Lake Villa German Musik Festival

We just got back from the German Musik Festival in Lake Villa, Illinois that is hosted by Armin Homann. There were about 400 people there. If you love German music, and you were not there, you really missed a great show. The entertainment this year was just outstanding. The headliner was Gunther Behrle and he did not disappoint anyone. He told us that he was celebrating 20 years since his Hit, Patrona Bavaria, came out and that over 20 million copies have been sold. Both Petra Boeck and Josef Holzmann were great entertainers and really had the crowd going. If you ever see either of these 2 names, be sure to see them. It will be hard to wait till next year to see what Armin Homann lines up to entertain us. Take a look at some of the pictures we took.

Alpentrio Tirol News

I just got this e-mail from our old friends, Alpentrio Tirol, who really are a trio now a days. Also, for those fans that live in the US, don't forget that the Alpentrio Tirol will be performing in California on New Years Eve. If you would like more details, just send me and e-mail: StimmungStunde@gmail.com.

At the bottom of this post I have downloaded a video of their latest song, "Traennen sind Perlen". Take a look..
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19.06.2008
DIE NEWS VOM ALPENTRIO TIROL

Nach dem ausverkauften Servus-Freunde-Fest in Seefeld/Tirol freut sich das Alpentrio Tirol aus die nächsten TV – SENDUNGEN!25 jährigen Jubiläum Alpentrio TirolTV- Eurovision – Sendung „Musikantenstadl“ aus Dornbirn am 5. Juli 2008

Am 22. Juli 08 ist das Alpentrio Tirol bei ORF - TV-Sendung
„Sommerzeit“ zu einem Plausch eingeladen.

„Immer wieder Sonntag“ARD am 27. Juli 08

NEUE PRODUKTION „Das Abendgebet der Berge“
SAKRALE UND WEIHNACHTSLIEDER Ab September 2008 startet das Alpentrio Tirol eine neue Tournee!Das Abendgebet der Berge, eine neue Konzertreihe in Kirchen vom Alpentrio Tirol mit besinnlichen Liedern aus den Bergen und sakraler Musik.Ab November 2008 startet das Alpentrio Tirol wiederum die erfolgreiche Kirchentournee „Weihnacht in den Bergen“ Alle Termine werden laufend in unserer HP http://www.alpentrio.com/ aktiviert.

2008 German Fest in Milwaukee

(posted June 18) Hey, now it's 35 days before German Fest and finally they updated their Culture page. Its still missing some important info, like FREE Thursday with $1 brats and History, Church Service & Entertainment are still coming soon.

But as you can see from my posts under the German-American community events, I have named a lot of entertainers and based on the schedule that German Fest has published, I will provide as complete a list as I can (even with links to their websites). But check back to this site often, because I will be providing videos of the entertainers in action and they will be changed often !!!

(posted June 21) I heard Klaus & Robert talking about the Love Monkeys coming to German Fest on Continental Showcase, so I went to the German Fest website and found nothing. But when I looked at the Love Monkeys website they listed that they are playing at German Fest on Thursday night. Those fans of the Love Monkeys should note that admission will be FREE that night with $1 brats.

Here is a video from:
Orig. Anton aus Tirol - Anton aus Tirol (posted June 18)
Edith Prock - Rosen aus dem Suden (posted June 21)
Barefoot Becky - who stole the Kischka (posted June 23)
Orig. Anton aus Tirol - Wass soll ich im Himmel (posted June 25)
Edith Prock - Im schoensten Wiesengrunde (posted June 29)
Orig. Anton aus Tirol - Wir sind alle Kleine Schweinchen (posted July 4)
Edith Prock - Ich wuensche mir a zeit (posted July 7)

It is only 16 days before German Fest here in Milwaukee and finally the German Fest website has listed Edith Prock on their Entertainment page. Edith Prock is the biggest star that is appearing at German Fest this year and for some strange reason they want it to be a secret? For the last few weeks, Margret Almer was listed (she was here last year) but no one thought it was important to correct the listing they had on their website. There is still a lot of info missing, but I am getting so tired of reporting all this stuff. I will be going to the fest anyway, but I just would like to see them be accurate and have some pride in what they are displaying on their website.
Since Edith Prock was so severely slighted by German Fest, I will be only showing video's by Edith Prock on my website here.

