Archief Evenementen - BluesinWijk

Blues in the barn

Blues in a beautiful location in the countryside near equestrian sports at the Horse Barn with the Sidekicks from East Groningen and duo Dirt Road from our own region. The Sidekicks’ new CD won this year’s Award for Best Dutch Blues CD. Admission €10 (excluding service charges €1.20) Tickets via Eventbrite.

THE SIDEKICKS: Blues And More Than Blues from Meulnhörn…. The Sidekicks are five friends who found each other through their shared passion for making music. Fenno, Teo, Peter, Arnout, and Wim. They put their hearts and souls into making music inspired by musical greats and diverse musical genres. Blues, rock, soul, pop, and jazz. For this reason, The Sidekicks’ music is not easy to pigeonhole. The typical “Sidekicks sound” is characterized by a mix of “musical ingredients” that the band members, playing in other bands, have “picked up” over the years and brought back to their home base in Meulnhörn. (East Groningen, just outside Siddeburen) Blues And More Than Blues from Meulnhörn.

The Sidekicks create music inspired by various musical greats and diverse musical genres, including blues, rock, soul, pop, and jazz. The songs—mostly original compositions—are therefore difficult to categorize. The typical ‘Sidekicks sound’ is created from various ‘musical ingredients’ that the band members have ‘picked up’ separately over the years and brought back to their home base in Meulnhörn. In this picturesque corner of Groningen, music, nature, and friendship come together perfectly. At the end of 2012, the band—then still under the name Hans van Lier & the Sidekicks—released the highly successful CD “Blues And More Than Blues.” Reviews described it as ‘a formidable band that can compete at the highest level internationally’, ‘a delightful mix of blues, rock, pop, and jazz’, and ‘proof that you don’t always have to look to the United States for the blues’. The album made it into the Dutch CD Top 100.
The band’s achievements have not gone unnoticed. The band made appearances on popular radio shows such as 3FM and NPO2 Muziekcafé, and performed at various venues in the Netherlands and Germany. The single Happy Song was even presented to the Dutch House of Representatives as a ‘remedy for the crisis’ and received attention on national television (NOS Nieuwsuur). In mid-2017, The Sidekicks released their new CD, Texas of the North. The name is linked to the record as a tribute to Meulnhörn, the hamlet near Siddeburen where the band is based. The new CD was recorded at the renowned Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum. The album contains 12 songs, all composed by the band members themselves. In early 2019, Arnout Arkenbout, “The Hammond Man,” joined the band and completed the band’s sound with his intense playing.
The Sidekicks are known for their energetic live performances. The music is made and performed with passion. The audience is quickly ‘carried away’ by their enthusiasm and the musical story of a group of friends from Meulnhörn. The Sidekicks are Teo de Haan (vocals), Peter Hummel (guitar), Arnout Arkenbout (Hammond), Fenno de Boer (bass guitar), and Wim Entzinger (drums).

DIRT ROAD. No nonsense Rhythmic blues. Pure to the bone. Formed as a close friendship in mid-2010, in the Juke joint on Zandweg in Wijk bij Duurstede. Inspiration was drawn from the old blues classics and is presented with a unique twist! Pure, rhythmic, and exhilarating. The intensity is where it belongs, a duo that understands each other flawlessly and knows where it needs to go. Dirt Road consists of Richard Quartel & Robin Winkel.

blues at the neighbors’

Sunday afternoon, June 7, 2026, we have set aside for a new edition of Blues at the neighbors’. You can already prepare your living room and/or blues act. bij ons aanmelden.

Blues at the nieghbors’ is an annual blues festival that has been organized since 2016 by BluesinWijk at Wijk bij Duurstede, Cothen and Langbroek. The aim is to connect neighbors through live blues music in living rooms, which are transformed into intimate concert venues (juke joints) for one day. Between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., visitors can attend free performances by blues musicians, who play three 45-minute sets.

The artists perform without payment. We pass the hat, and you can pay digitally via a QR code. Anyone with a connection to blues music and sufficient skill can apply, even from outside the region, although preference is given to regional acts. Performances are preferably acoustic or semi-acoustic, and musicians provide their own equipment. The organization matches artists with living rooms and provides promotion through various channels.

When am I eligible to participate in Blues bij de Buren? Blues bij de Buren is open to all musicians with a clear link to blues music; all blues music styles are welcome. However, you do need to have a certain level of skill. After all, it should be enjoyable for everyone to listen to you.

What time and how often will I perform? You will perform three shows of approximately 45 minutes each, with a half-hour break between each show. 1:30–2:15 p.m. / 2:45–3:30 p.m. / 4:00–4:45 p.m.

Can I also play in my own living room? Yes, you can. The most important thing is that there are at least two other people besides you who can take on the role of host and/or hostess.

I have arranged a living room myself, is that allowed? Yes, if you know someone who would like you to play at their place, that’s more than fine. That living room must first register. Please indicate this clearly in the email.

Do I have to play acoustically to participate in Blues bij de Buren? Not necessarily, although it is easier to find a living room for an acoustic performance than for an amplified blues concert. Indicate in the email what you can do, and who knows, we may find a living room where you can (perhaps) play at full strength as a band.

What about the technology? You take care of the technology yourself.

Will I be paid for performing? No, as much as we believe that musicians deserve to be appreciated, you can imagine that paying fees to, say, 20 groups of Blues bij de Buren would be unaffordable. However, you can claim your travel expenses. We will pass the hat around in each living room for the blues artist. We will, of course, include you in all our publicity and will also highlight a number of artists in the run-up to the festival.

What happens after I register? You will receive notification within two weeks as to whether you have been selected. In the spring of 2026, we will make the match with the living rooms. Only then will we know whether your participation is final.

Is a website or Facebook page a requirement? No, but we do want to get a good idea of who you are and what kind of music you make. That way, we can find a good match for you. Without a link to your music, we cannot assess you. You can also send us a CD.

Guy Verlinde 50

Guy Verlinde & The Artisans of Solace – 50th Anniversary Concert met Special guest: Richard van Bergen.

On March 27, 2026 The stage of the Calypso Theater will be filled with award-winning top musicians from Belgium and the Netherlands. Richard van Bergen, Guy Verlinde, Stef Paglia, Tom Eylenbosch, and the band Artisans of Solace have collectively won no fewer than six prestigious Blues Awards. It promises to be a truly impressive evening of blues!

Guy Verlinde’s relationship with BluesinWijk dates back to the very beginnings of the Wijk Blues Club. In many different formations, from solo to the full band The Mighty Gators, Guy Verlinde was always the charming and enthusiastic star of many a performance. Who remembers the wild singer-guitarist of The Mighty Gators, whipping up the crowd while standing on one of the large speakers in front of the stage at the Dorestad Museum? Or his presence at the Blues Cruise? His course ‘The History of the Blues’ at the Revius Lyceum? Over the years, Guy’s repertoire has changed, he has developed his own style, his lyrics have gained even more depth, and the likeable performer has proven himself to be a crowd puller par excellence. He is therefore delighted to celebrate his 50th birthday in Wijk bij Duurstede. Admission €15. Standing and seated places. Tickets by theater Calypso.

