Oktoberfest tips hat to St. Albert

As floating leaves whirl around us, many are grabbing fall by the stein. Not wanting to miss out on Oktoberfest, St. Albert’s Crown ¶ Tower is hosting its inaugural beer festival this coming Saturday.

Traditionally the larger-than-life Munich affair boasts a breweries’ parade and big brass bands.

Instead Crown & Tower owner Troy Marchak is keeping his festivities on a more intimate keel with authentic German beer and food, prizes and traditional music hall songs.

Accordionist Jordan Rody, 20, of Leduc and accordionist-guitarist Scott Heathcote, who play with manic gusto, will debut their old world polka music vamped up with a modern twist.

“We both have the same passion for old tyme music. We’re both young and we both like the same musicians,” Rody said.

Varying their tempo from traditional chords, the Rody-Heathcote team plays a Cleveland polka style that incorporates a Slovenian vibe.

But none-the-less they plan to roll out the barrel with high-energy pub tunes such as Liechtensteiner Polka and In Heaven There Is No Beer.

“When I’m up there, I really have a good time. I play with great musicians and I know the music so well. I like the people you meet and the smiles everyone has. What matters to me is making other people happy,” says Rody, a first year plumber-gasfitter student at NAIT.

Rody comes by dance hall music naturally. His pedigree stems from his grandfather, Mike Kushnerk, a founder of The Western Senators, Saskatchewan’s Grammy-nominated polka band.

“He taught me everything he knows and has been a big support.”

Despite a strong family lineage, Rody didn’t pick up the accordion until he was 13. His first attempt was while babysitting.

“My grandfather went to a polka festival and I had to babysit the cat. There was an old accordion in the closet and it popped into my head I should play it. I dragged it out and learned a polka.”

Influenced by national musicians that range from Brian Sklar and Joe Schultz to Canada’s Polka King and three-time Grammy winner Walter Ostanek, Rody is eager to bring the sweet sounds of the accordion to St. Albert.

“Everyone will have a great time. The food will be good, the music will be good and hopefully everyone will enjoy themselves.”