Edith Prock - Sag ma Du (posted July 10)

(posted July 10) I will stop updating this posting and simply just post new ones with new videos from Edith Prock and any other news I might have. German Fest is starting to put some information out on their website now. So you should be able to get some details now. But if you are not sure about something, be sure to call their office to verify any of your info. If you want some more details just click on the EVENTS button above.

Entertainers List

Alpen Echos
Alpensterne
Anton aus Tirol
Austrian Express
Becky & the Ivanhoe Dutchmen
Biba und die Butzemanner
Blaskapelle Milwaukee
Cindy Hartz & Dennis Smith
Copper Box
Edith Prock
Elegant Gypsies
Freistadt Alte Kameraden
Jean Rex & Kurt von Eckroth
Johnny Hoffman Band
Johnny Wagner Band
Junge Kameraden
Kerry Christensen
Lewitsaenger
Love Monkeys
Peggy Mueller
Polka Dotz
Pommersche Spaeldeel
Saddle Brook
Die Sandler
Die Schmalzler

2008 Grand Prix der Volksmusik Scandal

It seems every year there is a lot of drama surrounding the Grand Prix der Volksmusik. This year it started with the Zellberg Buam (Austria) who were slated to compete, but they let the news out before the competition took place. They were disqualified for not sticking with the rules.

On May 23, Sudtirol had their Vorentscheid competition in Algund, Italy. Markus Frings was scheduled to host this show, but the last minute Markus Frings fell ill and Rudy Giovannini (here is a link to his Italian site or take a look at his fanpage-Neckar Alb) stepped in. This would have been all OK, but Rudy had written the song under a pseudonym (pen name), Fabio Omero, that Sauguat sang (and landed 1st place), "Die Schaefer von Schnalstal". This is not allowed according to the rules and promptly Sauguat was disqualified.

Now the 5th place winner, Bergdiamanten (Ein Bisschen Gottvertrauen), will compete for Sudtirol at the finals in Zurich, Switzerland on August 30. Take a look at their website, it already has a Grand Prix der Volksmusik icon with "Auch wir sind dabei". They sure did not waste any time! It's a chance they didn't think they would get.

If you would like to see what the standings were for the Sudtirol Vortentscheid, go the fanclub page for Vincent & Fernando that Maria Olliges hosts. You can see all the standings for the Sudtirol Vorentscheid. A great big THANKS to Maria Olliges who sent me this news. She found this reported on the Bergfeuer website and for those of you who can read German, here is a link to the Bergfeuer webpage. Maria Olliges was the Talent Coordinator for the Stimmung Stunde and is still very active in the Volksmusik scene.

Bob Ziegenbein interviews Melanie Oesch

Radio annoucer, Bob Ziegenbein, from WTKM-104.9 FM (Hartford, Wisconsin), will be doing an interview with Melanie Oesch on Sunday, June 1, at 9 pm cst on his Hallo Deutschland Hallo program.

You can listen LIVE on Sunday evening at 9 pm on WTKM of course, but the re-broadcasts over the Internet are on 24/7Polkaheaven on Tuesdays @ 7 pm and Fridays @ Noon. All times are Central Standard time.

Melanie Oesch will be giving her first American Radio interview to Bob and it should be very interesting. This young Swiss Miss shot to fame last year with her musical family when they won the competition on the popular Austrian show Musikanten Stadl hosted by Andy Borg. The winning song was Ku-Ku Jodel and many Milwaukee listeners have heard it on Continental Showcase. Click on the YouTube clip below to hear what their winning song sounded like on the Krone der Volksmusik.