GUY VERLINDE 50 JAAR . Guy Verlinde (born 1976) is turning 50 and celebrating with a festive Anniversary Tour! For three decades, he has been touring at home and abroad with his sincere blues, roots, and Americana music. During this concert series, he will present a musical overview of his impressive career, in which he has released 17 albums and shared the stage with greats such as B.B. King, Santana, John Fogerty, Jeff Beck, and many others. With his infectious energy, compelling stories, and unique connection with the audience, Guy Verlinde knows how to touch his audience time and time again. His performances are much more than music: they are intense experiences full of love, hope, zest for life, and positive energy. A born entertainer and natural storyteller, he has built a solid live reputation at home and abroad, with a loyal fan base throughout Europe. He has also left a lasting impression in the Netherlands, with appearances at renowned venues such as TivoliVredenburg, Muziekgebouw Eindhoven, and festivals such as Moulin Blues and Ribs & Blues. This Anniversary Tour is not only a celebration of his 30-year musical journey, but also a tribute to the people who inspired him along the way.

THE ARTISANS OF SOLACE form a close-knit collective of top musicians with years of stage experience. Together with Guy Verlinde, they have already explored many musical landscapes and guarantee an intense, inspired live experience in which passion and craftsmanship take center stage. The rhythm section consists of René Stock—one of Wallonia’s most sought-after session bassists (known from Electric Kings and Last Call)—and Benoit Maddens, the driven drummer of the Flemish top act Brihang. The sound is given extra color by two young virtuosos: Tom Eylenbosch on piano & banjo and Stef Paglia (The Bluesbones) on electric guitar. Their playing is rich in emotion, dynamics, and finesse, creating pure musical magic time and time again.

GUEST: RICHARD van BERGEN . For more than 30 years, Richard has been inspired by various musical styles. A seasoned and gifted blues/roots guitarist with a raw guitar sound and a wonderfully soulful voice. Known from bands such as Shiner Twins, Rootbag, Richville, and accompanist to many other bands and artists such as Dede Priest and Qeaux Qeaux Joans.

New Year’s blues with Doctor Velvet

SWING INTO THE NEW YEAR WITH DOCTOR VELVET.

On Saturday evening, January 10, we will kick off the new year at Calypso Theater with a performance by the Amsterdam band Doctor Velvet. This energetic group, founded by childhood friends Jerome and David, brings an explosive mix of rhythm ‘n blues, punk, boogaloo, and rock ‘n’ roll in the style of The Sonics and Little Richard.

Doctor Velvet released their first single in 2022 and later debuted with the album “New Breed,” which brought a breath of fresh air to the Dutch roots music scene. The band has already performed at major venues and festivals such as Paradiso, Tolhuistuin, and Oerol, and has toured internationally in France, England, and Brazil. They have collaborated with artists such as Tito Ramírez, Benjamin Herman, and Alex Figueira.

The album “New Breed” blends the atmosphere of the 1960s with influences from soul, Latin, and 1950s rock ‘n’ roll, telling the story of nocturnal adventures filled with deserted roads and broken hearts.

On January 10, expect an evening filled with swinging saxophones, fiery guitar riffs, driving piano, and sultry percussion. Standing and seated tickets available. Tickets €15 available via theater Calypso.

Listen now to Amsterdam’s latest sensation, DOCTOR VELVET! Despite their young age, they have already managed to brew up a steamy, unique potion filled with just the right ingredients: a drop of blood from The Sonics, a hair from Little Richard, a dash of boogaloo, and above all, a generous dose of rhythm ‘n blues!

Band leaders David and Jerome met in high school, where they quickly discovered a shared interest in rock ‘n’ roll music. After gathering their bandmates, they were signed by Wap Shoo Wap Records, where they eventually released their first single in March 2022. In the two years that followed, the band released several singles, including “Road to Nowhere” with “the King of Mambo” Tito Ramírez. They performed with renowned artists such as Benjamin Herman, Lucas Santana, and Alex Figueira on major stages and at festivals such as the main stages of Paradiso, Tolhuistuin, and Oerol, and toured France, England, and Brazil.

They incorporated all these experiences into the recordings for their comprehensive debut album, New Breed. The album offers a fresh take on the rhythm ‘n blues genre by adding elements of (Latin) soul and 50s rock ‘n roll to the 60s sound and feel. It takes the listener on a nocturnal escapade through the bustling nightlife filled with deserted roads and broken hearts. 

John Primer & The Little Boogie Boy Bluesband

The now almost 80-year-old John Primer (USA) is still one of the few Chicago blues musicians from the 1960s still active enough to tour in Europe. In January 2025 he will make a short tour of the Netherlands and a performance in theater Calypso in Wijk bij Duurstede is also on the agenda. We are proud to host him then and invite you to come and see and hear him. He is accompanied by the more than fantastic Little Boogie Boy Bluesband (NL) led by Hein Meijer.

Theater Calypso, Markt 4, Wijk bij Duurstede. Uitsluitend zitplaatsen. Tickets €20,-

Multiple Grammy nominated artist and American blues legend John Primer was the bandleader and guitarist for Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon and Magic Slim & The Teardrops. John Primer has played with such blues greats as Junior Wells, Gary Clark Jr., Derek Trucks, Johnny Winter, The Rolling Stones and Buddy Guy, to name a few. John Primer’s personal accolades, including a Lifetime Achievement Award, reflect his countless contributions to the history of Chicago blues. Few fans, critics or musicians will deny that John Primer is the real deal.

https://www.johnprimerblues.com/home

Gospelnight

On Friday, November 29, we are organizing a GOSPEL & BLUESNIGHT + afterparty in the Grote Kerk on the Market Square in Wijk bij Duurstede, in cooperation with Stichting Concerten Grote Kerk on the eve of the annual Blues pub tour.

Gospel & Soul Choir ELIJAH met special gast Roel Spanjers.

Support act Jolly Jumper & Big Moe (No)

‘Free Entrance’. We use for this Gospel&Bluesnight a very special way of ‘entrance fee’ … No obligation to send a ticket in advance, but payment according to your means. This way we can, out of social considerations and commitment, let as many fans as possible enjoy the night, even those who have less to spend. Visitors who can afford to miss a normal entrance fee are asked to do so by scanning a QR code (coming soon) or by placing it in a basket at the exit. For this concert, an amount of € 15, – p / p seems appropriate. Do you participate?

Gospel & Soul Choir ELIJAH.Gospel & Soul Choir ELIJAH. A performance of Elijah stands for passion, soul and power! The energy and fun splashes off the stage so you can’t help but get into the flow of this enthusiastic choir. Besides swinging and splashing, modest and small is also on the colorful musical palette of Elijah. The repertoire is broad, ranging from traditional gospel and world-famous soul hits to familiar pop songs and southern blues. Anyone introduced to the Elijah Gospel & Soul Choir cannot sit still. This gospel choir sparkles and swings. Elijah is invariably accompanied by its inspiring conductor Trea Kuijsten and virtuoso pianist/arranger Govert van der Kolm. Elijah has performed at the Uitmarkt in Amsterdam, is a frequent guest at the traditional Christmas market in Dordrecht and has provided backing vocals for Marc Broussard, Chi Coltrane, Dani Wilde and Handsome Poets at venues including Paradiso, De Melkweg , Luxor Live, North Sea Jazz and Bospop.

© Hans Schoo / www.hansschoophotography.com

Roel Spanjers. Pianist and soulful Hammond player Roel Spanjers is a much sought-after live and studio (session) musician in the European rhythm & blues, soul and roots/Americana scene. He grew up with his father’s jazz at home and over the years developed into a versatile keyboard virtuoso with a great interest and love for roots music. Already at age 28 he toured all of Europe as a keyboardist with blues legend Luther Allison’s band and other greats such as Terry Evans, Curtis Salgado, Roscoe Chenier. But he was and is also active as a studio musician (Normaal, Julian Sas), session musician, guest musician, solo shows (New Orleans Voodoo), band member (Dyana Kurtz, Smokey Wilson, Captain Gumbo and J.W. Roy), frontman in his own band (Sunset Travelers from 2001) and theater shows with Frederique Spigt (Elvis). In 2011, he received a Dutch Blues Award in the keyboardist category. Soon he will release his new solo album Birdcatcher II, fulfilling a long-awaited promise: the successor to the obscure masterpiece Birdcatcher (2006).

