The next several newsletters will carry brief introductions to all of the Festival bands, beginning with those traveling the furthest distance to perform in Northfield.

Eine Kleine Dormusik Kapelle

Members of Dorfmusik Kapelle hail from small villages in Austria. They pride themselves on their intersection of traditional and contemporary brass music. Most notable are their distinctive costumes with traditional mason boots and pants. Dorfmusik left its mark on the 2010 VBF with exciting, energetic performances. Keep your eye out for Dorfmusik Kapelle, as you will surely not want to miss this band!  

Original Drachenfelser Musikanten

This quartet from Germany is sure to bring the house down!  Masters of polka, the band features a tenor horn, trumpet, tuba and accordion. They also play Bavarian landlers, waltzes, and marches. 

Medevi Brunnsorkester

The Swedish band Medevi Brunnsorkester has  performed in the park of Medevi health spa since 1870. It has a huge repertoire of over 1,000 pieces (marches, walzes, polkas, opera/operetta medleys, ballads). The members strive to maintain the tradition of 19th century brass music but also add some newer music. Look for a classic brass sound from 100-year-old Swedish-made cornets, valve trombone, alto and tenor horn, tuba and drums!

Octetten Ehnstedt's Eftr.

Octetten Ehnstedt's Eftr. hails from Stockholm and re-creates the Swedish "military octet" genre of historical wind band music. The military octet can be regarded as a reduced Swedish wind band, consisting of flutes, clarinets and period Swedish brass instruments: cornet, alto horn, valve trombones and a tuba.  The group takes its name from its original bandmaster, Magnus Herman Ehnstedt (1833-1905), who owned a music collection that the group now uses. Octetten Ehnstedt's Eftr. can be found touring Scandinavia or performing in local festivities. This is the band's first trip to the United States.