Celebrating polka legends.
Do you know these Wisconsin polka hall-of-famers?
This week’s Shotski Lodge is a lakeside conversation with a local creator who loves Wisconsin so much, he pours all of his artistic energy into creating artwork that celebrates our state.
Get it: Polka Legends Sticker
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of polka becoming Wisconsin’s state dance, I joined creative forces with Jeremiah Logeman of Flags Over Wisconsin to create a design that name drops our state’s polka hall-of-famers and influential performers.
Get a Polka Legends sticker for your laptop or beer fridge in the Shotski Shop or visit Flags Over Wisconsin to find amazing Wisconsiny gear and gifts. You can also get the Polka Legends design as a postcard or a print to frame.
Listen: Polka Legends Soundtrack on the next Polka Time
The Polka Legends sticker inspired this week’s episode of Polka Time where I’ll play a song from most of the names that are featured in the artwork.
When you hear songs by some of these artists on Sunday night, check out their obituaries. So often their story is about how they worked on the family farm, in a factory, or sold insurance while making an indelible impact on the history and culture of Wisconsin.
John Check and the Wisconsin Dutchmen
Norm Dombrowski and the Happy Notes
Ray Dorschner and the Rainbow Valley Dutchmen
The Goose Island Ramblers
Normie Dogs and the Melody Boys Orchestra
Dick Rodgers and his TV-Recording Orchestra
With a special shout out to Green County musicians including:
Edelweiss Stars
Betty Vetterli and Martha Bernet
Polka Time: Where and when to listen
LIVE - August 4
Sunday, 7 p.m. - WVMO-FM 98.7 Monona
Streaming - last week’s rebroadcast
Saturday, 8 a.m. - WHYS-FM 96.3 Eau Claire - support WHYS
Saturday, 3 p.m. - WRJQ Goodtime Radio - support WRJQ
Saturday, 6 p.m. - WPCA-FM 93.1 Amery - support WPCA
Saturday, 7 p.m. - WVMO-FM 98.7 Monona - support WVMO
Sunday, 7 a.m. - WOJB-FM 88.9 Hayward - support WOJB
Sunday, 8 a.m. - WILW-FM 96.3 Waupaca
Sunday, 9 a.m. - WOCT-FM 101.9 Oshkosh
Sunday, 4 p.m. - WLSP-FM 103.5 Sun Prairie - support SPMC
Thanks to these community and volunteer-powered stations for keeping vintage polka on the air waves.
Events
September 19-22 — Green County Cheese Days, Monroe
Cheese Days is set to break the world record in the number of people dancing the polka at this year’s festival. And DJ Shotski is providing the polka tunes! Can you be a part of this exciting event? Mark your calendar and register with Cheese Days for details.
NEW: December 1 — Milwaukee Krampusnacht
Milwaukee Krampusnacht will be held on Sunday, December 1, 3-10 p.m. at Best Place and other businesses in the Historic Brewery District on Juneau Ave between 9th and 11th Street. DJ Shotski plays polka tunes from 5-7 p.m. in the historic Best Place hall.
Krampus is a folkloric monster of Alpine tradition. Children are told that goodly Saint Nick will reward them with treats if they are good, but if they are bad they will be visited by the hideous Krampus. Check back on the Krampusnacht website for updates.
Readers like you keep the Shotski Lodge open
The Shotski Lodge is a reader-supported publication. Support from subscribers like you gives me the confidence to pursue my mission to get more people to listen to vintage polka and vinyl records, including through this free e-newsletter.
Become a Shotski Lodge member - Substack offers paid subscriptions for people who want to be patrons of the Lodge’s mission.
DJ Shotski’s Venmo - skip the subscription and give via Venmo where transaction fees are lower.
Hire me for a gig! - your community needs a polka party. Email me at djshotski@gmail.com if you have a venue or an event that needs a vinyl DJ.
Donate records - the answer to free records is always “yes.” I’ll give your records a good home (or I’ll distribute them to my vinyl buddies). Email me at djshotski@gmail.com if grandpa’s records need to get out of the basement.