Jolly Jumper & Big Moe. The blues duo Jolly Jumper & Big Moe belongs to the elite of Norwegian blues. For the past 30 years they have been one of the most popular and in-demand acts at festivals and club concerts. Kjell Inge Fischer Brovoll, vocals and harmonica and Jan Erik Moe guitar. Kjell and Moe welcome you with blues music during the walk-in and afterwards at the after party.

Stichting Concerten Grote Kerk Wijk bij Duurstede has a professional video recording system with which their concerts are recorded, broadcast live and saved in their You Tube channel. At the Gospel&BluesNight on November 29 this is also the case.

BLUES BIJ DE BUREN

VOODOO ROOM

English power trio VOODOO ROOM featuring the best of Hendrix, Clapton & Cream. An incredible live show in the true spirit of these legendary superstars. No wigs, no gimmicks – just great music played by great musicians! Listen to classics such as: Watchtower, Cocaine, Hey Joe, Sunshine Of Your Love, Purple Haze, Layla etc. Members of Voodoo Room have recorded and toured with Stevie Winwood, Massive Attack, Arthur Brown, Fish, Thunder and many other famous artists. With standing ovations as the norm.

Kai Strauss & the Electric Blues All-stars

Saturday night, January 13, 2024, we open the new blues year with KAI STRAUSS & THE ELECTRIC BLUES ALL-STARS. A German blues band from the European “premier league.

The times when European artists simply imitated North American productions are long gone. Whether one regrets it or not, the blues has become global and is championed by musicians who keep the memory of the blues alive and – with the best of them – give it their individual soul that makes the blues special. Singer and guitarist Kai Strauss belongs to this small circle. “Even as a teenager I was infected by the magic of a Buddy Guy, Albert King or the Vaughan Brothers,” says the musician who grew up musically in the German blues stronghold of Osnabrück and who, according to the trade magazine Bluesnews, is considered one of the big names in the European scene.

From his professional start, when he teamed up with Texas, USA-born singer Memo Gonzalez in 1995, to his successful career as a solo artist, Kai Strauss has proven to be a guitarist and singer with power and originality. Several German Blues Awards confirm his relevance as a bandleader, but he is also a sought-after sideman and has performed in recent years with such American luminaries as Jimmy Johnson, Mike Wheeler and Grammy-nominated Lurrie Bell.

Culture festival

CULTURE FESTIVAL is the new name for the familiar Colorful out in District. Saturday, September 2, 2023 is the day again. Dance, art, film, theater, workshops and, of course, lots of music. An annual free event in downtown Wijk, which is then completely turned upside down and attended by thousands of visitors. Traditionally, BluesinWijk is there with a blues stage and three bands:LITTLE HAT en BARN&BELLE, the winner of the Dutch Blues Challenge 2022 and FIVE DOLLAR SHAKE, a nice fresh band from Utrecht. Just like last year, we will be in the Klooster Leuterstraat from 2 PM to 6 PM, on the square opposite the HEMA and coffee house THUYS. Admission is free.

LITTLE HAT.Rockin’, sleazy & electrified…. Little Hat mixes it all together in a relentless groove that flows like it came from a one-man band. Their tight, raw, primitive sound takes you back to a time when rock meant rolling, too. The heavy dance rhythms almost make you forget that the low notes are not filled in by a bassist, but by the drummer’s right foot. Every show is a unique experience as these experienced musicians constantly interact and create something unique on stage. Frontman Machiel Meijers’ (Stackhouse) raw and passionate vocals and harmonica work are beautifully complimented by legendary Dutch Blues Hall of Fame inductee Willem Van Dullemen’s (Groovetones) gritty old-school guitar playing. This rock-solid duo is complemented by the driving rhythms of standout Paolo de Stigter (Thomas Toussaint) on drums: an alternative power trio that can blow your socks off any day of the week. The band is already a welcome guest at many festivals. And the release of their internationally well-received debut album “Wine Whiskey & Wimmen” has done them no harm. Expect wild grooves and great licks when you come to a Little hat show… But most of all: don’t forget to put on your dancing shoes because it’s impossible to stand still when these guys get going!!!
[caption id="attachment_9068" align="aligncenter" width="740"] BARN & BELLE Barn & Belle is an Americana & Roots duo from the south of the Netherlands. Close-harmony accompanied on an arsenal of Country & Folk instruments. Washboard, Banjo, Dobro, Melodica and their “Travellers Drum Machine” all come by! Barn & Belle play a mix of Americana & Roots music, where the chemistry between the two multi-instrumentalists is key. Having met at the Maastricht Conservatory, they found each other in their love for Americana, Ragtime and Swing. After many concerts and jam sessions, they decided, in early 2018, to start making music together. Their first performance took place in March 2018, during the preliminary round of “Podiumvrees Bandcontest”. That year they immediately won the finals, allowing them to open the Mama’s Pride Festival in Geleen.Later that month they were also allowed to provide Dutch support for “Pokey LaFarge”. In November that same year they won the B.R.F.L-contest (Blues & Roots From Limburg) which allowed them to open the 23rd edition of Southern Bluesnight. On October 2, 2022 the duo won at the finals of the Dutch Blues Challenge after which they were allowed to represent the Netherlands at The International Blues Challenge 2023 in Memphis, Tennesseetween 200 other international acts . Here they advanced to the semi-finals after 2 successful quarter-final shows. In March 2023 their new EP called ‘The Dead Don’t Dance’.

FIVE DOLLAR SHAKE.Led by the soulful voice of Lucinda Legaspi, Five Dollar Shake brings a powerful blend of rock, soul and blues. Their rousing live shows guarantee buckets of energy and empowerment. In the guitar riffs of Anne Kruiter and extravagant keyboard solos of Bas van der Starre you can feel the love for vintage sounds. Jelmer de Haas (drums) and Marja Silvertant (bass) ensure order in all the consternation with their laidback grooves. The foursome accompanies the *cherry on top*: vocalist Lucinda Legaspi. With lyrics as good as her voice, Legaspi lets you in and feel what contemporary blues can be. Raw, honest and swinging in your mug.

Blues pub Tour 11th edition

On Saturday, November 25, 2023, the pubs in downtown Wijk will again be filled with the blues. For the 11th time the Blues in Wijk Foundation and the hospitality industry together organize the now traditional Wijk Blues pub crawl. Ever since the first edition in 2010, this blues event has been a great success with around 1200 visitors from Wijk and the far surroundings. Blues fans experience the variety of blues types, relaxed atmosphere and short walking distances as particularly attractive. Blues in the E&E Guesthouse, theater Calypso, restaurants, cafes and on the carillon. Plenty to do so. There are flyers with playing times and locations in the participating catering establishments. Entrance is free.

Programming is underway. Below are the confirmed venues and acts.

2:00 PM restaurant de Jonge Graaf. THE MEN UNPLUGGED.

