The World According to Polka, Season 4

Fridays at 8:30 PM beginning Oct. 9

Polka may have hit the peak of its popularity in the 1950s, but the Chardon Polka Band is here to prove that the genre is still relevant... or, as they might suggest, “delightfully irrelevant.”

Fresh off their Public Media Award win in the category of Performing Arts, the Chardon Polka Band takes viewers on a wacky journey that includes a visit to an accordion museum, lessons in recycling, a tour of a sausage shop, and an eight-foot-tall statue of sasquatch.

These adventures are soundtracked by the Chardon Polka Band and musical friends like Alicia Jo Straka, a jazz accordionist from Colorado; Esther Fitz, an R&B artist from Cleveland; the Polka Brothers from NYC; and Les Fo’Plafonds, a French group that performs using instruments created from trash! 

Mean Green Polka Machine

PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Friday, Oct. 9, at 8:30 PM
Saturday, Oct. 10, at 1:30 AM and 10 PM
Sunday, Oct. 11, at 2 AM

Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Sunday, Oct. 11, at 8:30 PM
Thursday, Oct. 15, at 8 PM

Jake visits a recycling center, a local thrift shop and artist workshop while the band performs polkas befitting the theme. Meet the French orchestra Les Fo’Plafonds, who turn trash into musical instruments. 

Accordion Museum

PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Friday, Oct. 16, at 9 PM
Saturday, Oct. 17, at 2 AM and 10 PM
Sunday, Oct. 18, at 2 AM

Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Sunday, Oct. 18, at 8:30 PM
Thursday, Oct. 22, at 8 PM

Bob Buzecan heads to the New England Accordion Connection & Museum Co. to hear accordion stories and songs in Connecticut. Friend of the band Festmeister Hans interviews accordion wunderkind Rosemary Hoffman in California. 

Who Stole the Kishka?

PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Friday, Oct. 23, at 8:30 PM
Saturday, Oct. 24, at 1:30 AM and 10 PM
Sunday, Oct. 25, at 2 AM

Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Sunday, Oct. 25, at 8:30 PM
Thursday, Oct. 29, at 8 PM

Jake and the gang investigate the unsolved crime detailed in the song, “Who Stole the Kishka?”, once popularized by Frankie Yankovic in the ‘60s. The Polka Brothers perform.

Slovenefest

PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Friday, Oct. 30, at 8:30 PM
Saturday, Oct. 31, at 1:30 AM

Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Sunday, Nov. 1, at 8:30 PM
Thursday, Nov. 5, at 8 PM

The Chardon Polka Band performs at Slovenefest in Enon Valley, Pennsylvania. Bob Buzecan receives a front-porch serenade from a button-box accordion duo. Garret Tatano of Pittsburgh proves that polka is still awesome.

Polka Lullabies

PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Friday, Nov. 6, at 8:30 PM
Saturday, Nov. 7, at 1 AM and 10 PM
Sunday, Nov. 8, at 2 AM

Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Sunday, Nov. 8, at 8:30 PM
Thursday, Nov. 12, at 8 PM

The band performs lullabies in a polka fashion, and the duo behind Brecksville’s Living Traditions Folk Ensemble discusses bringing up three kids.