Oktoberfest Polka Band for Durham and the Triangle, NC
Appalachian Freunde Polka Band is a German polka trio from Asheville, NC. We make the drive east each fall for Durham taprooms, Triad breweries and church Oktoberfests.
Where we have played in the Triangle and nearby:
- Bull McCabe's Irish Pub, Durham: a Saturday each September in 2024, 2025 and 2026, with an afternoon set and an evening set
- Hi-Wire Brewery, Durham: September 2024
- Steel Hands Brewing, Greensboro: October 2024
- Saint Patrick Catholic Church, Fayetteville: October 2026
- Mustang Taproom, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base: September 2025
Bull McCabe's has booked us three Septembers in a row. A repeat booking tells you how the last show went.
What kinds of Triangle events book us?
Pubs and breweries make up most of our dates in this part of the state. At Bull McCabe's Irish Pub we play from 2 to 5 PM, take a break, and come back from 6 to 10 PM. Hi-Wire Brewery in Durham booked us for a Sunday afternoon in September 2024. See how we run a taproom show on our brewery Oktoberfest page.
Churches book us too. Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Fayetteville booked us for a Friday evening in October 2026. Read more on our church Oktoberfest page. Mustang Taproom at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base booked us for a Friday evening in September 2025.
What do you get with three players?
Diane Fields plays keys and sings. Mike Fields plays drums and runs the sound. Adam Bennett plays clarinet and sax and sings. All three of us play every show. Our sets mix polkas, waltzes, sing-alongs and American rock, and Ein Prosit, the German toast song, comes around in every set. Each hour has at least 45 minutes of music and a 15-minute break.
Every show has the Chicken Dance. Günther von Cluckenstein, our 8-foot inflatable chicken, joins some shows. Meet him on our Chicken Dance page.
What does the venue need?
We bring our own sound system, and Mike runs it. We add lighting when the event needs it. We need two outlets on one 20-amp circuit. We drive in from Asheville and arrive about 2 hours before the start to load in. Load-out takes about 45 minutes. A pub corner, a taproom, a tent or a parish hall gives us enough room.
How does booking work?
- Send your request. Give us the date, the city and the type of event.
- Get a quote and a contract. We send both to you.
- Hold your date. Return the signed contract and the deposit within 7 days. We confirm the date when both arrive.
Our guide to booking an Oktoberfest band walks through what to ask. Our booking FAQ covers sound, power and set length.
How do I check open dates?
Check our calendar before you call. It shows which weekends are open. We play Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and our peak season runs August to October. Send your request with the date and the city, and we reply by email or phone.
Questions we hear
Does the band travel to Durham?
Yes. Durham sits inside our travel area of up to 4 hours from Asheville. We have played Durham each September since 2024.
Can the band play two sets in one day?
Yes. At Bull McCabe's Irish Pub we play an afternoon set from 2 to 5 PM and an evening set from 6 to 10 PM on the same Saturday.
Does the band play church Oktoberfests in eastern North Carolina?
Yes. Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Fayetteville booked us in October 2026.
Has the band played on a military base?
Yes. Mustang Taproom at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base booked us in September 2025.
Does the band play Greensboro and the Triad?
Yes. Steel Hands Brewing in Greensboro booked us in October 2024.
Book the band
Call Adam Bennett at (828) 231-4121, email info@afpolka.com or use our booking form. Our press kit at afpolka.com/press has photos and show videos.
We also play Asheville and Hendersonville, NC, Charlotte, NC, Greenville and Columbia, SC and Knoxville, TN. For the full picture, see our polka band for hire page.