2:30 PM E&E Gasthuis. REEMERS&DEGREEF
Frank Reemers and Joep de Greef are two old hands from the Dutch music scene with a wealth of experience and a passion for Blues & Roots music.They regularly travel together to the cradle of the Blues, the South of America. In an intimate performance, the two of them love to perform beautiful home-grown and self-edited Blues and Roots songs to an interested audience. Armed with various guitars and blues harp, they perform a diverse repertoire ranging from old fingerpicking Delta blues songs to wonderfully swinging gems from the Blues world and surrounding areas. Blues & Roots played with passion and sung from the heart, that is Reemers & de Greef. In a homely setting like the E&E Guesthouse, they will certainly come into their own. In 2022, they were finalists in the Dutch Blues Challenge. Wherever they play, lovers of Blues & Roots music will truly enjoy!

4:00 PM Calypso Theater. KING OF THE WORLD
Active since 2011, King of the World built quite a reputation over the past few years. They released six albums, all of which were positively received both at home and abroad. This resulted in several performances at North Sea Jazz Festival, Ribs ‘n Blues and Paradiso, among others. The band was also invited for several TV performances and radio shows. They not only toured the Netherlands, but also visited Germany, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. That the band is particularly successful in the blues genre is no secret. Thus, the band won several Blues Awards: best drummer, best keyboard player, best bass player (3x), best guitarist and best band. They also scored no less than six listings in the 2017 Dutch Blues Top 100 of all time. The current line-up consists of Ruud Weber, responsible for vocals and bass. Complemented by Govert van der Kolm (keys and vocals) and Marlon Pichel(drums and vocals). The latest addition, with which the band has rediscovered itself, is Stef Delbaere (guitar). An avid lover of jazz and blues and a worthy addition to the pure and eager band! Clearly this band has more than earned its spurs and is definitely worth listening to.

6:00 PM Greek Food Mazi Mas. JOLLY JUMPER & BIG MOE 🇳🇴.
After their performance at Mazi Mas in 2018, we were asked several times if they could come back again. This duo praises themselves as a great blues harp and guitar duo from Norway that has been around for 29 years. They give you the best of what they consider the best of acousticw blues. Jolly Jumper (b. 1965) and Big Moe (b. 1950) hail from Hell, in central Norway, home of the Blues in Hell Festival. Sweater and Moe have a great act, a kind of history lesson and always full of humor. Their music goes back to the 1920s, 30s and 40s, playing different styles such as the Mississippi slide or harp style, or the Piedmont way of picking guitar (fingerpicking). We see memories of the likes of BB King, Muddy Waters and Little Walter and many other old timers in their music. Their live shows get great reviews every time. Jolly Jumper & Big Moe play instruments like the harp, harmonica, 6- and 12-string guitar, National steel guitar, mandolin, “foot stomp” and anything else that has strings on it. They also use odd things as percussion instruments and, of course, they both sing. All in all, a great act, a feast for the eyes and ears!

6:00 PM restaurant de Engel. VINTAGE BROTHERS.

6:00 PM restaurant de Veldpoort. CLEANHEAD & BAREFOOT.
Cleanhead & Barefoot bring an infectious and acoustic mix of musical styles from America, ranging from Blues from Chicago to Cajun & TexMex from the southern states of Louisiana and Texas. Moreover, during their musical journey, they frequently cross time zones. In doing so, the musicians adapt blues songs from Robert Johnson (30’s), Zydeco repertoire from Clifton Chenier and others and give various sixties hits a Cajun atmosphere. The duo’s appealing combination of two voices, guitar and accordion – already an impressive track record. Performances have been made from Amsterdam to Barcelona, at festivals, pub crawls and parties. Here accordionist-singer Michael Breukers got his nickname “Barefoot” when it turned out that – when overheating threatens – he prefers to take off his shoes and continue playing barefoot. Together with guitarist-singer “Cleanhead” John Zwetsloot, he guarantees a varied performance full of swinging Americana.Their live CD Travellin’ garnered very positive reviews both in the Netherlands and abroad, writing about “Catchy music … pure and unadulterated”; “Their music sounds particularly fresh, especially because of the unusual instrumentation” and “… especially Cleanhead knew how to make good contact with the audience in a casual atmosphere”. With a varied repertoire of Americana, Blues, Cajun, Sixties and TexMex, the music is sure to have something for everyone. Michael ‘Barefoot’ Breukers – accordion and vocals; ‘Cleanhead’ John Zwetsloot – guitar and vocals.

6:00 PM café Ome Ko. TBA

7:00 PM Calypso Theater. NIENKE DINGEMANS BAND
Nienke Dingemans is a 19-year-old singer-songwriter from Ossendrecht. She is considered a very young blues talent. But her music also extends to soul, country and jazz. As a 14-year-old she was already on stage, accompanied by some veterans in the blues world: Joost Verbraak and Jan van Bijnen, also her current band members. As a 17-year-old, she released her first EP in late 2021, with six self-written songs. This one received nothing but rave reviews (including Bluesmagazine, bluestownmusic and Rootsville). Indeed, she has a great voice and she sings with surprising confidence, power and empathy. Her songs also show great versatility. Influences from blues, folk, jazz, soul, country and swamprock, among others, are cleverly forged together in her music. Nienke is a great promise for the future. We are definitely going to hear a lot more of this. For now, the Calypso theater is the most suitable place to see and hear her live. The other band members have also more than earned their spurs in the music world. Nienke Dingemans – vocals, piano, electric guitar; Jan van Bijnen – (slide)guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, backing vocals; Joost Verbraak – drums, percussion, trumpet, trombone, sousaphone, backing vocals; Joris Verbogt – bass.

9:00 PM café ‘t Hoff. DAVE CHAVEZ BAND
This band comes from Schiedam and consists of professional blues artists who have earned their stripes in the international blues scene, including the Netherlands, Belgium and France. They won several nominations for the Dutch Blues Foundation’s Blues Awards. Feeling, passion and love for the music are indispensable for the group. Chavez (guitar and vocals) and his band released their third CD Rough & Uncut in March of this year. On the occasion of Dave’s 50th birthday, a live recording of 12 songs was made somewhere in Rotterdam with music friends and supporters. The musical companions accompanying Dave are: Peter Offerman on bass and drummer Matthieu van Uden.

10:00 PM Calypso Theater. LITTLE STEVE & THE BIG BEAT.
Little Steve & The Big Beat is an energetic Rhythm & Blues band with exciting guitar playing, strong vocals, a solid rhythm section and solid horns. They have been around for about ten years and have played at major festivals in the Netherlands, Belgium and France among others. This young band belongs to the absolute top of the Dutch blues scene. They take the blues, add some soul and play it the way they feel it should be played: adding their own sound to this expressive style of music. The band is true to the traditions, but also definitely a band of our time. For the Dutch Blues Awards in 2015, they were nominated as Best Band, Best Vocalist and Best Drummer. That they can build a party and get the hands together and the feet off the floor is evidenced by the fact that they are often booked as a closing act at festivals. Especially with their horn section they swing on all sides and will undoubtedly be a worthy closing act in the Calypso theater. Summary: They take the blues, add some soul and party! Steven van der Nat – guitar/vocals; Martijn van Toor – tenor saxophone; Evert Hoedt – baritone saxophone; Bird Stevens – bass and backing vocals; Jody van Ooijen – drums.

