Press Contact: Robyn Bushong, 409.744.7848
Email : RBush1147@aol.com
Public Contact: First Lutheran Church, 409.762.8477,
On line: www.galvestonoktoberfest. com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCED FOR GALVESTON ISLAND'S 34th ANNUAL
ISLAND OKTOBERFEST, OCTOBER 23-24, 2015
GALVESTON ISLAND, TEXAS (27 August 2015.) Grammy- Nominee Alex Meixner and
The Alex Meixner Band - recognized nation-wide as "the hardest working band in Polka today"
- will headline this year's expanded and diverse entertainment schedule during Galveston's
premier fall event - the 34th Annual Island Oktoberfest. Set to take place in historic downtown
Galveston, the festival kicks-off Friday evening, October 23rd from 5-11 pm and continues
Saturday, October 24th from 11 am - 11 pm. This fun, family weekend will feature continuous
live entertainment on two big stages, authentic German food and libations - including three
themed Bier Gartens featuring a variety of both German and domestic brews and a variety of
German-style wines from nearby Haak Vineyards; holiday shopping for fine arts, crafts and gifts
in The Lyceum; Cake Wheel, an exciting auction, new car raffle, fun children's activities and
games and much more. Island Oktoberfest, hosted by First Lutheran Church and co-sponsored by
Del Papa Distributing Company, will be held on the grounds of and streets adjacent to First
Lutheran Church, 24th and Winnie. Admission is free. German costumes encouraged. Please no pets on festival grounds.
ALEX MEIXNER
Exciting and new this year on both days (Friday evening and Saturday)
is The Alex Meixner Band from Palm City, FL. Meixner, a 2007 Grammy-Award nominee, is
highly-regarded for his traditional Austrian-German repertoire, as well as contemporary fusions
with folk and pop music. Meixner is well known not only at Oktoberfests throughout the U.S.,
but in concert halls, rock clubs and for entertaining ethnic organizations - coast to coast.
alexmeixner.com
AUF GEHTS
New this year on the Music Stage throughout the day on Saturday will be Randy Adams and
Auf Geht’s. Get ready to enjoy lots of happy music and serious fun with their specialty: "Their
music of the Alps"– Bavaria, Tirol, Rheinland, Germany, “and Brazoria County Texas."
aufgehtsmusik.com
DAS IST LUSTIG
Das Ist Lustig headlines the Family Stage again this year and is
a local German band from Houston. Das Ist Lustig means “that’s fun”, and the band performs for
audiences of all ages, and is a fan favorite at the Island Oktoberfest as they offer a variety that no
other band does. Valina Polka of Das Ist Lustig is thrilled to again serve as MC for the Family
stage. prostyall.com
MIDLIFE CRISIS
Featuring local professionals, “Mid Life Crisis” will play to a loyal
local following and a growing new fan base. For fifteen years now, this band of local doctors,
attorneys and professionals has been entertaining on Galveston’s Strand and at Galas and
Charitable events. A tremendous hit and crowd favorite since 2011, the band returns this year to
Oktoberfest, and they will be featured on Friday night from 7:00 pm until 11:00 pm. Midlife
Crisis specializes in music from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, adding new hits in current favorites.
KEVIN ANTHONY
For Galveston, Texas based musician, Kevin Anthony has played the
big cities from Houston to New York and back again to his Island home. He’s been performing
his unique sound which he calls “Gulf Coast” all throughout Texas, Louisiana with his band
called G-Town as well as trips to the mid-west to Wisconsin & Minnesota where he performs
with his country/Cajun band, The Twin City Playboys. Anthony’s smooth voice comes through
brilliantly – it’s soulful, warm and lovely. Back by popular demand, Anthony is a gifted singer
and an incredibly talented lyricist. See him on the Family Stage multiple times during the
weekend. kevin-anthony.com
THE TUBAMEISTERS
No instrument is more identified with German and Czech
music than the Tuba. The TubaMeisters, a Tuba/Euphonium quartet, go far beyond the oompah
tradition, by presenting a rich and varied entertainment. All the old standards are here, with other
music you’ll enjoy. There’s also Austrian, Czech, Slovenian, Spanish, and Mexican, and even a
few Country-Western and Rock tunes, as well, with vocals in five languages.
