Polka Band for Hire in Asheville and Hendersonville, NC

Appalachian Freunde Polka Band is a German polka trio from Asheville. Diane Fields plays keys and sings. Mike Fields plays drums and runs the sound. Adam Bennett, an Asheville native, plays clarinet and sax and sings. Western North Carolina is our home crowd.

Three members of the Appalachian Freunde Polka Band in lederhosen and a dirndl with the Blue Ridge Mountains behind them near Asheville, NC
The band in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, NC

Where we have played near home:

  • Southern Appalachian Brewery, Hendersonville: November 2024, September 2025 and September 2026
  • Cataloochee Ranch Oktoberfest, Maggie Valley: October 2025 and October 2026
  • Lake Toxaway HOA Oktoberfest, Lake Toxaway: October 2026
  • Diatribe Brewing Company, Asheville: May 2026
  • Western Carolina University, Cullowhee: September 2024 and September 2025
  • Craggy View Cottages, Asheville: May 2024

What kinds of events book us near Asheville?

Breweries come first. Southern Appalachian Brewery in Hendersonville has booked us each fall since 2024, and Diatribe Brewing Company booked us in Asheville in May 2026. Our brewery Oktoberfest page shows how we run a taproom show.

Mountain communities and venues book us for their own Oktoberfests. Lake Toxaway HOA and Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley are two of them. Our country club and community page covers those events. Churches book us for parish Oktoberfests too, and our church Oktoberfest page tells you more.

What does a Hendersonville Fest Meister say?

Chris Vox of Hendersonville wrote this about one of our shows:

As a retiring Fest Meister after 13 years, I have to say it's extremely rare to see an Oktoberfest crowd Blown Away with something new. In fact, I haven't been surprised since the liter steins were full of German beer at Nashville's hoist in 2019. Until last Saturday. Adam and the Appalachian Freunde Polka Band somehow emerged from behind the stage as a complete surprise with an 8 ft inflatable chicken costume for the chicken dance, no curtain, no dressing room. Also, this power polka trio played for a full 45 minutes while the crowd dispersed during the end of our event. Utterly professional and a remarkable amount of Fest sound from all eras out of three people. Wunderbar!
Chris Vox, Hendersonville, NC

What do you get with a three-piece band?

Our show mixes polkas, waltzes, sing-alongs and American rock. All three of us play every show. Each hour has at least 45 minutes of music and a 15-minute break. Every show has the Chicken Dance, and Günther von Cluckenstein, our 8-foot inflatable chicken, joins some shows. Read about 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. Plan for two outlets on one 20-amp circuit. We arrive about 2 hours before the start to load in, and load-out takes about 45 minutes. Three players fit a tent, a taproom corner or a stage. For an outdoor show, plan a covered or indoor backup spot in case of rain.

How does booking work?

  1. Send your request. Give us the date, the city and the type of event.
  2. Get a quote and a contract. We send both to you.
  3. Hold your date. Return the signed contract and the deposit within 7 days. We confirm the date when both arrive.

Read our guide to booking an Oktoberfest band for the questions to ask, or see our booking FAQ.

How do I check open dates?

Look at our calendar first. It shows which weekends are open. We play Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and our peak season runs August to October.

Questions we hear

Is the band local to Asheville?

Yes. Our home base is Asheville, and Adam Bennett is an Asheville native.

Has the band played breweries in Hendersonville?

Yes. Southern Appalachian Brewery in Hendersonville booked us in November 2024, September 2025 and September 2026.

Does the band play HOA and community Oktoberfests?

Yes. Lake Toxaway HOA booked us in October 2026. Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley booked us for its Oktoberfest in October 2025 and October 2026.

Does the band play college events?

Yes. Western Carolina University in Cullowhee booked us in September 2024 and September 2025.

Can the band play an outdoor event near Asheville?

Yes. We bring our own sound system. For an outdoor show, plan a covered or indoor backup spot in case of rain.

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 Charlotte, NC, Durham and the Triangle, Greenville and Columbia, SC and Knoxville, TN. For the full picture, see our polka band for hire page.