10.30 PM café Ome Ko. BULFROG TASTE EXPRESS

Approx 10:00/11.00 PM Eethuys Dorestad RAYMUNDA V
Raymunda Vervaeck is an experienced blues singer originally from Breda, but now living in Amsterdam. Since 2015 she operates with her five-piece band under the name Raymunda, before that under the name BLOEZZ. Raymunda is an excellent power blues band. The centerpiece of the group, however, is the fiery singer, who because of her raw throat is sometimes compared to Janis Joplin. Music is her outlet. Her lyrics, laced with irony, emotion and sometimes a bit of pain, all have to do with her life, and it’s easy to feel that on stage. This power blues band brings a mix of blues, rock, a touch of soul, country and jazz. Inspired by the likes of Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, Jimi Hendrix and a whole lot of rock from the 60’s/70’s, the band brings the blues/rock with a lot of emotion and sensation that whips up one moment and touches a sensitive chord the next. The group excels especially in hard blues rock. In 2022, Raymunda and the band were finalists in the Dutch Blues Challenge. The way Raymunda sings and involves the audience in her emotion make this band unique. Raymunda Vervaeck – vocals; Martin Waliana – lead guitar; Amon Gijzenmijter – slide guitar; Robin Kraag – bass; Pat de Wolf – percussion.

10:00 PM café Altijd Gezellig. MOJO HAND

Mojo Hand is a blues band of four band members with the blues heart in the right place. With a mix of their own songs and covers, various Blues styles are performed with great passion, quality and pleasure of playing. The energetic show given by the band is a journey from Texas to Chicago, from funky stuff to driving boogie, subdued and swinging. Many styles pass by. Because of the extensive instrumental line-up (organ, piano, harmonica, guitar, drums, bass and two band members with vocals), the sound is complete and every show is a happening. The band already proved that at many venues and festivals, such as Culemborg Blues, Bluesplein Eindhoven, Delft Blues, Bock & Blues Almelo, Blues’m Nuenen, Paasblues Asten, Alkmaar Blues route, Zilst Blues, Venblues, BogBlues and Bluesroute Helmond. Frank Reemers and Joep de Greef also play in a band with acoustic blues: Ramblin’ Dog and as blues/roots duo Reemers&deGreef they can also be seen earlier in the day at the E&E guesthouse. Mojo Hand is a must see and hear for every blues lover! Frank Reemers – vocals and guitar; Joep de Greef – vocals, keys and blues harp; Jules van Bussel – bass; Paul Delforterie – drums.

15th anniversary

Of course we will celebrate our 15th anniversary in café Ome Ko, where it all started in 2009. We will first have a nice dinner with the volunteers and from 8 p.m. everyone is welcome to party with VELDMAN VINTAGE PROJECT.

After years of leading own work, now a serious ‘Vintage Project’ by singer-guitarist Gerrit VELDMAN. A deep dive into the period where his love of music lies: around 70’s. A tribute to the period from 1965 to 1975. From Jimi Hendrix to The Rolling Stones and from Cream to CCR. And what about Rory Gallagher, Santana or Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young? VELDMAN Vintage Project performs their songs to a high standard. All songs from that legendary period just before and just after the seventies. Will you go back to those days with us? VELDMAN himself enjoys this enormously, as you will see and hear. But the band especially wants to give you that vintage feeling. With a delicious seventies repertoire and a big aha-effect!

In recent years Gerrit Veldman toured with bassist Tenny Tahamata and drummer Mathieu van Uden. A rhythm section that pleased him so well that he asked them to join him in this Vintage Project. They were immediately enthusiastic and Tenny quickly suggested Roland Bakker – for years his musical buddy in the Julian Sas Band – as a keyboard player for this project. Roland was also enthusiastic and appears to be able to handle this repertoire extremely well. So let yourself be musically surprised by these experienced musicians. VELDMAN Vintage Project: a unique ‘around seventies’ band!

Members: Gerrit Veldman – Guitar, vocals Mathieu van Uden – Drums, vocals Tenny Tahamata – Bass guitar, vocals Roland Bakker – Hammond organ, piano and key’

‘Who is Robert Johnson, not?’

BIG BO en MARC STAKENBURG – WIE IS ROBERT JOHNSON, NIET?

Duivelse verhalen rond een blueslegende.

Een avondvullende muzikale vertelling in theater Calypso Wijk bij Duurstede op 7 oktober 2023.

Tickets (€12,50) verkrijgbaar via www.calypsotheater.nl

Over geen enkele muzikant doen zoveel fantastische verhalen de ronde als over blues muzikant Robert Johnson. Dat hij zijn ziel aan de duivel zou hebben verkocht om beter gitaar te kunnen spelen is daarvan de bekendste. Maar er zijn er nog zoveel meer.

Waarom spreekt de man, die slechts 29 nummers opnam, een kleine eeuw na zijn dood nog altijd zo tot de verbeelding? Waarom had hij drie graven? Werd hij vergiftigd, neergeschoten of overleed hij aan een geslachtsziekte, en vanwaar de jarenlange verbeten jacht op ‘een derde foto’ van de muzikant?

Bob Dylan noemt hem ‘een van de meest inventieve geniën ooit’, voor anderen is hij vooral een van de meest geslaagde marketinghypes ooit. Feit is dat veel van zijn nummers gelden als klassiekers; Sweet Home Chicago, Love in Vain, Hellhound on My Trail, Me and the Devil en Cross Road Blues.

In ‘Wie is Robert Johnson, niet?’ onderzoeken Delta bluesgitarist “Big Bo” Brocken en verteller Marc Stakenburg op luchtige wijze alle verhalen en fabels rond Robert Johnson. Bo brengt de muziek van de legende op een authentieke manier tot leven.

Feiten en fictie lopen hevig door elkaar, wat blijft is de verbeelding. Johnsons verhaal speelt in op de fantasie en ja, ER IS een derde foto. Of toch niet?

Bluespodium Kleurrijk uit in Wijk

Bluespodium Kleurrijk uit in Wijk

The editions 2020 and 2021 had to be cancelled due to Corona, but in 2022 we will try again with the bands we had programmed for 2021. The 10th edition of “Kleurrijk uit in Wijk” is a yearly free event in downtown Wijk, which is completely turned upside down and visited by thousands of visitors. Since 2011 BluesinWijk has been providing a free bluespodium with a trip to the Country in 2022 with KENTUCKY SNAKE OIL and for the Blues fans it will remain a surprise for a while.

Kentucky Snake Oil

KENTUCKY SNAKE OIL. Swinging fiddle, splashy banjo, polyphonic vocals and a rhythm that won’t let you sit still (but you should): Kentucky Snake Oil performs an energetic mix of Bluegrass, Country and American folk music. The band plays a varied repertoire that includes songs by Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen, Hank Williams and Mumford & Sons.

Sem Jansen & Leif de Leeuw Band

Since 2011 Leif de Leeuw and his band have been welcome guests in Wijk bij Duurstede. Initially with singer Britt Jansen, but Britt became Sem and turned out to be a charismatic and talented singer/guitarist.

The new unique show “Who the f*ck is Britt”? tells the poignant story of Sem’s transition from woman to man. In a 1.5-hour show, he takes the audience through his process via singing songs, complemented by video footage and stories. And, most notably, he will duet with his former self who will be present on the video screen. All this will be accompanied live by his band, which consists of the musicians of the Leif de Leeuw Band. Sem will play small narrative Americana songs with the band.

Theater Calypso, Markt 4, Wijk bij Duurstede. Hall open 3 p.m. Showtime 3:30 p.m. Entrance €15. Tickets viatheater Calypso.

Sem Jansen & band: Sem Jansen – song, gitar; Leif de Leeuw – gitar, mandoline, pedalsteel; Tim Koning – drums; Boris oud – double bass, bass guitar; Joram Bemelmans – percussion; Willem ’t Hart – orgel, rhodes

Voor de voorstelling “Who the f*ck is Britt?!” maakten Marijn en Ingrid van @companyoferrors een prachtige krant vol met informatie over de voorstelling, interviews met de bandleden en de filmmakers en veel informatie die iedereen die meer wil weten over het transgender onderwerp! Hij is bij alle voorstellingen gratis af te halen en hij wordt bij iedere bestelling in de webshop meegestuurd. Hier online te lezen.

