It's a hot band jam on state fair stage

There are many reasons why people go to the Minnesota State Fair. The food, carnival rides, exhibits, livestock barns, music, educational demonstrations and, of course, people watching, bring nearly two million fairgoers to the fairgrounds each year.

But very few get invited to perform on one of the four major stages scattered across the 330 acres of the fairgrounds. Count me as one of them.

Doctor Kielbasa, a band with longtime ties to Cloquet and Carlton County, performed two days on the International Bazaar Stage during the 2024 Minnesota State Fair. It was the band's second appearance at the fair. The group's first performance was in 2017.

I am an original member of Doctor Kielbasa, playing bass guitar for all 29 years the band has been performing our upbeat and happy style of music.

The Minnesota State Fair is arguably the biggest entertainment event of the year in the state and it's an honor to be asked to perform. Plus, it's fun to perform for a large audience because we're used to playing in a dancehall with a floor full of dancers or at a big Oktoberfest celebration.

The band weathered the storm, literally, for two of the most challenging weather delays during the fair's 12-day run. The temperatures were in the mid-90s, and, combined with high humidity, there was a heat index in the 104-degree range during our first day at the fair on Monday, Aug. 26. Severe thunderstorms that evening and again in the early morning hours of Tuesday closed down fair operations for a few hours each day. But the show must go on, and Doctor Kielbasa played three sets each day as scheduled.

The International Bazaar Stage showcases performers and music from a range of cultural backgrounds. Doctor Kielbasa has its roots firmly planted in Polish-style polka music, but with a twist. We will play a traditional song sung in Polish, then turn around and play something originally done by a well-known artist or group such as the Beatles, Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Buck Owens, or Paul Simon.

The hot and humid conditions on Monday were challenging for everyone, yet fairgoers still seemed to be having fun. After the three-hour delay in opening Tuesday to clean up the overnight storm damage, people were excited to finally be there.

Both days we had fun with the audience and they responded by dancing, singing along, laughing and providing big rounds of applause. It really is thrilling for a musician to see and hear the feedback from a large crowd, and the audience was definitely on our side at the fair.

My current bandmates in Doctor Kielbasa consist of seven veteran musicians: Gary Hagen from Barnum on clarinet and vocals; Jim Dobosenski (originally from Carlton but now a Sturgeon Lake resident) on concertina; Nick Chmielewski (from Apple Valley and grandson of the renowned Florian Chmielewski) on accordion and vocals; Chuck Burak (grew up in Duluth and now lives in Plymouth) on drums; Bernie Koslosky (originally from Pittsburgh now living in Owatonna) on trumpet, saxophone and vocals; and Chris Tank from Hudson, Wisconsin, on trumpet. Founding members who have since retired from the band include Don Meger (who grew up in Esko) on trumpet and vocals, and Todd Jurek (originally from Cloquet) on concertina and vocals. Jurek gets the credit for coming up with our band's name of Doctor Kielbasa.

The performance area has seating for about 400-500 people and was basically full both days, and there were people standing around the edges while eating fair food or passing by while looking at the vendors. Our music from the stage was pumped out into the street, so it's safe to say many thousands of fairgoers heard a healthy dose of polka music from Doctor Kielbasa.

We saw a lot of people who are from the Cloquet area in the crowd at the fair, and many more who grew up here and stopped by to say hello. It really brought home the idea that the event is, indeed, "The Great Minnesota Get-Together."

Cloquet native Tom Urbanski is a musician, beer maker and judge, Nordic skier, bike riding freelance writer and photographer for the Pine Knot News and all-around good guy who is now retired from his longtime job in public relations for FDLTCC. Contact him c/o [email protected].