Back again by popular demand, the crowd pleasing part of their act is their strolling
performances, interacting with the crowd up close and personal. TubaMeisters will perform on
the Family Stage on Friday and can be found strolling through the crowds periodically having
fun with the guests. thetubameisters.com
FANFARE! The Lutheran Music Academy Children’s Choir
Fanfare! returns this year bigger and better than ever.
In this its fifth year, the Lutheran Music Academy has grown to over 60 students learning music
and art in an after school program designed to introduce the participants to fine music theory and
performance. The Academy teaches Voice, Piano and Keyboard, Violin, Guitar, Music Theory
and Art. June Pulliam is the Executive Director, and the school is staffed by very talented
professionals committed to music and education throughout the Galveston County area. See
Fanfare! on Saturday afternoon. Fanfarelma.com
DEER PARK FOLK DANCE GROUP
Returning this year to the Family stage is the Deer Park
Folk Dance Troupe. This respected group of young men and women study German at Deer
Park High School and are in their 9th year of existence. Their enjoyment of the German culture,
the fellowship they have found with each other, and their dedication to practice has made them
successful in Regional and State German competitions. They proudly perform at the Tomball
German Heritage Festival in the Spring and community events in Deer Park. The Island
Oktoberfest is excited to have this great group of young people performing again on Saturday.
RATHKAMP GERMAN FOLK DANCERS
The Rathkamp German Folk Dancers (Die Rathkamp
Deutsche Volkstanzgruppe) is a family-oriented group established in 1959 by Monroe and Betty
Rathkamp. The group strives to preserve and perpetuate German and Germanic folk dances,
customs, and culture, and to cultivate a public appreciation of these by dancing in authentic
costume accompanied by authentic music. The repertoire includes dances from all over
Germany, Austria and Switzerland: beautiful and graceful Ländlers with their many figures;
Schuhplattlers (foot slapping dances) from Bavaria and Austria; guild (occupational) dances such
as Mühlradl (Millwheel), which represents the grinding of grain, and Die
Hammerschmiedgesell’n (blacksmith journeymen); wedding dances; and many other folk
dances. The dancers are from the Houston Area and are returning for their second year to
Oktoberfest. See them on Saturday at the Family Stage. rathkampgermanfolkdancers.org
GEMISCHTER CHOR HARMONIE
The New Braunfels Gemischter Chor Harmonie is an ethnic
Choir who enjoy singing and having fun and fellowship (Gemütlichkeit) while preserving
the German language and traditions. Some are fluent in German, while others are using the
choir to help them learn the language. Most of all they share a love of singing in German.
They hail from New Braunfels and surrounding German enclaves. Though 75 years strong, the
group has just recently become stepping out from the New Braunfels area, and Oktoberfest is
happy to see them return again to our entertainment lineup- keeping the German traditions
alive. See them on Saturday on the Family Stage. nbharmonie.org.
PHOTO CUTLINE: The 34th annual ISLAND OKTOBERFEST kicks off the weekend of
Friday, October 23rd in historic downtown Galveston. The island's premier fall event,
runs from 5-11pm on Friday evening, October 23rd and continues from 11am-11pm on
Saturday, October 24th. This fun, family festival is hosted by First Lutheran Church and
co-sponsored by DelPapa Distributing Company. The festival takes on the grounds of and
streets adjacent to First Lutheran Church 24th & Winnie. For more information visit
www.galvestonoktoberfest.com or call 409.762.8477. Enjoy live continuous entertainment
on two stages, German style libations and food , fun children's activities, great holiday
shopping in The Lyceum, giant raffle and auction and more! Admission is FREE.
(DSC_6633, DSC_6773, DSC_6659 and DSC_6820 - photos by Robyn Bushong.)
####