WORKSHOP HARMONICA

Meet the harmonica.

ALSO IN 2016 ANOTHER HARMONICA WORKSHOP.

The workshops in 2011, 2012 and 2013 were a huge success and still there is a lot of demand. So on Friday evening, May 20, 2016, another MONDHARMONICA workshop with musical talent Hans “Homesick” de Vries as trusted teacher. Hans is the frontman of the zydeco band Louisiana Men and a very experienced blues harp player himself.

For absolute beginners.

Participants do not have to be able to read notes or even have never done anything with music before to participate. The harmonica has a wildly clever and simple system for learning and memorizing songs. This workshop ‘for absolute beginners’ will take you through the wonderful world of this little instrument and its countless players! All participants receive a new, good quality blues harmonica, which they will use to make music right away! After only 15 minutes everyone will be playing their first blues lick!!! It is the only instrument in the world that you play by alternately blowing and sucking. You can take this little harmonica anywhere and once you get the hang of it, a whole new world of playing pleasure will open up for you.

Fun and educational.

The previous workshops were attended by more than 200 participants. On all evenings the enthusiastic harmonica and blues lovers from Wijk and surroundings tried to play a tune at the same time. What was initially a cacophony of sound changed after some practice into almost synchronous sounding blues music. The “mass band” led by Hans de Vries had the most fun and literally and figuratively enjoyed the workshop to the fullest. On the website of BluesinWijk there is a nice movie of the workshop 2012 www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPvMxGY-qCg&feature=player_profilepage

Wijkse harmonicagroup.

After a workshop led by Hans de Vries, a large number of enthusiastic people went on, took lessons together and now play blues harp quite well. Nice example is Richard Quartel from Wijk, who meanwhile joined blues band the Caverns. A few of them are also in the workshop and together with Hans they will play a few songs and of course you can join in too.

E&E Gasthuis.

The workshop is on Friday, May 20, 2016, starts at 7:30 p.m. (venue open from 7 p.m.) in the grand cafe of the E&E Gasthuis, Gansfortstraat 4, 3961 CR Wijk bij Duurstede, takes about one and a half hours and costs € 15,-. The bluesharp ( value €10,-) you get for free and you can take it home afterwards! During the break and afterwards there is the possibility to practice and ask questions. There is also a stall with textbooks and special harmonicas. All participants receive a lesson sheet and for those who want there is a free follow-up lesson via internet. Register by mail at Wijk@harmonicaworkshops.nl, at the reception of the E&E Gasthuis and on May 20 in the Grand Café itself. Afterwards there will be a concert by the (Bluesin) Wijkse mondharmonica group from approx. 21.00 hrs.

“Great, that you start with nothing and after two hours of fun come out with your “own” harmonica that you can actually play something on already!” … according to some participants after the workshop.

PubBluesTour 2022

Saturday, November 26 10th Blues pub crawl in Wijk’s pubs.
After a forced Corona stop of 2 years, blues lovers can attend the renowned blues pub crawl in downtown Wijk bij Duurstede again for the 10th time. Blues in 11 venues, 15 blues acts and 45 musicians. The start is at two thirty in the E&E Gasthuis, at four o’clock theater Calypso takes over with a solid band, from six o’clock blues in 4 restaurants and a Stones-duo in cafe Ome Ko, after dinner a second band in theater Calypso and in the meantime the pubs get on steam with blues bands until just after midnight. So plenty to do. More info at www.bluesinwijk.nl. Admission is free.

Hopping from pub to pub. After a forced Corona halt of 2 years, November 26, 2022 the pubs in downtown Wijk are once again filled with the blues. For the 10th time, the Blues in Wijk Foundation and the hospitality industry together organize the now traditional Wijk Blues pub crawl. Since the first edition in 2010, this blues event has been a great success with around 1200 visitors from Wijk and the far surroundings. Blues fans experience the variety of blues types, relaxed atmosphere and short walking distances as particularly attractive. Blues in the E&E Guesthouse, theater Calypso, restaurants, cafes and on the carillon. Plenty to do. More info at www.bluesinwijk.nl. Flyers with playing times and map are available in all participating restaurants. Entrance is free.

Blues on the carillon. The city carillon at the old city hall on the Markt also participates in the pub crawl. In 2015, Utrecht city carilloneur Dick van Dijk arranged some blues songs. An upbeat blues song can be heard every 15 minutes.

Blues DJs.  DJs Bas & Toon can be found all afternoon and evening in theater Calypso. They spin tasty blues between the performances of the three bands (Veldman, Electric Hollers and Sugar Queen) performing there. Visitors can also request songs from them.

Blues in the Afternoon.  The blues pub crawl kicks off at 2:30 p.m. with a performance by Stef Woestenenk in the grand café of the E&E Guest House. For years it has been a cheerful, successful and fun afternoon, where the elderly of Wijk bij Duurstede sing along, clap and even dance. Following from 16.00 hours blues band Veldman.

Blues while eating. After At four places you can combine food and blues. In Café Ome Ko the Stones-duo Spider & the Fly will play, Duketown Slim & Fred are at the Greek restaurant Mazi Mas, Mr. Moan is at restaurant de Engel and the Bluetails can be found at the Veldpoort food & drinks.

Blues in the evening. At 7 p.m. the Electric Hollers will be at theater Calypso and from 7:30 p.m. Ralph de Jongh will set the scene at café de Malle Molen. Ticket West plays from 21.00 in café ‘t Hoff and from 22.00 blues band Mo & the Stage Animals play in café Ome Ko, Fat Harry & the Fuzzy Licks in restaurant Dorestad, K.C. Credit and the Cashiers with a Cash-tribute in café Altijd Gezellig and Sugar Queen(USA) with band in theater Calypso.

Blues in the night. After midnight the blues continues until about one o’clock at Ome Ko, Altijd Gezellig and Dorestad.

Ralph de Jongh.
We have seen Ralph with his band several times in Wijk. In the Mole Mill, he is solo. He is very likely one of the hardest working songwriters in the Netherlands. A hard-working songwriter who doesn’t sacrifice anything in terms of quality, let that be clear. From 2019 he released no less than then ten CDs with lots of new, own songs. The rave reviews with five stars flew ‘m around the ears. Original and authentic music straight from the heart. You feel that, you experience that and you never forget that. “One of the best songwriters in the Netherlands” – Music Maker Magazine “It is truly a sensation to see this charismatic blond god at work” – Het Parool.

Sugar Queen.
Michele Denise, known as Sugar Queen, is a versatile American vocalist and songwriter who performs the blues in Europe, the U.S. and Asia and is currently based in Belgium/Netherlands. With her band, she brings the blues spirit to life and interprets the blues with lived emotion. The purified musicians play with boundless energy and passion. Their ambition is to interpret the Chicago blues sound. Lean back and enjoy, then get your feet off the floor.

Electric Hollers. Electric Hollers is a blues/rock sensation from the north of the Netherlands. Get ready to be blown away by a wall of vintage sound and energy! Heavy bass, thundering drums and guitar solos that take you back to days gone by. The band draws inspiration from bands like Led Zeppelin, Santana & Ten Years After. In 2018, the band released their debut album “Rise. After five years, they are calling it quits in early 2023. So unique opportunity to see them live one more time.

