Thursday at German Fest

Milwaukee's German Fest opened last night and the crowd was treated to FREE admission and fabulous entertainment. The Widderstein Buaba/Oberallgau Musikanten are a fantastic show band and had everyone hopping to the newest music in the Volksmusik scene and a lot of old favorites as well. Hans (Big John) is pictured to the left; he really gets into his music. The program said Widderstein Buaba, but this is a combination of 2 bands: Widdersteiner and Oberallgau Musikanten for when they play big festivals. They seemed to get their own groupees before long and if you would like to sign the Widderstiner guestbook or/and Oberallgau Musikanten guestbook to let them know how much you enjoyed their performance click on the guestbook links above.

Styrina from Austria is the headliner at German Fest this year and had the crowd (especially the men) mesmerized. Her long beautiful blond hair had trouble keeping up with her as she flew around the stage. We saw this talented singer during our Bus Tour in Austria and there is a short video of Styrina in the side bar on the left. Styrina is a beautiful young woman, but she has been on stage for many years. A friend of mine brought a tape of her from when she was only 12 years old.

The Sandlers, who I often refer to as the "red shirts", had the people on their feet and dancing. Peter, who is the leader of the band, was also our tour guide when we were on our bus tour in May. He was a great tour guide, but he is a fantastic muscian. He brought 4 talented muscians with him and we are so grateful that they were at our house entertaining our guests. We are proud to say that they have also become very good friends of ours.

Springtime in Germany

We spent 2 wonderful weeks in May on a fabulous Bus Tour of Austria, Slovinia, Czech Repulic and Germany. The trip was organized by Gisela Lewis of Special Event Consultant, LLC and Peter Matthai, who is the leader of the Sandler. Peter's band performs any many German events along the East coast, Florida, Canada and Milwaukee's German Fest.

I have put some of my favorite pictures of the trip that include great scenery and having fun with our new friends in the slide show below. However, I will have a separate posting of just pictures of the entertainers we saw during those 2 weeks. After all it was a Reise mit Musik!

The trip started in Austria with stay at the beautiful Hotel Donauschlinge on the shores of the Danube. The view from our room was breathtaking. The food was so delicious at EVERY meal. It was really fun when we decided that for lunch we would go to a Konteterei and just eat Tortes. And we had our first Salzburger Nockerln, it was fantastic. We will definitely be having that again.

We visited such well know places in Austria such as Vienna, Grinzing (sampling the Heurigen) , and Linz. We had a day in Passau and a ride through the Bavarian forest with a stop at the Joskas Crystal world. The trip also went into Slovenia with a visit to the Slavko Avsenik museum & fest hall where we listened to Oberkrainer music, drank Slibowitz and enjoyed watching a tour group of almost all ladies who came from Russia.

But most of all it was a great group of people that we spent those two weeks with. We immediately found that we shared a love of German music and just plain having fun. If you get the New Yorker Staats-Zeitung then you have already read the articles published about this trip. Our friends, Otto & Sieglinde, wrote that detailed account of this trip. I loved reading their articles because it was almost like reliving it all over again and they had details that I had already forgotten. We met this talented couple several years ago on one of Ted Hierl's German Radio Cruises. We are all looking forward to the next one in May 2010.

Gisela & Peter are already getting plans together for next year's trip. So if you see either one of them at German Fest ask them about what destinations are in the works for next year. As soon as I get some details I will be making a post here and letting you know how to sign up.

We went on 3 boat trips, one on the Danube River, the Worthersee, and the Wachau. The trip on the Danube was private and only with our group while 2 musicians accompanied us on the whole trip. We toured the Schoenbrunn castle in Vienna, famous Melk, and saw breathtaking vistas upon the top of the Grossglockner (Austria's highest mountain).

We had music every day. If we were not at a fest enjoying a fine blaskappelle, we were being entertained after dinner at our hotel or enjoying country music Czech style. On the last day of our tour we went to the 125th Stiftungs fest of the Musikkapelle Neubeuern just minutes from our hotel. We were amazed at how many people showed up at this little Bavarian town's celebration. It was a week night and there were about 2,000 people in the large tent. I would estimate that at least 80% of the people were dressed in tracht; including this adorable little guy featured on the right. The slide show has several pictures of when the keg was tapped and of course a hardy "PROST" rang out after that!


It was truly a reise Mit Musik !!!