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Melanie who is part of Oesch's die Dritten will be competing in the Grand Prix der Volksmusik on August 30th in Zurich, Switzerland with the song "Die Jodelsprache". If you are wondering what this talented Jodel queen sounds like, just click on the video below to see/hear her do the song she will compete with in Zurich. Also, don't forget to vote on my poll -- who do you think will win the Grand Prix der Volksmusik?

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Immer Wieder Sonntags

Hey all you Immer Wieder Sonntags fans. The season starts tomorrow, June 1, with host Stefan Mross.

For those of you who get Shift TV, it is again on the ARD network at 10 am their time. If you klick on the link for Immer Wieder Sonntags website you can see the following list of dates below.

• 01. Juni 2008 (Rudy Giovannini)
If you watched this show, you know that they ran out of time before they could give the results of the voting. It was posted at their site as follows:
Das Ergebnis der ersten Ausscheidung der 'SOMMERHITPARADE' ist Jenny Bauer "Herz auf Sommerzeit" 19%, Florian Fesl "Sommer ohne Ende" 81%. Der Sieger wird am kommenden Sonntag, dem 08.Juni 2008 in der Sendung präsentiert.
• 08. Juni 2008
• 15. Juni 2008
• 22. Juni 2008
• 29. Juni 2008
• 06. Juli 2008 (Reiner Kirsten will be a guest)
• 13. Juli 2008
• 20. Juli 2008
• 27. Juli 2008
• 03. August 2008 (Die Schaefer & Vincent and Fernando)
• 10. August 2008
• 24. August 2008
• 31. August 2008 (best of)

Lake Villa German Music Festival - June 22, 2008

This annual German Music Festival is hosted by Chicago radio announcer, Armin Homann. Armin Homann has been the host of Deutschland Echo in Chicago many years and once a year he brings wonderful German entertainment to the pavilion in Lake Villa that is owned by the American Aid Society.

The doors open at 11 am and food is available for purchase from the American Aid Society. The afternoon promises 2 performances and the first one is at 1 p.m.

The headliner is famous singer and song writer, Guenther Behrle. Mr. Behrle wrote "Patronia Bavarea" and has again written some great songs that are in this year's Grand Prix der Volksmusik. Captain Cook will be performing "Ich denk so gern an meine Mutter" representing Germany. Mr. Behrle is the Prodozent for Captian Cook so be sure to click on the "fanbereich" button to see Mr. Behrle's comments. Vincent & Fernando will perform "Glaube an Gott" for Sudtirol. They are one of my personal favorites because they were the first entertainers that gave the Stimmung Stunde an interview. If you click on the link I provided above, you can go to their website and hear a sample of the song they will be singing. We have seen them perform live many times and think they have a great chance in Zurich, Switzerland on August 30.

Filling out the program will be Petra Boeck of Austria, the M & M Musikanten from Bavaria and Josef Holzmann. There is a picture of Josef Holzmann on the right side of this posting and a link to his website for information about this talented singer from Bamberg. Chicago's own Perlen will provide dance music for the afternoon. If you are not sure where Lake Villa is located, just click on the link below and you will see a map. It is located west of 6 Flags - Guernee, Illinois.

American Aid Society Pavilion - Lake Villa
259 W. Grand Ave., Lake Villa, Illinois (Route 132, 1 mile west of 83)

For more information, call Armin Homann: 1-847-583-1941.

2008 Grand Prix der Volksmusik Finalists

I just finished listening to a live broadcast of the Grand Prix der Volksmusik from Sudtirol in Algund, Italy. They were the last ones to hold there preliminary contest that determines the 4 finalists that will be going to Zurich, Switzerland on August 30.

Check out the final standings of each country that is participating listed below.

Sorry to say the Schmalzlers are not in the finalists, but they will be coming to the Milwaukee German Fest in July 2008. However, many people in Milwaukee and the people who attended Ted Hierl's Cruise last year will be happy to see that the Schaefers made it to the finals. If you would like to hear the interview that the Schaefers gave to the Stimmung Stunde back in 2005, click here -1, 2, 3, Video.