Veldman. A band stemming from the nationally known “The Veldman Brothers”. After the breakup of the brothers, singer/guitarist Gerrit Veldman together with the Mathieu van Uden (drums), Tenny Tahamata (bass) and Colly Franssen (Hammond/keyboard) decided to continue the band. With new songs, new website and new management, VELDMAN wants to show that they still belong to the absolute top of blues in the Netherlands. Unfortunately, in 2023 the band is already calling it quits. A unique opportunity to see them live in Wijk.

Fat Harry & the Fuzzy Licks.  Contemporary blues is probably the best description of the music of this seasoned band from Rotterdam. Sometimes funk, soul and rhythm & blues can be heard, to eventually return to old school blues. Nor has the band gone unnoticed on the other side of the ocean. The band regularly tours Europe as accompaniment to such renowned American artists as Preston Shannon, Lurrie Bell, Rip Lee Pryor, Giles Robson and Steve Arvey.

Spider & the Fly. The semi-acoustic Stones blues duo Spider & the Fly brings the repertoire of the world’s Greatest Rock & Roll Band back to its essence with two guitars and two voices. Performances feature mega-hits like Satisfaction, Honky Tonk Women and Gimme Shelter interspersed with lesser-known gems and blues songs from the past 6 decades.

Stef Woestenenk. Guitarist, singer, songwriter and writer. He has been a guest at the E&E before with many heckling blues and pop songs and catchy stories. Stef can draw from a wide repertoire of Blues, pop and rock classics from the 60s and 70s with songs by artists such as The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Santana etc.

Mo & the Stage Animals. If you can leave anything to Mo and her men, it’s setting an atmosphere of unparalleled pleasure in no time. From beginning to end the throttle is on. Interrupted with slow blues and ballads, this band blasts an enormously versatile blues rock cover repertoire into the audience. All songs are dipped in a sort of home-brewed magic potion, which makes it very attractive to see and especially to hear this band.

Ticket West. Two brothers who listened to blues records their father played at the family dinner. After being in a blues and rock ‘n roll band together in their teens, they each started their own music careers. Now, after more than 30 years, they are back together to refocus on the blues and doing what they love best. Simply without being hindered by the need to become rich and famous composing, recording and performing with friends and doing so to the best of their ability while keeping their blues alive after all these years.

Duketown & Freddy. For quite a few years Imco Ceelen can be found as “Duketown Slim” in big and small corners of the Dutch live scene. His music is best described as blues, roots and songwriting with a sense of intimacy and honesty. Nowadays he is a duo with Fred vd Wende. This amiable looking musician has proven himself in a wide variety of bands and showbiz theater productions not only in the Netherlands but also in Canada several times.

Mr. Moan.  A bluesman with beautiful understated songs and finalist in the Dutch Blues Challenge 2022. So many lyrics in the blues are about food. That’s good because he wants to use them one day when performing at restaurant de Engel in Wijk bij Duurstede. Let’s see if that adds anything to the food. By the way, they do sing about food, but really those are just metaphors for all sorts of things to do with sex. Hence, in my search for lyrics about food, I have never heard so much obscenity without a single foul word. So it stays neat in restaurant de Engel, it’s all about the food…….and the blues

K.C. Credit and the Cashiers.  A Johnny Cash tribute band that does not perform their own interpretations, just Johnny Cash songs as they were meant to be. Of course they play Cash’s famous hits like San Quentin, Ring Of Fire, I Walk The Line and Folsom Prison Blues, but also wonderful songs you don’t hear every week. All this with double bass, drums, acoustic and electric guitar, as it was common in the 1950s and early 1960s.

The Bluetails. We’ve seen The Bluetails at the Field Gate before. Alex Jr plays guitar and does the vocals, Henk is on bass and upright bass and his son Dave is the drummer and percussionist. In 2014, they released the album Riverside Tales, which was well received in the Dutch blues scene. Dave, the youngster, is the former drummer of We the Firm and gives The Bluetails’ rhythm an incredibly fresh and detailed foundation for the songs the band plays live on stage.

foto’s en film 9e editie Blueskroegentocht 2019

Blues afternoon with Big Bo

Bluesnight with Ragtime Rumours

A long-cherished wish of De Veldpoort is to have a nice blues band in the house once. Because of Corona, this was not possible in 2020 and 2021. On October 15 it will happen with the Ragtime Rumours. Winners Dutch Blues Challenge 2017 and European champion 2018. Ticket sales starting in September.

Bernard Allison Band

After three cancellations in 2020, 2021 and 2022, the fantastic band of Bernard Allison (USA) is now scheduled again on Saturday night, January 14, 2023 in theater Calypso. We couldn’t wish for a nicer start to our new blues year.

Theater Calypso, Markt 4, Wijk bij Duurstede. Hall open 20.00 hrs. Showtime 20.30 hrs. Entrance €17.50. Tickets via theater Calypso

Bernard Allison is the youngest son of legendary and much-missed Chicago bandleader Luther Allison. Of course, with a father like that, you get the blues from the very beginning. At 12 he was already playing excellent guitar and at 18 he played with his father at the Chicago Blues festival and received much acclaim. A week after high-school, he went on tour for many years with Koko Taylor’s Blues Machine. Then he was bandleader with his father’s band and after Luther’s death in 1997, Bernard continued the family blues tradition started a solo career alongside it with much success in Europe.

Café de Noot Hoogland 2010

Our programmer is a big fan of Bernard. In 2010 he met his band for the first time. He was immediately sold and wrote at the time in Bluesmagazine, “I had seen a lot of good blues by then. Dutch bands, Americans, English, one performance even better than the other. Really all blues of the highest order, like Primer, Popovic, Parker, Siegal, Sas, King Mo, Oberg, Twelve Bar Blues Band, Steckel, Paardekooper, BB-King, Veldman Brothers. Absolute highlight was Joe Bonamassa on November 7 that year live in Carré. Wonderful classical ambiance, beautiful light, excellent sound, fantastic blues and blistering guitar work. Truly phenomenal, enjoyment with a big G. I was firmly convinced that nothing could top that in 2010. But …….. then it was Sunday afternoon, November 20, 2010. On the advice of Henk Hak I bought tickets for a nice blues afternoon in Henk’s Hooglandse café de Noot with Bernard Allison. Never seen him before, but according to Henk highly recommended. With Joe still in the back of my mind, I carelessly went to Hoogland, had a beer, a nice crowd and then the band started. ………….. Am I hearing this correctly, am I not drunk? …. man this is BLUES like little I have heard, felt and experienced until now. What Allison and his band displayed there in the Noot was truly over Bonamassa! What a pace, what tight blues, what an ease, what fun and what a high level. I didn’t know what hit me. Speechless standing there watching and listening. And was I the only one who was intoxicated (maybe one too many beers?) by this American, well, all around me was a room full of speechless people who could not believe their eyes and ears. CLASS! And it didn’t stop, over 3.5 hours these men played on and on, one song more catchy than the other. It was really great. Of course we looked back at the bar. What is the secret of Bernhard and his men, what makes this so unreal good, why can’t other bands do this? Fortunately, Henk offered an answer: …… “FEELING” …. “It’s in the blood of these guys and you feel it, you see it”.

Blues walk & after party

In cooperation with café Ome Ko, city brewery the Dikke and Bax Lederwaren, Blues in Wijk organizes a grand blues walk on Friday, April 15. The walk was already scheduled in 2020, but was cancelled due to the Corona pandemic.

