About the band
Biography
Zaandam, 2012. Kevin de Harde (vocals, harmonica) and Micha Sprenger (guitar) holed up in an Amsterdam-Noord studio for two days and cut a lo-fi delta blues album. Thirteen songs, self-released and free online, meant to stand alone. Then it won Best Dutch Blues Album, and the bookings started rolling in. The follow-up won too. So did the one after.
Now a five-piece: Kevin and Micha joined by Alexander van Meerten (drums), Dirk van Hoven (bass) and Tarah Ouwerkerk (backing vocals). Slide guitar and harmonica out front, with Chicago shuffles, ragtime swing and JJ Cale-style grooves underneath. In 2024 the Dutch Blues Award for Best Blues Act came along too. Fourteen years in, still chasing the sound.
Internationally, the band has played the Bali Blues Festival and headlined the Farmhouse Blues Festival in Shropshire. Plus club shows across the UK, France and Belgium.
Closer to home, the band packed Paradiso's Kleine Zaal for the Rolling Into Town release, then returned to the main hall as support for Robert Cray and Mud Morganfield. The Revelation EP premiered at Patronaat. Other venues: Podium Victorie (including support for De Dijk), P60 (Amstelveen), De Vorstin (Hilversum) and P3 (Purmerend).
- Dutch Blues Awards – Best Blues Album three years running (2012, 2013, 2014) and Best Blues Act in 2024.
- International – Bali Blues Festival (Indonesia), headlining Farmhouse Blues Festival (Shropshire, UK) and club shows in France and Belgium.
- Support slots – including Robert Cray and Mud Morganfield (Paradiso, Amsterdam) and De Dijk (Victorie, Alkmaar).
- Production – self-produced as a rule, with one exception: the Revelation EP (2018), co-produced with Mario Goossens of Triggerfinger to change things up.
- National radio – live sessions on Radio Veronica (Countdown Café, Giel Beelen), NPO Radio 2 (Roodshow, Muziekcafé), 3FM, and NPO Radio 1.
Six albums in: raw acoustic blues on The Damned and Dirty (2012), swampier on Sell Your Soul (2013), a touch of jazz and ragtime on Rolling Into Town (2014), an expanded line-up with guest musicians on Hoodoo Down (2015), louder and heavier on the Revelation EP (2018, co-produced with Mario Goossens of Triggerfinger). Fading Sun came out on 8 May 2026, moodier and more cinematic, recorded in Kevin and Micha's home studio.
"A hard punch to the gut."
"The band sounds fierce, hungry, full of conviction. Maybe better than ever."