Grumpy Old Men is a (polka) vibe.
Oktoberfest at The Wedge was fun!
I’m so ready for 2025 to be the year of gigs that are creative and out-of-the box. I shared with you last week that I’ll be playing an all-vinyl set of elevator music at Madison Public Library’s jigsaw puzzle contest in January. Bacharach! Alpert! Winterhalter! I can’t wait to make Muzak cool and cozy for you.
The big news is that the annual Grumpy Old Men festival in Wabasha, Minnesota invited me to do a polka event for them in February.
I LOVE the Grumpy Old Men movies. The original is a must-see Christmas movie. It’s got the Up North, nostalgic, buffalo-plaid clad vibe that I see in my mind when I hear polka music. Throwing a dance party for the festival will bring two things I love together.
Here is my favorite scene.
Huge thanks to Jacob and The Wedge for having me at their first Oktoberfest party. We threw a 5th quarter shindig after the Wisconsin Badgers beat Purdue on the gridiron. I’m especially glad to see friends who came for the polka vibes who were also first-timers at The Wedge. It’s a very cute, ‘Sconnie bar that’s worth a visit.
Like the sticker on my laptop? You can get one and show off our official state statute that made polka Wisconsin’s state dance in the Shotski Shop.
Polka Time: Where and when to listen
LIVE - October 13
Sunday, 7 p.m. - WVMO-FM 98.7 Monona
Streaming - last week’s Thrift Shop haul pt. 2
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
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. Spread the word on Facebook.
Save the date: January 11 — Madison Public Library jigsaw puzzle contest
How to beat the post-holiday winter blahs? COZY TIME WITH JIGSAW PUZZLES. What makes that even better? Contests! Prizes! Open puzzle tables! And DJ Shotski spinning vintage elevator music. You think you like my polka? Wait until you hear my selection of groovy, jazzy, funky easy listening tunes.
Event will be from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. with teams setting up at 9:30 a.m. Stay tuned for information to register your team, or just sign up to visit an open table.
Save the date: Saturday, February 22 — Polka Dance Party at the Grumpy Old Men Winter Festival, Wabasha, MN
If John Gustafson and Max Goldman are your vibe, you will love this dance party at the annual Grumpy Old Men festival in Wabasha, Minnesota. DJ Shotski will team up with Twin Cities dance instructor Miss Shannon to share an all-Minnesota polka music set and teach people how to dance the polka. Dancing shoes and buffalo plaid encouraged.
Find the dance at The Transfer Building, 128 W 2nd St, Wabasha, MN from 4-7 p.m. on Saturday, February 22.
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.