During the walk, the link is made between the hard life of African-Americans in the south of the US and the impoverished Wijk bij Duurstede in the 20^th century. Impoverished, on their own, collectively fighting for existence. A mixture of real Wijkse stories and blues music. Guides lead the participants through the city center, typical Wijk people tell their stories and musicians play the blues.At 7.30 pm, 8.00 pm and 8.30 pm the walks start from café Ome Ko. The walk is less suitable for persons with mobility problems. Around 10 p.m. everyone is back for a smashing afterparty with the Thomas Toussaint Band.

The blues walk is sold out. No more tickets available. Of course you can also enter the afterparty from around 22:30. The entrance fee is €7.50.

More pictures on our photo page.

The newspaper AD/UN from march 3, 2020 Wim van Amerongen wrote:

Blues bridges the poverty and beauty of Wijk bij Duurstede

During a blues walk, storytellers revive the past of the impoverished inner city of Wijk bij Duurstede. Along the way there is blues music. The blues builds a bridge between the shabby past and the present.

Anyone who now walks through the center of Wijk bij Duurstede and does not know its past, cannot imagine how dilapidated the town looked until the 1980s. Rows of houses with signs saying ‘house declared uninhabitable’, houses nailed shut to prevent people from living in them, poverty, unemployment.

raw and pure. Ruud Muis, one of the initiators of the blues walk: “I am crazy about the history of Wijk and about blues. In this beautiful little town everyone should know what kind of misery and poverty the people here used to live in. Sad. In blues music you hear that raw, pure, no frills. Straightforward. It is what it is. When you talk to old Wijksen you get the same thing. Opinionated, not polished, the beautiful Wijk dialect, humor, it is what it is. I enjoy that.” Etske Muis, his wife: ,,Wijk breathes the blues. Now it looks like a beautiful, thriving city. Houses have been fixed up, there is a lot of art, there are good restaurants. But everyone must realize that Wijk used to be rich in poverty. We want to show that by showing the other side of the city through stories. Happiness can best be appreciated when you have experienced how deep misery and sorrow can be.”

Café Ome Ko. It is no coincidence that the blues walk begins at café Ome Ko, the birthplace of Blues in Wijk. That’s where Arie Verheul sat at the bar with Frans Hoving and Anton Winkel eleven years ago. They dreamed aloud to bring the blues to Wijk. The Bintangs, Cuby and the Blizzards, Livin’ Blues. The rest is history. Blues in Wijk brought these and dozens of other bands to Wijk. Mostly they play in the Calypso Theatre, the favorite base for blues nights, sometimes called the Paradiso of Wijk. But also in pubs and at Castle Duurstede. Blues in Wijk knows itself supported by four hundred “friends of the blues. “That’s our foundation,” says Verheul. The guided walk starts and ends at café Ome Ko. At four locations storytellers will revive the raw past. With stories about brick kilns, factories, shopkeepers and legendary innkeepers and pubs. Along the way blues music can be heard and afterwards there is a blues party.

Blues Afternoon

Due to the cancellation of the Phil Gates Band, we are looking for 1 or 2 replacement bands, to still have a fun blues afternoon. Further notice will follow.

1500th show Highstreet Blues

Regio90 & BluesinWijk. Since 1993 Regio90, the regional broadcaster for the municipalities Utrechtse Heuvelrug and Wijk bij Duurstede, has been broadcasting the radio program ‘Highstreet Jazz& Blues’ every Sunday afternoon at 12.00.. Evert Wybenga was its founder, later assisted by current presenter Jos du Floo. After his death in 2018, Jos definitively took over the baton from Evert. The first hour of the program Jos spins blues music with the very latest CDs, interviews and performances. The second hour is dedicated to Jazz music. Highstreet can be heard on cable, on frequency 91.7FM or worldwide via www.regio90.nl with a repeat on Wednesday evenings starting at 18:00. After the establishment of BluesinWijk in 2009, a warm relationship developed between both presenters and the Wijk blues club. In recent years they were often guests at Evert and Jos to promote one of their blues events, in Corona time the joint project ‘Album of the Month’ and is recently also be listened to via our website.

24 april 2022 1500e

Jos du Floo:
”
Finally THE live broadcast of the 1500th episode of Highstreet Jazz & Blues from café ‘t Hoff, one of the most beautiful pubs in Wijk bij Duurstede. I am very much looking forward to it. The location and guest musician are sponsored by BluesinWijk.
This 1500^th broadcast with interviews, live music from Big Bo and music you can personally wake me up in the middle of the night for. I begin with a song by Roy Buchanan. Also Luther Allison, Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa, Dana Fuchs, C.W. Stoneking, Hans Theessink & Blue Groove, Ralph de Jongh, Leon Redbone and Sam Pilafian & Frank Vignola. Also featured is the album of the month”, for the month of April, an entry by Frank Kraaijeveld. His choice falls on The Rolling Stones. The album Untitled (1964). Look at www.bluesinwijk.nl For all those great stories to go with those submitted long playing records. Also a song from the “three of Wybenga,” aka “from Evert’s suitcase.” The Highstreet Jazz and Blues program has been heard every Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. for over 28 years.

Keeping a weekly radio program on the air for nearly thirty years is a major accomplishment and a milestone in the epicenter of the Blues in the deep south of the province of Utrecht that BluesinWijk did not want to pass by quietly. Accordingly, the 1500^th broadcast was festively celebrated in Café ’t Hoff in Wijk bij Duurstede, transformed that day into a real-life radio station with a live broadcast from the regulars’ table in the café. Regular presenter Jos de Floo at the table played over 2.5 hours of blues songs that you could wake him up for in the middle of the night. Blues musician Big Bo played live, the Wijk culture councilor Wil Kosterman chimed in, as did Willem van de Kraats and Arie Verheul of Bluesinwijk. A packed audience regularly let it be heard that they were enjoying themselves immensely. Starting at 4, Big Bo provided a well-attended blues matinee in the Hoftuin.

BluesAtTheNeighbors

Corona made it impossible in 2020 and 2021, but on Sunday afternoon, June 19, 2022, we are going to try again. The 3rd edition of BluesAtTheNeighbors. 16 living rooms in Cothen, Langbroek and Wijk bij Duurstede will be transformed into real ‘Juke-Joints’ where everyone can listen to special performances by blues musicians between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm, who will perform there 3 times for three quarters of an hour. The acts play a first set from 1.30 pm to 2.15 pm, a second set from 2.45 pm to 3.30 pm and a third set from 4.00 pm to 4.45 pm. A blues event unique to the Netherlands! Admission in all living rooms is free. The bands play without a fee. During each set the hat goes around in which you can make a donation.

Tuesday, June 7, information meeting with the residents with whom we will organize BluesAtTheNeigbors. We went through the program together, exchanged experiences and handed out flyers. They are looking forward to receive you on the 19th in their living room.

The first BluesAtTheNeighbors was in 2016 . The underlying idea was (and still is) to stimulate residents to open their doors to each other and to be involved with Blues music together, without financial barriers. The festival wants to promote the quality of life within the various neighborhoods and show how hospitable a city/neighborhood and its residents are.

Meet your neighbors.During BluesAtTheNeighbors you not only meet the inhabitants of the city/neighborhood, but you also get to know all the beautiful things Blues has to offer in the intimate atmosphere of the living room. Blues music connects people and is a cultural form par excellence that passes by all walks of life, ages, colors and tastes.

Wijk één grote huiskamer. BluesattheNeighbors is organized by BluesinWijk. Together with the living room owners they make Wijk bij Duurstede, Cothen and Langbroek one big living room. So, be surprised during BluesatheNeighbors and enjoy the hospitality of Wijk.

BluesattheNeighbors 2018

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