When It’s Polka Time in Cleveland

 

Fred Ziwich and his “International Sound Machine” has a new CD release out called “When It’s Polka Time in Cleveland.”  (Now and Then).  Some of the 23 songs were recorded in 2021 (Now) and others were recorder in the past.

 If you don’t know Fred Ziwich, here is a little about him from when the National Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame gave him the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.

 “Fred Ziwich is known as just about the most versatile nusician ever on the Cleveland polka scene. He is a virtuoso on several instruments, a prolific recording artist,  and an expert music arranger. His band, the "lnternational Sound Machine" has mastered, performed and recorded all of the major polka styles. Fred also plays a large repertoire of popular music. There is no music he can't play and perform well.”

See more from Fred Ziwich’s Lifetime Achievement Award bio. 

 The 23 songs cover a variety of Polka Styles.  I especially liked the title cut, Achtung Los (Watch Out!), The Beer is Good (Die Goass is’ Weg) and Oktoberfest is here.

 

There’s a unique arrangement of In Heaven There Is No Beer and Cleveland Girls Polka.  Fred also does several covers that were a surprise such as The Accordion Man – Billy Joel’s Piano Man with the words adjusted.  Who would expect covers of “Can’t Smile Without You”, “The Way You Look Tonight” and the classic “Does your Chewing Gum lose its flavor (on the bedpost overnight)?

There are a lot of styles on this CD and a lot of music.  Something for everyone.

You can get it when you see Fred perform live or at PolkaConnection.com and other websites.  You can also email him at FredPolka@yahoo.com

Old Warsaw Polka Polish Dance by PIAST

PIAST, the Polish Artistic Folk Song and Dance Ensemble, performed at the 2019 Polish Constitution Day in Cleveland’s Slavic Village in the John Paul II Polish American Cultural Center in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood.

The grand finale was the Old Warsaw Polka Polish Dance.

More from the Polish Constitution Day event

14th Annual Slovenian Sausage Festival

Smoked sausages and polka music attracted a crowd of more than 1,200 to SNPJ Farm in Kirtland, Ohio, for the 14th Annual Slovenian Sausage Festival hosted by the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum on a warm and sunny Wednesday, September 13, 2017.

More from the Sausage Festival

Impromptu Polka Jam

Winner of judge's choice for best sausage

In Heaven there is no beer polka at Kurentovanje

The Joey Tomsick Orchestra played the ‘In Heaven there is no beer’ polka at the 5th annual Slovenian Kurentovanje Festival in Cleveland.

Slovenians in Cleveland

Pokemon Pikachu dances a Polka

Before the 2017 Kurentovanje Parade stepped off in Cleveland a polka was played, we met the Prince and Princess of Kurentovanje and Pikachu from Pokemon danced a Polka!

More from Kurentovanje

Roll out the Barrel by the Italian Band of Cleveland

The Italian Band of Cleveland marched in the Parade of Flags at One World Day 2016 in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.  This was the 71st annual One World Day and the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.

Here they played the polka classic Roll out the Barrel before the Parade of Flags began.


See more of the Italian community of Cleveland

Green Grass Polka at Polish Constitution Day in Parma

The Green Grass Polka by Northcoast Mix at the Polish Constitution Day celebration in Parma Ohio. http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/polish/polish.htm

2016 Kurentovanje Parade in Cleveland

Some highlights of the 2016 Kurentovanje Parade in Cleveland.

Lots of scary Kurents, polka music, Slovenian groups and others.
They marched up St Clair to the Slovenian National Home.

See more of Slovenians in Cleveland and more Kurentovanje highlights

No Beer Today- Kurents polka at Cleveland Kurentovanje

The Chardon Polka Band played “No Beer Today” while some of the Kurents from the Cleveland Slovenian Kurentovanje Parade and Festival danced.

Cleveland Slovenian Kurentovanje Parade and Festival

Kurents dance polka at Cleveland Kurentovanje

The Chardon Polka Band played “In Heaven there is no beer” while some of the Kurents from the Cleveland Slovenian Kurentovanje Parade and Festival danced.

Cleveland Slovenian Kurentovanje celebration 2016

Lithuanians at Cleveland 216th Birthday

The Cleveland Lithuanian community was well-represented at Cleveland's 216th birthday party.  

Besides singing upbeat polkas, they participated in the fashion show.

See photos and videos of the Lithuanians at Cleveland's birthday