Of course, my favorites are the brother duo, Vincent & Fernando. They were the first entertainers that gave the Stimmung Stunde an interview and you can still hear that interview by clicking here - 1, 2, 3. Here is a link to Maria Olliges' fan club page, who was the Talent Coordinator for the Stimmung Stunde and still ver active in the Volksmusik world.

If you would like to see what this year's contestents look like and in many cases sound like, click on the links below. Which one do you think will be the grand prize winner this year?

Austria

Udo Wenders --- Der Letzte Zug, Cara mia

Die Klostertaler --- Heimat is dort wo die Berge sind

4 Holterbuam & Die Mayrhofner --- Tiroler - Steirer Musimix

Stodertaler Gaudi-Express --- Volksmusik mus es sein

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Germany

Captain Cook --- Ich den so gern an meine Mutter

Die Schaefer --- Glaube ist...

Michael Klostermann/

...Die Jungen Orig. Oberkrainer --- Vom Egerland bis Oberkrain

Dorfrocker --- Und ab geht die Luzzi

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Sudtirol

Sauguat --- Der Schaefer vom Schnalstal (Disqualified) .

Bergfeuer & Judith --- Liebe ist ein Kind der Freiheit

Vincent & Fernando --- Glaube an Gott

Geschwister Niederbacher --- Die Alte Madonna

Bergdiamanten - Ein bisschen Gottvertrauen

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Switzerland

Oesch's die Dritten --- Die Jodel-Sprache

Kapelle Oberalp, Domingo Rey &

...Los Brillantes Paraguayos --- Lueg a moi

Christian Duss --- Komm ich zeige dir dei Sterne

Manuela Fellner & Urs Meier --- Lauf dem Glueck nicht hinterher

Schmalzlers are in the Grand Prix Deutsche Vorentscheid

I just got this e-mail from the Schmalzlers. They are going to be in the Grand Prix Deutsche Vortentscheid on Wednesday, May 21. Those of you who get German television (like Shift.TV), be sure to tune in. The Schmalzlers will be at this year's German Fest in Milwaukee and we are all hoping that they will get to the finals in August.

Here is what they wrote:

Liebe Freunde, am kommenden Mittwoch, 21 Mai 2008 / 20.15 Uhr Live im ZDF ist es soweit, wir sind dabei mit unserem Titel "Kleine Marcella" bei der Deutschen Vorentscheidung zum Grand Prix der Volksmusik 2008. Bei der TED - Wahl werden in der Sendung die jeweiligen Nummern der 15 Finalisten bekannt gegeben und dann entscheidendie Anrufe, wer zum Finale nach Zürich fährt. Wir würden uns riesig freuen, wenn Ihr uns nicht nur die Daumen, sondern auch die Tasten am Telefon drücken könntet. PS. Mann kann auch mehrere Stimmen abgeben, indem man einfach die Wahlwiederholungstaste drückt. Wir freuen uns schon auf einen schönen, fairen Musikwettbewerb und sagen ein herzliches DANKESCHÖN für Eure Unterstützung.

www.schmalzler.de

Oliver Thomas News

I just got this e-mail from famous German Singer, Oliver Thomas. He has a new hit and wants everyone to know how they can get it. This e-mail has a lot of great links and info, however, it is all in German.


Aktuelles von Oliver Thomas .15.05.2008

DIE AKTUELLE SINGLE

....geht ab wie eine Rakete!

VÖ: 10.03.2008 (Promo-Single) Genre: Schlager Koch Universal Music
SI-CD - Art.-Nr.: P00455 M: Jean Frankfurter, T: Bernd Meinunger, V: montana, LC 11936

Der Countdown läuft, die Rakete ist gezündet…
„Du gehst ab wie eine Rakete“ - vorm Radio, auf der Tanzfläche, beim Konzert, bei der Party, vorm Fernseher, im Auto, ja sogar im Büro…!
Die neue Single hat es in sich, der Titel „Du gehst ab wie eine Rakete“ macht vor nichts halt und verbreitet überall schlagartig Raketenstimmung und gute Laune! Bei den Live-Auftritten in Konzerthallen und sogar in Tanzpalästen ist der Titel jetzt schon die Nummer 1 beim Publikum und beweist Hitqualität.
Oliver Thomas hat den Zünder für jede Party…

Jetzt die neue Single bestellen bei: http://www.musicload.de/

Hol dir jetzt den neuen TanzMix für deine Party! Raketenstimmung garantiert!


