Music at the Broz closes with upbeat note
The Eddie Shimota Band had the audience fired up with its assortment of Czech waltzes and polkas for the last concert for Music at the Broz on Thursday, Aug. 11, in New Prague. A crowd estimated at 400 came out for the evening of polka music. (Patrick Fisher photo)
New Prague’s summer concert series Music at the Broz closed out with lovely weather, toe tapping music and likely its largest crowd as an estimated 400 people came out to listen to the Eddie Shimota Band the evening of Thursday, Aug. 11.
Playing a mixture of Czech waltzes and polkas that had several people getting up to dance, the Eddie Shimota Band was the sixth band to perform on the grassy area west of the Hotel Broz. Their upbeat music provided a great way to end the series that was presented by the New Prague Area Arts Council (NPAAC). The August 11 concert was sponsored by Wells Fargo Advisors.
Den Gardner, chair of the arts council, introduced the Eddie Shimota Band, noting they have been around for decades. Eddie Shimota Sr. began the band and his son, Eddie Shimota Jr., continued the group after his father’s death in 2006. Gardner also said they had been blessed with beautiful weather during the run of the series.
“This has been a great addition to the community,” said Eddie Shimota Jr. about the concert series. He added that it had been terrific seeing different bands that have performed for Music at the Broz. “We’ve been able to enjoy local talent,” he said, quickly pointing out even when some of the talent has been from out of town.
Shimota also recognized local musician Jerry Minar, as Minar was his first teacher and he began taking lessons from Minar in 1976 and he built the concertina that he was playing that night.
While it was the final night of music for this summer, the Music at the Broz will be continuing in 2023.
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