The Holzhackern Tyrolean Band

• "Heidi" Goodwin - Vocals and Gemutlichkeit
• "Gunther" Schmidt - Vocals and Gemutlichkeit
• "King" Leonardi - Trumpet
• "Bernard" Hall - Trombone
• Lanny Cox - Sax & Clarinet
• Art "Like" Wise - Tuba-Key and Bass
• "Heinrich" Pierce - Drums, whistle, duck call
• "Yon" Trotta - Accordion-Key and Piano

The Holzhackern Oktoberfest sound is built around high-energy arrangements of the traditional Bavarian songs, always with a full three-piece horn line --- trumpet, tenor sax, and trombone. Shows include English and German vocals, audience participation dancing and sing-along, plus lots of very danceable international music.

We picked up the style of leading Oktoberfest bands from Frankenmuth, Allentown, Milwaukee, and Helen, and first appeared as the Holzhackern for a 1983 New Year's Eve party at Veronika's German Restaurant in Winston-Salem. Over the past 26 years, we have performed for German-American clubs (Winston-Salem, Augusta, Charlotte, Clarksville, Spartanburg, Fayetteville), at civic Oktoberfests and Sommerfests (Columbus Ohio German Village, Savannah Riverfront, Augusta River Walk, Charlotte, Hickory, Raleigh, Myrtle Beach, Winston-Salem, Cookeville, Statesville, Ft. Bragg, Greer), at resorts and German restaurants (Grove Park Inn, The Homestead, Helen Festhalle, Weeping Radish, Waldhorn), and at private clubs throughout the Southeast.

On those rare occasions when someone shows up at our Oktoberfest and really doesn't know the Chicken Dance, nor when to shout "Hoi, Hoi, Hoi!", nor what to do as the first or last person on a polonaise line…well, our vocalist and Gemutlichkeit-specialist, Heidi, conducts a short training session in proper "Stimmung Im Zelt" behavior. An old-fashioned MarschWalzer is held every performance, and we're still trying to best the record set at Spartanburg during the late 1980s --- over 100 couples filled the dance floor!

• Heidi - (our theme song!)
• Im Himmel da gibst kein Bier! - (you bet...In Heaven There Is No Beer)
• In Munchen Steht ein Hofbrau Haus - ("Eins, Zwo', g'suffa!" mein freund)
• Wein, Weib, und Gesang - (in the original Viennese German)
• Bubi, Bubi, noch einmal - (we do "Schutzenliesel" instead if nobody wants to waltz)
• so 'ne Feier sing-a-long - (Heidi teaches you to sing in German)
• Chicken Dance - (also known as Oktoberfest-aerobics)
• Lichtensteiner Polka - (Why? Because everyone in the world knows about the old man from Lichtenstein..."Ja! Ja! Ja!" ... "Nein! Nein! Nein!)
• Wenn die Soldaten medley - (for the polonaise line dance crowd)
• The Yodeling Song - (originally recorded by the lovely Nancy T. Michaels with Somethin' Katchy in Boston)
• My Gal Julida - (OK, OK...some polkas aren't German)
• Beer Barrel Polka - (and whattanarrangement by Michael Morris Music!)
• Variations on "Also sprach Zarathustra" - (known as "Rocky Top" in the southern USA)
• Beim Wein medley - (for the bier-impaired)
• MarschWalzer medley - (couples only on the dance floor)
• Help Me Make it Through the Night - (for the polka impaired)
• The Stripper - (for the Chicken Dance impaired)
• High Society & Floating Down to Cotton Town - (well, folks, after all, we started as a Dixieland band called "The Pardon Me, Boys!")
• Lili Marlene - (schmaltz? WHAT SCHMALTZ? this is an absolutely lovely song!)
• Polkas from Hell! - (16 bars of every polka ever written!)
• And literally dozens of other great Oktoberfest and Fasching classics! - (you know 'em...muss i denn...alte Peter...Bums Waldera...Kufsteiner...und so weiter)

Bridal Showers, Clubs, Community Events, Concerts, Conventions, Country Clubs, Dinner Dances, Divorce Parties, Engagement Parties, Events, Festivals, Happy Hours, Hotels, Masters Golf Tournament Parties, New Year's Eve Parties, Nursing Homes, Oktoberfest Parties, Rehearsal Dinners, Resorts, Retirement Parties, Trade Shows...and more.

• Terrific! -- Mike L, Brown Summit, NC, 10/10/2009
• Everyone loved them! Two weeks after the event I am still hearing "They are coming back next year, right?" As the event planner, they made my job much easier. They are no fuss, flexible in assisting with recognizing our sponsors and welcomed the opportunity to officiate the crowning of our Lil Oktoberfest King and Queen. Correspondence was effecient and minimal, serving to put me at ease in knowing that I was dealing with truly professional musicians. Over 1500 in attendance for our first annual Oktoberfest, and nothing but praise. A huge Thank You to all of the members of The Holzhackern Tyrolean Band... See you next year! -- Shelley Q, Raleigh, NC, 9/19/2009
• Fantastic! Loved it--Definitely want them back next year! Great event... -- Alida J, Charlotte, NC, 10/7/2011

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