MUSIC UNDER THE STARS
35th ANNIVERSARY SEASON
BUTTERMILK PARK
ENJOY LIVE MUSIC BY LOCAL ARTISTS
Music Under the Stars is a showcase for local and area bands, coordinated by the FdL Area Musicians, Inc. and co-sponsored by the City of Fond du Lac.
Concession stand will be available. In case of bad weather, shows will still be held at the Cow Palace, located at Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds.
Follow us on Facebook Music Under the Stars FDL.
For additional information or questions, call Anne Abel 920-979-5186 or Bob Shirek at 920-921-1167
2023 SCHEDULE
All concerts located at
Buttermilk Creek Park,
7:00 pm Monday EveningS
JUne 12 | DEL RAYS
Enjoy a variety of crowd-pleasing rock & roll from the 50’s, 60’s, and the 70’s with the 4-piece Del Rays Band.
June 19 | PAGE FOUR
Page Four, a Fond du Lac-based band plays typical wedding dance variety music -- 1950s-60s tunes, modern-day songs, polkas and waltzes.
Bandleader Anne Abel started the band years ago when she and fellow band member Sharon Vollendorf were competing in softball tournaments throughout Wisconsin and at national tournaments. Their passion for music caused them to take their instruments on the road with them where they would perform unexpectedly (just for the fun of it). Nancy Johnston, soon joined them in the band.
Eventually they officially formed the Page Four band which has played at hundreds of area weddings, public events and back-yard parties.
Page Four, later hired drummer Mark Hintz. Abel plays the keyboard, Johnston plays bass guitar and is the lead singer, and Vollendorf is on the guitar, banjo and sings solos. Highlights of their concert usually includes Johnston singing "The Auctioneer."
JUNE 26 | COMIN’ IN HOT
When each of his kids hit 4th grade, Jerry Ward made sure that they all took violin lessons. As they progressed into the high school years, some of them learned other instruments and played in the school band. Jerry was a guitarist, playing in many area bands during those years… Jerry and the Jesters, The Telstars, Jim Sabel’s band, Maynard’s Playboys, Heartbeats in the Holyland, and many single gigs. Now years later, Jerry has pulled his own family together, and “Comin in Hot” is now in its 2nd year, enjoying the thrill of performance of music with their proud dad. The band is made up of seven performers on many instruments, including; guitar, bass, harmonica, mandolin, viola, Drums, trumpet, flute, piccolo, saxophone magic accordion, dobro… and in addition, they all are vocalists!! They wow their audiences, playing a mix of country, old rock ‘n roll, Bluegrass, originals… “and an occasional Polka”. One wonders… with all those violin lessons, was this Jerry’s plan from the start?
JuLY 3 | Jesse Stratton Band
Born and raised in the Texas Hill Country, Jesse Stratton is a true and deep-rooted Texas Country / Americana artist who plays music chock-full of truth and raw emotion. Jesse's relevant and gripping songs display and showcase the multi-talented musicians who make up the Jesse Stratton Band.
Jesse is the lead vocalist in the band; also playing guitar, saxophone and harmonica. Alongside him are a few of Texas' finest musicians. Playing percussion in the band is Jesse's long-time friend, Kenny Martinez. The lead guitarist is Austin's own Tony Garossino - guitar instructor by day, rock star by night. The band's latest member is the soulful, smooth-playing bassist, Lyndsey Torrez.
July 10 | TALK OF THE TOWN
The Talk of The Town, under the leadership of Kevin Van Ess, is one of the hottest Swing/Dixieland/Traditional Jazz Party Groups north of New Orleans. This six piece group consisting of Clarinet/Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone/Tuba, Bass, Piano/Vocals and Drums has collectively over 300 years of experience. The group not only boasts having some of the finest musicians in the Midwest it is also very entertaining and appealing to audiences of all ages. Complete with a traditional Mardi Gras Parade and bead tossing, the group performs throughout Wisconsin and is available for all occasions and events.
