The name of the only official Oktoberfest band comes from where it was founded: Kirchdorf am Haunpold near Bruckmühl, Bavaria, Germany. The festival band was founded in 1870 by a group of village musicians who performed on all secular and ecclesiastical occasions. Traditional brass music was the focus in the musical repertoire of THE KIRCHDORFER® in the first decades. In 1974 the band took a revolutionary step in a more modern direction and integrated keyboard, electric bass and electric guitar into the formation. THE KIRCHDORFER® also expanded their repertoire to include contemporary titles. The changes were inspired by their idol James Last, whose typical happy sound they still like to play today.
THE KIRCHDORFER® Oktoberfestband is also very adaptable depending on the type and size of the event: everything is possible from 6 to 22 musicians - in individual cases there have also been performances with up to 60 musicians.
THE KIRCHDORFER® made their breakthrough in 1994 with their engagement at the Munich Oktoberfest, where they have been creating a mood in the 'Heaven of Bavaria' every year in the hackers' tent. Since 2018 THE KIRCHDORFER® have also been playing at the world's largest strong beer festival on the Nockherberg in Munich, another Munich tradition, also well know as the 5. season in Munich. Since the atmosphere at the Oktoberfest is considered legendary, it is now celebrated in many other countries around the world. THE KIRCHDORFER® Oktoberfestband performed also in Austria and Switzerland, in Brazil, Chile, China, Dubai, DR Congo, Namibia, Japan, Kazakhstan, India, Russian Federation, Sout Africa and South Korea.