Der neue OT-Promotionbereich

Unser neuer Service, nur für DJs sowie Radio- und TV-Redakteure! Hörbeispiele, Cover und exklusive Titel-Downloads: http://www.promo.oliver-thomas.de/

Bitte Passwort anfordern unter promotion@oliver-thomas.de (Name, Sender usw. angeben)

TV-Termine
22.06.2008 NDR 17:00 Uhr Bingo
06.07.2008 ZDF 11:00 Uhr ZDF Fernsehgarten
03.08.2008 ARD 10:00 Uhr Immer wieder Sonntags
06.08.2008 SF1 20:05 Uhr Open Air Flumserberg
In Vorbereitung: Willkommen bei Carmen Nebel

(weitere TV-Termine in Planung! Änderungen vorbehalten. Alle Angaben ohne Gewähr)

Short-News

- “Rakete” auf Platz 32 in den nationalen DJ-Charts www.bvd-ev.de (BVD bemustert)
- Oliver Thomas und seine “Rakete” bei Smago.de www.smago.de
- Schlager der Woche bei Hithaus hithaus.dcrs-online.com
- Die “Rakete” gehört inzwischen zu den www.mallorca-megahits.de (auf Platz 9)
- Seit Wochen Platz 1 der Charts auf www.mallorcakoenig.de
- Die Fangemeinde wächst stetig, z.B. auf www.myspace.com/oliverthomasmusik
- Immer aktuell informiert mit dem Oliver Thomas Newsletter www.oliver-thomas.de

Weitere Infos auf der offiziellen Homepage:

http://www.oliver-thomas.de/

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Happy Mother's Day!

When I look at what my mother has made the StimmungStunde.com website into since my last radio program, it fills me with pride. I taught her a few little things in an evening or two and now the website gets nearly as many hits as when I was still doing the show, keeps folks all around Milwaukee informed on the German-American community (there's more information about the upcoming German Fest here than their official site!), and continues to bring us her optimistic views of the world while providing great resources for those looking into their culture.

Congratulations, Mommy, on such a great achievement! And...
A Very Happy Mother's Day!

Grand Prix der Volksmusik

Songs are done being chosen for the Grand Prix der Volksmusik that will be held in Zürich, Switzerland on August 30, 2008. Only one of the songs on the list for Austria has to name who will perform the song (I think it's the one that the Zellberg Buam got disqualified for). SudTirol has not announce the performers yet, but that should be soon. If you want to go directly to the website for the Grand Prix der Volksmusk, just Click on the , and you can get all the details as they happen. Or if you just want a quick, easy look at who is competing, to go the charts that I have created containing all the latest results. Also, I have links to many of the performers' websites to get more info on some of the competitors. If I am missing a link and you know what their website address is, please send me an e-mail so I can update it.

The singers/muscians who will perform the songs have been chosen, except for Sud Tirol, and there are a few familiar names among the writers of the music and/or text.

Uwe Ehrhardt, the leader of the Schaefers, is pictured here with the lead singer, Bianca, and Tim Kretschmann when they were in Milwaukee at WJYI for a live interview in 2005. The Schaefers were the main entertainers on last year's cruise to the caribbean with Ted Hierl. To see pictures of last year's cruise with the Schaefers and details about this year's cruise to Hawaii with Reiner Kirsten, Click HERE.

Uwe has written the text to a song and the music by his sister, Sonja Malolepski (who is married to Olaf of the Flippers), that was chosen to be represented by Germany in the Grand Prix der Volksmusik. The name of the song is: Glaube ist. The Schaefers will be performing this song.

Another familiar name is Gunther Behrle.

