Craig Ebel & DyVersaCo is a polka variety band based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The band plays a wide variety of music from polkas, waltzes, and schottisches to country and Cajun. Their commitment is to perform and promote polka music; to give the dancers a unique song selection and a solid beat; and to have fun!
Craig Ebel is featured on concertina with DyVersaCo and is the band's leader. Craig has been involved in music all his life with his mother, LaVay, singing and playing guitar in country western bands and his father, Elhart, building and operating the Bel-Rae Ballroom from 1964 to 1971. The Bel-Rae became one of the most popular dance spots in the upper Midwest and a great influence on Craig's musical career, which has spanned over 30 years. Craig has played drums, concertina, and keyboard in all styles of music including rock, country, big band, and polka. He has performed with "America's Polka King" Frank Yankovic, Grammy Award Winner Walter Ostanek, Myron Floren, Dick Contino, Karl & The Country Dutchmen, Roger Bright, Joey Miskulin, and countless others. Craig is also the host of "It's Polka Time!" a syndicated radio show heard across the United States and over the Internet. His knowledge of the music makes him the perfect person to front the band.
Lori Ebel, Craig's wife, distinguishes DyVersaCo from other bands with her fun fiddle playing and solid trumpet tones. Originally from New Ulm, Minnesota, a city famous for generating renowned Dutchmen-style polka bands, she grew up in the midst of legendary polka musicians such as Whoopee John, Harold Loeffelmacher, Elmer Scheid, and Fezz Fritsche. With over twenty years of playing polka music with her parents' band (The Marv Nissel Band), Lori brings great enthusiasm and diversity to the band.
Gary Jasicki contributes to DyVersaCo's unique brass/reed sound by playing clarinet and tenor saxophone. He is an original member of the Jolly Jokers and has also performed with The Polka Padre (Father Kapoun) & The Ambassadors, Billy Jasicki & Polka Joy, and John Filipczak & The Classics. Gary's countless years of experience in the polka field gives him the ability to improvise and provide perfect harmonies for the band's arrangements.
Mike "Julio" Sariego plays bass with DyVersaCo. Julio is an astonishing and versatile musician playing numerous instruments including trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, guitar, percussion, and keyboards. His musical career spans over 35 years, and he has played with such bands as Rogers & Friends, Polkatown Sound, AKA, and a wealth of other local bands from Central and Northeastern Wisconsin. Julio's ability to formulate song structure complements DyVersaCo's unique sound.
Dana Lindblad is the newest member of DyVersaco, but is no stranger to the polka music scene. He has been playing drums since age 10 and performed with the late great Marion Lush at age 16. Growing up in western Pennsylvania, he was influenced by both Slovenian and Polish style polkas. He has performed with Polkatown Sound, AKA, Stix-N-Tones, Alvin Styczynski TV Recording Orchestra, Joe Fedorchak, Bob Turcola & Bill Bevec. Dana's amusing personality and steady rhythm assures that the band provides excitement and solid entertainment at each performance.
DyVersaCo was featured on WCCO TV as part of a news segment on the return of Polish Fest to the Twin Cities.
Craig Ebel & DyVersaCo