JuLY 17 | THELEN SISTERS
Three-sisters groups have always been popular through the years. There were the McGuire Sisters, the Andrew sisters, the Lennon Sisters, etc. When the three sisters sing in three-part harmony, they have similar voices, it often sounds like the same person singing all three parts. Now we have the Thelen Sisters, the daughters of Paul Thelen, well-known musician and leader of his own quartet.
Two of his daughters play instruments in the group – Ellie Thelen on saxophone and Eva Thelen on violin – daughter Elise (Thelen) Winkle joins in with the vocals. Paul is on keyboard and sings with his daughters at times. Two additional musicians accompany the quartet -- Phil Schmahl on bass and Bob Milanowski on drums.
The Thelen Sisters ensemble does a wide range of tunes from the 1930s through the 1990s. Styles include jazz standards, popular music and opera. The repertoire includes music of Neil Diamond and standards by the Andrew Sisters, Frank Sinatra and the Beatles.
July 24 | REMINGTON'S RIDE
Remington’s Ride is a five-piece band based in Fond du Lac, specializing in vintage western swing and roots country music of the 1930s to 1970s. “Western swing is an exciting blend of Americana, honky-tonk, blues, big band and roots country,” says bandleader Steve Miller. “Asleep at the Wheel” is one of the only nationally known bands currently performing this style of music.
Miller plays lead guitar and vocals. Other band members include; Daniel “Dutch” Baker on drums, “Marshall” Matt Morse of Pickett, on upright bass, steel guitarist Jory Simmons from East Troy, and Allan Sanders from Neshkoro on fiddle.
July 31 | THREE CARD STUD
“Three Card Stud” consists of three fun-loving area musicians who love to entertain, love to vocalize, love to share old country and rock n’ roll, and love to laugh. Fred Ferguson, Jim Vollmer and Rob Peterson will entertain you, and make you go home happy! All three have had solo careers in recent years and so this show gives them the opportunity to combine their different styles of entertainment into one ninety minute show, full of variety, musicianship and humor.
AUGUST 7 | Good Time Dutchmen
The Goodtime Dutchmen come from the state of Wisconsin. Throughout the state of Wisconsin there is a huge amount of polka music. Near Milwaukee there is a family with the last name Thull and they enjoy and play polkas as the Goodtime Dutchmen.
AUGUST 14 | EVERGREEN AFTER HOURS
Formed in the 1970s, this Dodge County-based band is known for its variety of music styles and strong vocals. It has played in the Fond du Lac area for more than 30 years. Originally a four-piece band, it regrouped as a two-piece act in the 1990s. Vicki Belleville leads the band and plays keyboard and does vocals. She is joined by Al Muenchow on guitar and vocals. Original member Jim Vollmer will occasionally join the group on sax and vocals. Belleville often performs solo as “Miss Vicki” at many different occasions.
August 21 | GROESCHL BAND
The Groeschl Band, Formerly the Syl Groeschl band, is led by Matt Lavey on Trumpet and Dale Mueller on Drums. Others in the band are: Roger Gerner on Sax & Clarinet , Mark Birschbach on Trumpet & Sax, Mike Ludwig on Tuba, and Valeria (Groeschl) Buechel vocalist and piano. Roots of the Groeschl Band go back to 1870 in Austria when earlier generations of the family began entertaining.
Valeria’s dad let the Tony Groeschl band during World War II, and his son led the Syl Groeschl Band from the 1960s until 2003. His band recorded frequently and in 2002 Syl was awarded Bandleader of the Year by the Wisconsin Orchestra Leaders Association. Today they specialize in parades and ballroom dances. Six CDs are available and “Herman Take Me Home” is his best known recording. The songs "Over Three Hills" and "Laughing Polka" are available on the Old Time Dance CD.
AUGUST 28 | Second Hand Stereo
Second Hand Stereo is the perfect group to help get your booty out of your seat and onto the dance floor!