He has written 3 songs for Germany, they are: Das kleine Kreuz am Straßenrand (Claudian Dechand), Ich denk' so gern an meine Mutter (Captain Cook), and Zeig uns das gelobte Land (Die alpen-Gospel Saenger). Gunther wrote both the music & text for all 3 songs.

He also wrote a song for Sud Tirol, "Glaube an Gott. "

Pictured to the right is Gunther Behrle with Tim in 2004. For some of you who do not recognize who Gunther Behrle is, he wrote the famous song "Patrona Bavarea" and performed at Milwaukee's German Fest in 2005.

Robert Jung wrote the text for "Ich bin ein Kind der Dolomiten" for Sud Tirol.

Germany has announced the performers and as mentioned above the Schaefers will again be competing. Of interest to Milwaukee is that the Schmalzler are competing. The Schmalzler are scheduled to be at this year's German Fest.

If you would like to see the results so far on the chart I have created that includes links to the performers websites . But if you would rather go directly to the website for the Grand Prix der Volksmusik click on this . Those results will be getting updated often in April/May. Notes these pre-final dates: Switzerland = April 19, Austria = May 3, Germany = May 21, and Sud Tirol = May 23.

It's one year... no Stimmung Stunde!

On March 31 it will be one year that the Stimmung Stunde is no longer on the air here in Milwaukee. It was a hard decision for Tim at that time, and 17 years of being on the air was hard to walk away from. However, Tim has persued other interests and certainly has not had time on his hands.

He is busy with his two podcast shows: the award-winning Police on the Scene with a Crime Prevention Lean and the Pagaent Cast podcast. He has served as a judge and MC at many beauty pagaents both locally and as far away as Myrtle Beach. Plus, Tim is employed by the local utility here in Milwaukee and is very busy with his "day" job.

On Saturday, I went with Tim to the Miss St. Francis Pagaent and saw why Tim made the decision he did to leave German radio in Milwaukee. He was treated so nice by so many people. They really appreciate what he does for their community.

To the right, is Meghan Lyne who was on the Stimmung Stunde when she was Miss Fox River Valley in May 2006. It was nice to see her again, because for several years Tim had be taking the pictures of the girls during their appearances on the Stimmung Stunde. There were at least 3 other girls at this pagaent that had been on the Stimmung Stunde in the past and it was nice to hear about what they are doing now.


Tim has been kind enough to train me on how to maintain this website and I thank him for being so generous with his time. If you would like to wish Tim well in the future, please sign our guestbook (there is a link button at the top).

Oliver in Blankenberge Belgium

Thanks to Chantal for this great picture of Oliver Thomas. She printed out the picture I had with Oliver when we saw him in 2005 on the Bodensee. She had Oliver autograph this picture (if you zoom in you can see the signature) and took this picture of him. If you would like to see the video she took of Oliver when Chantal was at his concert in Blankenberge, just click HERE.

Wow, talk about the world is always getting smaller. This is sure a great example of it.

If you would like to hear the interview Oliver Thomas did on the Stimmung Stunde back in 2004, click on these links: part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4.

We will miss you, Margrit

Today the Milwaukee German Community lost one of its most dedicated voluteers, Margrit Heitmann. She was a director of German Fest for many years, but take a look at this Article written by Andy Wagner.

if you have some information, please send me an e-mail. Here is a link to the write-up in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and below is a copy if you would rather read it here.

Heitmann, Magrit J. (Nee Penshorn) March 13, 2008. Age 78 years. Preceded in death by her beloved husband of 53 years. Horst K. Heitmann. Cherished mother of Hans (Amparo), Klaus (Beth) and Roland Heitmann. Loving grandmother of Matthew, Erika, Vanessa and James. Also survived by other relatives and friends in the USA and Germany. Visitation Sat., March 15, at the Funeral Home, from 12 Noon until time of the Funeral Service at 2:00 PM. Private interment Summit Cemetery, Summit, WI. SUMINSKI FAMILY FUNERAL HOME Niemann / Suminski 2486 S. Kinnickinnic 414-744-5156
Published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on 3/14/2008.