About

Croate is a five piece band from Hamilton and Kitchener, Ontario. We cover all styles of music from all regions of Croatia and play weddings, banquets, picnics, dances and other various events.

The Story

In the basement of Danny Benic's house, Winter 2000, Croate began with 3 members: Danny Benic, Ivan Katkic, and Marko Skrtic. We had a drummer, keyboardist/accordionist and a singer but no bassist or guitarist.

During the first few months, Steve Siljevinac filled in for a good chunk of the gigs. Croate's top priority was to find a full time bass player. Later that year, Katkic recorded Divne Boje's CD entitled "Idu Dani, Lete Godine" when their guitarist, Stipe Milardovic, recommended his brother. Stipe brought Mate in to do a few tracks on the album and a bass player was found. With a full time bassist, all that was left was a guitarist. For the time being, Stipe filled in with the band.

In the summer of 2003, Mate brought along Ivan Muncic, a friend from the tambura days, to band practice. His first gig with Croate was a picnic in Hamilton followed by Luda Noc in Windsor. After Luda Noc, Muncic became a full time member.

Several years had passed and many gigs played, varying from weddings to banquets and bashes. Nothing was more memorable than opening up for a popular Croatian rock band, Prljavo Kazaliste, while on their "Moj Dom Je Hrvatska" tour in Canada and the US in February of 2006. Other gigs to remember were, guest appearances at weddings by Duka Caic in Calgary and Nenad Vetma in Oakville, as well as New Years Eve 2007 with our friends in Los Angeles.

In the fall of 2007, Marko began his studies at the University of Toronto and decided he was no longer able to continue with Croate. The search began for a new lead vocalist. For several years, Stipe had been a reliable fill-in for Marko so he was an obvious choice. It was left up to him to decide, he accepted and in turn, added 12 (not 15) years of experience to the band.

Band Facts

Formed: January 2000
Members: 5
Total musical experience: 98 years combined
Professionally trained: does Joe Loncaric count?
Instruments: elec. guitar / acc. guitar / bass / drums / keyboard / piano accordion / button accordion
Musical styles: Narodne, Rock, Zabavne, Pop
Hometowns: Hamilton and Kitchener
Play tambura: yes

Questions asked that we thought were odd:

:: Why do you call the big black box, "the coffin"?
:: Why do you guys have so many cables?
:: Are you really a jazz band from Windsor, and is your singer really a race-car driver?
:: I know you guys don't know this tune, but could you try playing it for me?
:: Why are you guys making Marko carry everything?
:: Borderguard - "Are those really poems in that songbook?"
:: Borderguard - "Did you know you were only allowed to bring one bottle per person across, not three!?"
:: Where do you guys fit all that beer?
:: Two seats in the van, where do the rest of you sit?
:: Hogan? That doesn't sound like a Croatian lastname!
:: Why do you guys have a swimming pool in your room?