Pols Machine

Traditional Scandinavian dance music

P.O. BOX 49432, AUSTIN, TX 78765

Lisa Schneider fiddle
Anne Alexander fiddle

Often joined by:
Yoshimi Masuo fiddle, viola, vocals
Don Weeda accordion
Eric Vormelker bass, guitar, percussion , vocals

Scandinavia has a rich folk music tradition, the majority of which features the fiddle. Pols Machine is a local fiddle duo featuring Lisa Schneider and Anne Alexander. They were both drawn to Scandi music because of the incredible freedom of improvisation and lush harmonies, as well as its many moods.

Lisa has played with a diversity of Austin bands, but has specialized in playing a wide variety of international folk dance music for the past decade. Scandinavian folk music has definitely found its place in her heart as a personal favorite both to perform, dance, and listen to for hours on end.

Anne started her musical career as a 'cellist. However, after she discovered folk dance a well-meaning friend talked her into trying the fiddle ... and then the saz came along ... and then she inherited a tapan and a doumbek and the fascinating world of Balkan and Middle Eastern rhythms suddenly opened up. Before she knew it she'd cheerfully thrown ten years of classical training out the window and hasn't looked back since. Anne plays in several local folk-music groups including Pols Machine and Slavadillo, and performs with the Csárdás Hungarian Dancers of Austin.

The expanded version of the band also includes the expert international accordion playing of Don Weeda, the dulcet fiddle tones and vocals of Yoshimi Masuo, and the rollicking, vibrant, and exuberant bass and guitar playing of Eric Vormelker.

Don Weeda's quintessential international folk accordion playing can regularly be found reverberating through the hearts of dancers and listeners all over Texas and beyond with many fantastic bands including his own Slavadillo, Austin based Arabic/Persian ensemble 1001 Nights Orchestra, Rubinchik's Yiddische Ensemble and several other local musical configurations. He frequently plays his accordion for international folk dance groups in Texas, Oklahoma, and points beyond and has resolved never to let his "real life" interfere with his quest to learn every folk dance tune in creation.

Eric Vormelker (bass)is a dedicated porch-picker, though he's been playing bass in Austin area bands for years and years, including 1001 Nights Orchestra, Kolorash, Rubinchik's Orkestyr, Salem Tree, Irie Jane, and many more. He currently leads his own international folk dance band, Igrati, which specializes in a variety of mostly European folk music including Croatian, Serbian, Hungarian, Rom (Gypsy), Greek, and Bulgarian.

Yoshimi Masuo (fiddle, viola, hurdy-gurdy, vocals) is a relative newcomer to her instruments, but has a lifetime of vocal and dance performance and training that have brought depth and remarkable ease to her instrumental pursuits. She regularly performs with the Csardas Hungarian Dancers, Igrati, and several other folk music and dance groups around the Austin area.

Most of Pol Machine's repertoire consists of music intended for a variety of regional and village dances from all over Scandinavia which they have learned over the years from a number of sources including Scandinavian music teachers and recordings. A pols, where Pols Machine gets its name, is a type of Norwegian turning dance typical of many of the tunes they play. All of the members of Pols Machine particularly enjoy celebrating international cultures and play (and dance) a wide variety of folk music from around the world...often with other bands in Austin, as well.

You will often find Pols Machine playing for the Austin International Folk Dancers and performing for wedding ceremonies in the Austin area.

The earth keeps some vibration going, there in your heart, and that is you. And if the people find you can fiddle, why, fiddle you must, for all your life. ~ Edgar Lee Masters

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