2009 Austria's Vorentscheid results

All the finalists are listed at the Grand Prix der Volksmusik website and they will be competing in Munich on August 29. While I was on vacation in Austria/Germany I was lucky enough to meet Bernd Roberts. He was going to compete in the Austrian Vortentscheid on May 30, so I was lucky enough to see this talented singer entertain us live at Hotel Alexander in Austria. Unfortunately, Bernd Roberts did not make the finalists. One of the big surprises was that a newcomer, Pfarrer Franz Brei & Signum, made it to the finals. Here is a list of the finalists who will be representing Austria on August 29.

Pfarrer Franz Brei & Signum -- Das Leben...

Die Grubertaler -- Du darfst beim Autofahrn'n nit auf die Maedels schau'n

Leona & Swen -- Mach das nochmal mit mir

Andreas Gabalier -- So liab hob i di

Austria

Austria's vorentscheid original list that competed on May 30.

Natalie Holzner -- Alles fuer's Herz

Helga Frank -- Das Karussell dreht sich weiter

Pfarrer Franz Brei & Signum -- Das Leben...

Die Jungen Zillertaler -- Drobn auf'm Berg

Die Grubertaler -- Du darfst beim Autofahrn'n nit auf die Maedels schau'n

Bernd Roberts -- Hoer auf den Herz

Melanie -- I g'hoer nur dir

Zillertaler Gipfelstuermer -- Ich moechte mir Dir die Sunn aufgehn sehn

Leona & Swen -- Mach das nochmal mit mir

Yves -- Mama

Dunja -- Meine Liebe zu dir

Zellberg Buam -- Sing ma no oan

Andreas Gabalier -- So liab hob i di

Die Aufgeiger -- Sommerfieber

Steirerbluat -- Wir sind alle keine engel

European Spring Tour

If you are looking for a great tour this Spring, take a look at the flyer to the left (click on flyer to enlarge). This 2 week tour of Germany, Austria and Slovenia/Czech Republic takes place May 6 - May 20. This escorted tour includes hotels, bus transportation with Bilingual tour guide, all breakfasts & dinners, admissions to several attractions (see daily iterary at our Events page), and entertainment galore.

I found out about this fabulous tour from friends we met on Ted Hierl's German-American Radio Cruises. Otto and Sieglinde wrote those terrific reports in the New Yorker Staats Zeitung about the Hawaii Cruise in 2008 and the Carribean Cruise in 2007.

This tour is being offered by Gisela Lewis of New Jersey. Gisela has provided German entertainment all over the United States and the Milwaukee German Fest. And now she has put together this music filled tour with Peter Matthai of Thuringen Germany. Some of you may remember Peter when he was at the Milwaukee German Fest with his band Die Sandler. You will experience several boat tours (one is on the Danube), Passau and Vienna. But that is only a small sample of what this tour has to offer.

If you would like more info about this tour, give Gisela Lewis a call at: (732) 528-5135. If you prefer talking to the booking agent, call Hans at Murray Hill International (Global Travel Solutions): (800) 776-4655. Hans can book this tour for you and if you would like him to help you book your air flight, he will be happy to help you. By clicking our Events button on the left sidebar, you will find a detailed list of where this tour will go day by day.

Alpentrio Tirol appear in California on New Year's Eve

I just received the following newletter from the Alpentrio Tirol. Please note that they will be appearing in the states for New Year's Eve at the Alpine Village in Torrance, California

Alpentrio Tirol News Dezember 2008

"Weihnacht in den Bergen" und "Das Abendgebet der Berge" in AUSVERKAUFTE KIRCHEN!

Die gewaltige Rückmeldung der Fans und der Presse über diese außergewöhnlichen und besinnlichen Kirchenkonzerte bestätigen das Alpentrio erneut.
Besonders sind die Konzerte in Korbach und Osterode zu erwähnen!

Vielen Dank an alle Fans, die diese Kirchenkonzerte besuchen.
Ohne euch wären solche Erfolge nicht möglich!



TV-SENDUNGEN

Das Alpentrio wird zu Weihnachten 3mal im Fernsehen zu sehen sein:

21.12.2008 20:00 MDR "Herbert Roth Gala" aus Suhl

23.12.2008 19:00 BR "Melodien der Berge" Zillertaler Weihnacht

26.12.2008 09:00 MDR Morgenstund mit Alpentrio Tirol

Silvester in L.A.

Das Alpentrio Tirol wird Silvester in Los Angeles auftreten!

Bei der New Year´s Eve Performance im Alpine Village werden bekannte Klänge zum Jahreswechsel gespielt.
Natürlich würde sich das Alpentrio freuen einen Fan aus Europa in Amerika zu treffen.


