Polka Heartland

Captures the beat that pulses in the heart of Midwestern culture - the polka - and offers up the fascinating history of how “oompah-pah” came to be the sound of middle America. From the crowded dance tent at Pulaski Polka Days to an off-the-grid Mexican polka dance in small-town Wisconsin, Polka Heartland explores the people, places, and history behind the Midwest's favourite music.

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Polka Heartland"" captures the beat that pulses in the heart of Midwestern culture--the polka--and offers up the fascinating history of how ""oompah-pah"" came to be the sound of middle America. From the crowded dance tent at Pulaski Polka Days to an off-the-grid Mexican polka dance in small-town Wisconsin, ""Polka Heartland"" explores the people, places, and history behind the Midwest's favorite music.

From polka's surprising origin story as a cutting-edge European fad to an exploration of the modern-day polka scene, author Rick March and photographer Dick Blau take readers on a joyful romp through this beloved, unique, and richly storied genre. ""Polka Heartland"" describes the artists, venues, instruments, and music-makers who have been pivotal to polka's popularity across the Midwest and offers six full-color photo galleries to immerse readers in today's vibrant polka scene.