Prime Time Polkas

11/04/2025

11/01/2025

It's time to start announcing our 2026 Johnstown PolkaFest band lineup, starting with Klancnik and Friends! 🪗🪕🎼

Klancnik and Friends is an American-Slovenian polka band known for their dynamic style of playing and high-energy performances. Brian O’Boyle (Cleveland, OH) is a former Duquesne University Tamburitzan and is the band’s featured accordionist. He is joined by Eric Stehle (Denver, CO) on saxophone/clarinet and Eric Granata (Pittsburgh, PA) on lead vocals. The rhythm section is anchored by Ed Klancnik (Nashville, TN) on the drums and rounded out by Jerry Zagar (Pittsburgh, PA) on bass guitar, with Nick Rote (Detroit, MI) strumming the plectrum banjo. The KNF Band has been a perennial fixture at several polka festivals throughout the country, and this is their first time appearing at the Johnstown PolkaFest!

Johnstown PolkaFest is happening May 29th - 31st, 2026, in beautiful Johnstown, PA! 🪗

11/01/2025

🎶 It’s that time again! 🎶
Join us for the SNH Thanksgiving Eve Jam Session — a beloved tradition that’s been bringing friends, family, and musicians together for over 30 years!

🦃 When: Thanksgiving Eve November 26
🎵 What: Live polka music, great food, cold drinks, and good company
🎺 Who: Everyone’s welcome — musicians, bring your instruments and jump in the jam!

Kick off the holiday the right way — with music, laughter, and a full dance floor. Let’s keep this incredible tradition going strong! 💃🕺

10/17/2025

In addition to great music, food, refreshments and good times, our Chinese auction will be there with over 30 baskets of prizes! All proceeds benefit the radio show. Bring a friend and celebrate one of the last Oktoberfests of the season with us and the Garrett Tatano Band!

10/16/2025

Yep. This Sunday, Oct. 19. Prost!

Don't miss your last chance to see the boys in Lederhosen this year! This Sunday, Prime Time Polkas Oktoberfest at the White Eagles in Canonsburg, PA! We'll see you there, 2-6pm!

www.gtatanoband.com

09/26/2025

08/29/2025

08/29/2025

08/14/2025

07/29/2025

The Polka Hall of Fame Remembers
Mike Dragas
1935 – 2025
Bassist
Trustees Honor Roll 2011

Mike Dragas was one of the leading bassists on the Cleveland-Style scene, performing with legendary figures, such as America’s Polka King Frankie Yankovic, and high-profile polka bands led by Art Perko and George Staiduhar. For more than three decades, Mike worked at Atlantic Records, where his passion for music blossomed.

For 32 years, Mike helped give the Art Perko Orchestra a distinctive, solid Cleveland-Style sound along with Ray Sterle on the drums and Bill Tomsick on clarinet and sax. The three first met in the Joe Luzar band. When the group disbanded, they joined Art Perko and made their television debut in 1960 on Cleveland’s syndicated “Polka Varieties” and appeared regularly until the last telecast in 1985. Their first Perko album had a hit with “Peanuts Polka” in 1965. Five more albums followed. The band performed with Bob Hope, Buck Owens, Roy Clark, Dottie West, Charley Pride, Gene Krupa and the Temptations. The trio later played in Tony Fortuna’s orchestra until they retired in 2005.

Mike’s bass also backed the Harry Faint R***e, one of the premier Cleveland-Style bands in the Midwest. Mike continued with the R***e under the leadership of Hall of Famer George Staiduhar. The band was a popular feature of the Illinois Polka Festival. The R***e’s ballroom style was captured on recordings and won Band of the Year in 2003. Mike also performed with the Fairport Jammers.