Frohe besinnliche Weihnachten

Frohe besinnliche Weihnachten und einen guten Rutsch ins Neue Jahr wünscht das Alpentrio allen Fans und Geschäftspartnern.

Vielen Dank für die großartige Unterstützung das ganze Jahr über!



Kontakt

Alpentrio Tirol – Büro Martina Astenwald
Management Alpentrio Tirol
Fürstenweg 191 · A-6020 Innsbruck
Telefon +43-512-294737 · Fax DW 4
Mobil Büroleitung +43-664-2004141

www.alpentrio.com
info@alpentrio.com

Grand Prix der Volksmusik Results

I am lucky enough to have a friend, Maria Olligies, who was in Zurich to
watch the Grand Prix der Volksmusik live. Maria was the Talent Coordinator for the Stimmung Stunde and arranged for us to have some great interviews with a lot of stars in Europe.

Well I just might be the first person in the USA to find out the results of the Grand Prix der Volksmusik. Maria sent me a text message with the names of the top 3 winners, and here they are:

1. Die Klostertaler --- Heimat is dort wo die Berge sind
2. Vincent & Fernando --- Glaube an Gott
3. Oesch's die Dritten --- Die Jodel-Sprache

It was a real nail bitter because the Klostertaler and Vincent & Fernando both had 35 points at the end. Then they had a tie breaker, but they both had the same number of points. Then they announced that there had been a jury that voted also as a tie breaker and then the Klostertaler were declared the winners.

I was so very disappointed because I really wanted our friends, Vincent & Fernando, to win first place this time. They won 2nd place in 2006 & 2007 and now again in 2008. They were so very close! Just take a look at the video I posted of their song further in this blog.

If you want some more details, just go to the official website showing the total points each participant received.

Alpentrio Tirol - "Das Abendgebet der Berge"

Just got this e-mail from the Alpentrio Tirol.

Neues Album und Tournee:

„Das Abendgebet der Berge“ -
SAKRALE UND WEIHNACHTSLIEDER

Im September 2008 werden die neue CD "Das Abendgebet der Berge" - eine Mischung aus sakral-besinnlichen und weihnachtlichen Liedern - sowie die gleichnamige DVD erscheinen.

Sie wollen bereits jetzt in die neue CD reinhören? Dann klicken Sie HIER !

Zeitgleich startet das Alpentrio Tirol die Tournee "Das Abendgebet der Berge", eine neue Konzertreihe in Kirchen mit besinnlichen Liedern aus den Bergen und sakraler Musik.

Die erfolgreiche Kirchentournee "Weihnacht in den Bergen“ wird auch heuer fortgesetzt und beginnt Ende November 2008!

Alle Termine und Informationen finden Sie auf unserer Homepage www.alpentrio.com!
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Neue Single:

"Auch noch mit 100 Jahren"
Die nächste Single-Auskoppelung aus dem aktuellen Album "Tränen sind Perlen" erscheint im August 08!
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TV-SENDUNGEN
Die nächsten Fernsehauftritte:

22.07. 17:40, ORF 2, „Sommerzeit“ Ein Plausch mit Georg Astenwald.
27.07. 10:00, ARD, "Immer wieder Sonntag"

29.08. 20:15, SWR, „Fröhlicher Alltag“
29.08. 20:15, MDR, „Der Kahn der guten Laune“

New Look for the Stimmung Stunde Website

Next month it will be one year since Tim Kretschmann broadcasted the last Stimmung Stunde here in Milwaukee on WJYI. Tim has gone on to doing other things such as running the TKPN Podcast network where he produces the Police on the Scene with a Crime Prevention Lean podcast and has won the WCPPA award in 2007 for that podcast. He is still involved with the Pageant world and does the Pagaent Cast podcast. He has traveled to several cities to serve as an MC or judge at various beauty pageants since he left the Stimmung Stunde. There are links to these websites on this page along the left sidebar and on our Links page.

Tim has been training me on how to maintain the Stimmung Stunde website and I want to thank him for all his patience during that process. My son, Tim, spent 17 years hosting the Stimmung Stunde and had many memorable moments that were captured on his website. I did not want to see that go away, so he is letting me maintain this website in a new style. I have changed the website's look and its content. I hope that the people who previously enjoyed the old website will also visit the new website as well. As Tim has taught me, it is important to update the website regularly and I promise to keep to Tim's philosophy of how to maintain a website.