BAND SPOTLIGHT

Based out of Waterloo in Monroe County, the Waterloo German Band began in 1939 then fell apart during the war for obvious reasons. By 1952, Waterloo resident and U.S. Marine Harry Wolf got the band going again with help from family and friends, and it’s never stopped. Ready for parades, parties, festivals and just about anywhere folks get together for a good German experience, they once had three separate groups, all going at once, to keep up with the demand, especially during this time of year with the rash of Oktoberfests. Not only do these “musikants” wear traditional German-type outfits, they play traditional instruments doing traditional songs, such as waltzes, foxtrots and polkas, making them a very traditional German band. They’ve made many appearances at the Illinois State Fair Ethnic Village, traveled to several foreign countries, garnered countless awards and done it all during a half-century and counting of making music. Your life is not complete until you’ve experienced the Waterloo German Band.