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Staff photo by Fritz Busch Doris, left, and Chris Benson of Halletsville, Texas, dance to the sounds of the Leon Olsen Show at Bavarian Blast at the Brown County Fairgrounds on Friday.

NEW ULM — Music from several Bavarian Blast bands filled the air around the Brown County Fairgrounds on Friday.

Tom Furth, vice-chairman of Bavarian Blast, spoke about the large crowd on Friday.

“We added a day band to give us five this year. We added more food choices and the weather is beautiful,” said Furth.

A colorful couple twirled and danced gracefully as The Leon Olsen Show was performed at the KNUJ Polka Hall.

“We’re just nomads who like to dance. We drove 1,200 miles from our house to New Ulm.” said Chris Benson of Halletsville, Texas during a dance break with his wife Doris.

“She told me New Ulm had good German food. We went to the Kaiserhoff and Turner Hall Rathskeller. I really liked the murals in Turner Hall. They are so beautiful, I want to go back and see them,” said Benson.

“We also went to Hermann Heights. I wanted to climb the Hermann Monument, but they wouldn’t let me,” he added.

“We met at a dance at the Medina Ballroom. I was living in the rural mountains of Colorado at the time. She was living in rural Iowa,” said Benson.

While The Narren made a round of the crowd and engaged with people, The Concord Singers took the NUVERA stage with KNUJ Radio Production Director/Host Todd Olson on drums.

Olson said he became interested in music through his ancestors.

“I got my musical talents from my grandfather, Elmer Braun from Buffalo Lake. He played in a couple of polka bands. He let me use his drums when I was growing up, after I showed an interest in it,” said Olson.

“I played in the (Bird Island High School) pep band, which was a rock cover band, ‘Deep’ from 1999 to 2006, mostly based in Granite Falls. We played the music of Rick Springfield, John Mellencamp, AC/DC,” he added.

After a period of hiatus from music, Olson sang with The Concord Singers of New Ulm and is now the group’s drummer.

“I love music. It’s a big part of my life. That’s why I got into radio. I didn’t know what else to do for a career. I knew I didn’t want to teach it, so I got into radio,” said Olson.

Fred and Denise Probe from Sleepy Eye said they came to hear Mollie B with Squeezebox.

“She could play the phone book. If we find out she’s playing near us, we’re going to listen to her,” said Probe.

Marvin Huiras of New Ulm says he hears Mollie B with Squeezebox when he spends the winter in McAllen, Texas.

Gregg Albrecht of Fairfax said he enjoyed hearing Mollie B perform at Stiftungest in Norwood-Young America and would like to hear her sing at her Reedsburg, Wisconsin Branson-style Christmas show.

Shelly Boelter from New Ulm urged people to come to Bavarian Blast.

“It’s really a great time. There’s something for everyone,” she said.

On Saturday, the Bavarian Blast music starts in the Schell tent at 10:00 with The Concord Singers on the NUVERA stage. Musikverein Herborn-Seelbach takes the Herborn stage at 11:00

Squeezebox featuring Mollie B will perform at 12:00, followed by Dan Witucki featuring Mein Heimatland Musikanten at 13:00, Alpensterne at 14:00, The Concord Singers at 15:00, Dan Witucki at 16:00, Squeezebox featuring Mollie B at 17:00, Alpensterne at 18:00, Musikverein Herborn-Seelbach at 19:00.

From 20:15 to 21:00 there is a beer mug holding contest. Balance, a tribute to Van Halen at 21:00 and The Hype, 80s glamour, from 22:30 to 00:30.

Schell’s tent events on Sunday begin with Molly B’s church service at 10 a.m., the New Ulm Municipal Band at 11 a.m., the parade at noon, Schell’s Hobo Band at 2 p.m., Dan Witucki at 3 p.m., Alpensterne at 4 p.m., the Concord Singers at 5 p.m., Musikverein Herborn-Seelbach at 6 p.m., and Church of Cash from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The KNUJ Polka Hall Saturday music begins at 11am with the Holly Huntsmen Band, Matt Hodek & the Dakota Dutchmen 12:30pm, the Wendinger Band 2pm, Jolly Huntsmen 3:30pm, Matt Hodek 5pm and the Wendinger Band 6:30-8pm

The Larry Olsen Band performs on Sunday at 11am and 3:30pm, Dain’s Dutchmen at 2pm and 5pm.

For more information, visit www.bavarianblast.com

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