YOUNGSTOWN — The COVID-19 pandemic has forced musicians and entertainers to adapt to being unable to perform for their usual audiences.
Broadway has closed all shows until Labor Day. Regional theater productions are on hold. Concert venues like Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls are likely to remain silent for much of the summer.
Those itching to perform have had to find ways to improvise.
Take Jake Kouwe, the accordion player for The Chardon Polka Band.
Because of visiting restrictions at retirement homes, musicians like Kouwe no longer have access to some of those who cherish his skills.
So Kouwe came up with a new idea for a party — a virtual polka party.
Using Zoom technology, Kouwe recently staged a concert for residents of the Park Vista assisted living facility on Fifth Avenue.
Appearing on a laptop wheeled around the facility, residents responded by dancing and singing along as Kouwe played his accordion from his home.
With long hair usually held in check with a bandana or signature CPB trucker hat, Kouwe is not your average polka front man. Kouwe founded the group in 2003 with the help of a four other Chardon High School teens and has been leading the group ever since.
His energetic playing and quirky sense of humor helped to define The Chardon Polka Band early on. Jake’s eccentric style, kinetic playing and love of polka are the band's trademarks.
As he tells it, there was no room for an accordion in the marching band so he started a polka band.
Because of quarantine and social distancing policies, the band has several ways to help fans get their polka fix, including a "Quarantine Polka," a weekly live stream event on Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. on Facebook Live.
The band also offers quarantine videos by clicking here and Sunday hymns and vintage videos on its YouTube channel.
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May 18, 2020 at 05:55AM
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Party time! Polka artist finds way to entertain despite restrictions - MahoningMatters.com
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