When people list their favorite music type, polka is rarely near the top. The Ohio-based Chardon Polka Band is using a modern take on the genre to help it gain mainstream attention. Founded in 2003 by then 16-year-old Jake Kouwe, the group gained a following by playing at nursing homes and other odd locations. More than a decade later, the band is still going strong -- some members have changed, but Jake is still the leader -- and has become well-known in the Buckeye State by performing at parks, parades and fundraisers. Despite extra notoriety, the gang still plays at unusual venues like Ukrainian summer camps and the annual Duct Tape Festival in Avon, Ohio. (You probably won't see Taylor Swift on the stage there.) This reality series follows Jake and his bandmates as they try to keep their personal and professional lives from derailing their quest to bring polka music to the masses.
When people list their favorite music type, polka is rarely near the top. The Ohio-based Chardon Polka Band is using a modern take on the genre to help it gain mainstream attention. Founded in 2003 by then 16-year-old Jake Kouwe, the group gained a following by playing at nursing homes and other odd locations. More than a decade later, the band is...