Taste of Polonia Festival - Chicago Music Fest

Ode
2023-09-01 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Chicago) | Copernicus Center, 5216 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, 60630, United States
In ancient Greek “ode” means “to sing,” in Bosnian it means “to leave,” in Chicago ode means a five piece indie rock group that specializes in combining elements of Balkan folk, dark Americana and world punk.
Brothers Robert and Davor Palos decided to name their Chicago-based band Ode, Bosnian for “to leave,” as a way to memorialize their roots. They grew up in Bosnia, but sought a new life in Chicago, and this five-piece rock band decidedly embraces the sound of America in its smoldering grooves and moody atmosphere, with deft propulsion offered by drummer Daniel Crane, bassist Elliot Taggart and rhythm guitarist Nikola Dokic.
As heard on the band’s recent debut album Hotel Bristol, Ode draws influences from a variety of alt-rock icons such as Alice in Chains and Nick Cave, but there’s no missing the fact that the Palos brothers retain the strong flavor of their homeland, particularly in the nimble melodic guitar patterns played by Robert, which tap directly into a rich legacy of Balkan folk, while singer Davor mines a theatrical style somewhere between vintage Scott Walker and Bono.
Together the quintet moves seamlessly between shimmering balladry and muscular hard rock, as a dynamic lattice of guitar work pivots between airy arpeggios, beefy power chords, and elaborate unison runs in unusual time signatures. Ode doesn’t wear its Eastern European influence brazenly, but enfolds those ideas naturally within its

The Polkaholics
2023-09-01 17:00 - 18:00
Traditional polka and polka type songs played with non traditional instruments (drums, bass, and guitar). A new generation of Polka music. It’s fast, furious, and fun. We have electrified polka and made it rock! Local Chicago musicians, Dandy Don Hedeker (of Algebra Suicide & Bouncing Balls), Jumpin’ George Kraynak (of New Rob Robbies) and Merry Mike Werner (of Handsome Family) were tired of the dark and dirty woes of the local Chicago alternative scene. Dandy Don (our leader) professed that we would make rock shows fun again. And so the legend began, old Polka bars like the Baby Doll were packed to capacity with angry punk rockers letting their guard down to dance and sing to polka classics like “In Heaven there is no Beer.” Audience members were persuaded to come on stage and admit their addiction to the nearly forgotten genre of polka. Every show has been a blast. We are fun, that’s it. In 2001, after 4 years of polkaholicism, Merry Mike and Jumpin’ George moved on, but Polka Action Jackson Wilson and Jolly James Wallace stepped in to join Dandy Don to keep pushin’ the polka! Since then, Stylin’ Steve Glover took over the 2-beat time keeping in February 2009 and Action Jackson Wilson returned on drums in 2014. Blitz Linster took over bass duties in September 2012. Joining in November 2016, the newest polkaholic is Reckless Rusty on drums. The quest continues!

Reely Dan
2023-09-02 16:30
The group began in 2002 when ten Chicago-Area studio musicians formed a jazz/Rock vehicle to honor Donald Fagen and the late Walter Becker. Reelydan has been perfoming in the midwest at club and theatre apearances, festivals and corporate events! REELYDAN Has been performing the music of STEELY DAN that defines decades of music that still sounds as fresh today as it did then A Reelydan Performance will guarantee a most successful for an all age audiences who appriciate authentic Re-creation of some of the Rock jazz,blues funk and soul.
