Kosterle, Austria

Formed in 1976 in Klosterle, Austria, by Markus Wolfahrt and Thomas Berthold as the Klostertaler Boys, Die Klostertaler have walked the fine line between traditional folk and rock for some 30 years and remain a popular concert draw in Germany, drawing fans from several generations. In addition to Wolfahrt and Berthold, members of the band have included Uwe Altenried, Gerhard Gabriel, Wolfgang Maier, Gerhard Tschann, Markus Fend, and Dietmar Konzett. Berthold, Konzett, and Uwe Altenried left the group in 2005 and were replaced by Andre Altenried, who stayed with Die Klostertaler only a year, and Christian Torchiani. The group released its first album in 1985 and now includes over 30 albums in its discography. ~ Steve Leggett