On September 5, I hit the road to Milwaukee to spin records for the Milwaukee Polka Riot. Some day I will give my TED Talk about how polka music is a huge, global tent under which an infinite variety of music is welcome. To see that idea in action, go to the Milwaukee Polka Riot.

A year is too long to wait for beer, pretzels and polka. That’s why Full Mile is breaking out the lederhosen on the half-way mark to Oktoberfest season.

The Four Lakes Polka Club returned to The Bur Oak in Madison on February 22, 2026 for another Sunday afternoon polka dance. I joined DB Polka Express and Milwaukee area-based folk dance and culture specialist Roni Andrew for an afternoon of celebrating Wisconsin’s official state dance.

Beer & Cheese (and more) Fest had a silent disco with polka! Proving once again, nothing pairs better with beer and cheese than vintage polka music from Wisconsin and the upper Midwest.

Madison Public Library’s second annual Puzzlepalooza welcomed DJ Shotski back to provide groovy, jazzy easy listening records for the cozy winter event. Muzak and Ameriachi pair well with puzzles!

The eighth annual Milwaukee Krampusnacht hosted a return of the polka welcome party. This year, it was a Packer Polka Party with Green Bay on the big screen. A very Wisconsiny experience.

Donations are coming in to WVMO to help pay for recent equipment and software upgrades. Polka Time listeners are putting “polka” in the memo lines of their donations! Keep up the momentum! Details in the post.

DJ Shotski crosses the cheddar curtain to visit Rosemount, Minnesota for Oktoberfest.

Listen to the City Cast Madison podcast interview with DJ Shotski on the 10th anniversary of WVMO-FM.

I’m so glad Gemuetlichkeit Days in Jefferson invited me to play music in their biergarten this year. It was a great way to check out the festival that’s really close to Madison.

When Keith Gaustad, aka DJ Brumeister, invited me to this year’s Milwaukee Polka Riot, it was an easy yes. I already had it on my calendar because I didn’t want to miss it.

The Trek 100 charity bike ride raises money for the MACC Fund to research and fight childhood cancer and blood disorders. Since 1990, Trek has raised over $22 million for the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer. On June 7, 2025 we polkaed for the cause.

Getting a chance to play at this festival is going to be a delight. I’m going to share an all-vinyl and all-Minnesota set, so get ready for lots of Elmer Scheid, Les Schuft and Six Fat Dutchmen.

On Saturday, January 11, I played easy listening for around 70 jigsaw puzzle enthusiasts. I mc’d the event and announced rules, door prizes and celebrated winners.

Another dream gig happened this month. On December 1, I got to play polka records in the Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery in Milwaukee for Krampusnacht.

On November 23, I was a guest DJ at the halftime of Madison Roller Derby’s bout. A few brave souls joined roller derby skaters on the floor to “roll out the barrel” and dance to the “Pennsylvania Polka.” 

The Wedge invited me to play an Oktoberfest-themed 5th quarter shindig after the Wisconsin Badgers beat Purdue on the gridiron.

The Prost! MSN street party returned on September 28 to do it up the Oktoberfest way. Madison’s best German style tavern blocked off a half block on Hancock Street to create a biergarten for a day.

Into the Music podcast guests Frank Anderson, DJ Shotski and Ike Arumba with host Rob Marnocha had a lively talk about the past and the future of polka music in Wisconsin.