Polkamaniacs concert at Harrison Hills draws a crowd of young and old

Gloria Parobeck alerted everyone on her Brackenridge street that a polka concert was coming to Harrison Hills Park on Saturday.

“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world,” Parobeck said. “I even brought my German shepherd, Sunshine, because she’s 100% Polish since she joined the family.”

About 100 people lounged in chairs and on blankets at the park’s Yakaon Shelter while The Polkamaniacs put on a high-energy show that included bubbles and an oversized plastic kielbasi.

The eight-piece ensemble dazzled the audience with a big band sound of polka and lyrics that included, “I lost my pierogi down the sewer.”

Their matching plaid outfits only added to the playful show.

“They look so darn cute,” said Parobeck, who watched the concert with her daughter, Monica, and 4-year-old grandson, Kolton.

“I don’t want them to stop at 4 p.m. I want them to play till at least 6, or 7, or 8!”

The Pittsburgh-based Polkamaniacs are a relatively new band that enjoys paying homage to the traditional accordion-based folk music. But they put their own spin on the tunes, lead singer Michael Devine said.

The playlist has a bit of punk and rock mixed with an entertaining stage show that makes it a family-fun event.

While polka still draws an older crowd, there were plenty of younger faces in the audience who said they want to make sure to keep ethnic traditions alive at home.

Katie Stack of Harrison brought her sons Stàs, 7, and Lou, 5.

“They’re very familiar with the music because we have polka Sundays at our camp,” Stack said.

Her youngest son said he hasn’t mastered the dance but his favorite song is “the hot dog polka.”

The concert was the first time the band played at Harrison Hills, an Allegheny County-owned park off Freeport Road in Harrison.

The band is working on its second album, a followup to their first release, “Never Mind the Bolsheviks, Here’s the Polkamaniacs.”

Diane Mast, of New Kensington, and Donna Graham, of Ohio, said they would definitely attend another show if scheduled by the county.

“We always enjoy polka,” Graham said. “These guys are a lot of fun. They’re really enjoyable.”