Prince Albert Polkafest is returning for their 20th year at the Prince Albert Exhibition Centre this weekend and the headline act has roots that run deep in the community as well as in polka.
Jordan Rody, Alberta’s Polka King from Leduc and his band will make their debut at Polkafest.
Rody himself is no stranger to Prince Albert or Polkafest.
“In 2012 I was made an honorable VIP dignitary at the event and was able to perform with one of the bands there,” Rody said. “Then I performed there in 2022 with Walter Ostanek and the Western Senators, but this is the first time I’m bringing my own band to the Polkafest.”
Rody’s grandfather, Mike Kushneryk, was a Prince Albert resident and one of the founders of the Western Senators.
“We got a whole bunch of family there, so (I’m) excited to see them at the show,” he said. “PA is actually where I was first introduced to the accordion at my grandparents house on 22nd Street. Every time I’m at PA, it’s kind of like a full circle experience.”
Rody has grown up around the polka scene and will bring that history to the stage. His grandpa played polka music while he was crawling around in the play pen, and now 30 years later, Rody said he’ll be playing that exact same accordion at Polkafest.
The Kushneryk family is well known in the music community in Prince Albert and beyond.
“My uncle, Johnny Kushneryk, he still lives in Prince Albert. He’s a fiddle champion and my cousin, Dean Kushneryk. He still lives in Prince Albert, and he’s a one of the best drummers you’ll ever see” he said.
“Tyler Kushneryk plays fiddle. He’s since moved out of PA, but he’s a great musician as well, so I have been kind of surrounded by music forever.”
Although his family ties to the area are strong, Rody said playing Polkafest itself is a big thrill.
“Prince Albert has a pretty good music scene and I’m excited to be just small part of that,” he said.
Rody and his band will be mixing things up a bit. He likes to keep things moving at a quick pace.
“We play polkas with a bit of pizzazz and high energy,” he explained. “There’s a lot of energy on stage, so it’s an energetic stage show and good music. We’ll be doing some rock and roll stuff and some country stuff and mixing it up so it’s pretty eclectic mix of music.”
In 2019 Rody had the opportunity to open for Donny Parenteau at the PA Exhibition. Rody has also made several appearances in the area with The Cleavers at various events. More recently, the band also performed at Western Canada’s largest Oktoberfest in Edmonton.
The PolkaFest runs Aug. 23 and Aug. 24 with several bands rotating throughout the weekend. The Jordan Rody Band is set to take the stage Friday and again Saturday from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m.
The PA Polkafest lineup throughout the weekend also includes Dennis Ficor, Leon Ochs, Dean Bernier and Sylvia Schira, with a special performance by legendary Cotton Picker Wes Stubbs during the pancake breakfast.
The event runs from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Friday, and 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Saturday with a Pancake Breakfast. Tickets are on sale now and available at the PAEX Main Office or by calling (306) 941-8916.
