more still, here's the video (no video, sorry!) of Alex Meixner, playing Schwadamo Polka.
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Actually, Alex has such a unique way of playing accordion that I decided to add another video just so you can see him performing live. Besides accordion he also plays several other instruments, all with equal passion. Of course, to really experience his music, the best way would be to come to Spring Hill first weekend in March and check him out for yourself - and meet Alex Meixner in person.
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Before finishing my morning cup of hot chocolate soy milk and wrapping this post up - I'd like to thank in advance to everyone who volunteered to help me with all the tasks for Friday, March 4 jam session, to all of you who helped me promoting Suncoast SNPJ Lodge 778 events since last Thanksgiving, and all of you who are planning on coming to our events. I appreciate you all more than words can say!
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Image via WikipediaIn case you're up for 92 minutes of Slovenian music, click on the link below, lean back, relax and enjoy. This is a New Year Eve's show "Videomeh" with Slovenian polkas and waltzes, singing at its best by the legends of Slovenian folk and pop music scene, hosted by two popular hosts and singers, Boris Kopitar and Nuša Derenda. 
