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.
