The Damned and Dirty live in De Groote Weiver, 8 mei 2026 (© Ron Koffeman)

For press & bookers

Press kit

Dutch blues, roots and Americana band. Slide guitar and harmonica up front, three-time Best Dutch Blues Album and Dutch Blues Award for Best Blues Act 2024. Sixth album Fading Sun out since 8 May 2026.

Download all press photos (zip) Listen Contact & booking

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.

Line-up

Kevin de Harde: vocals, harmonica
Micha Sprenger: guitar
Dirk van Hoven: bass
Alexander van Meerten: drums
Tarah Ouwerkerk: backing vocals

Out now

New album

Fading Sun

The sixth studio album, out since 8 May 2026. Ten new songs, recorded in Kevin and Micha's home studio and self-released. Blues, roots rock and some gospel; slide guitar, harmonica, backing vocals.

The songs circle around that moment when life knocks the wind out of you, when you look in the mirror and don't quite recognise yourself, when memories feel heavier than the road ahead. And somewhere in there, a fading sun sets the sky on fire.

All songs written by Kevin and Micha, the first full-length since the Revelation EP (2018). The release show on 8 May at De Groote Weiver (Wormerveer, NL) sold out. Three singles preceded it: "Fading Sun" (July 2025), "Queen of the Board" (January 2026) and "A Million Stars" (April 2026, with music video).

Press

"Fading Sun is quite simply a world-class album."

— Helderpop Magazine (Fading Sun review, May 2026)

"The band sounds fierce, hungry, full of conviction. Maybe better than ever."

— Jascha Soest, 3voor12 VPRO (release show review, 11 May 2026)

"A hard punch to the gut."

— Blues Magazine (on the Revelation EP)

Journey & highlights

In fourteen years The Damned and Dirty have gone from Zaan-district bars to Paradiso, from the Bali Blues Festival to headlining the Farmhouse Blues Festival (Shropshire, UK), and — eight years after the Revelation EP — back where they belong with a new full-length album.

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), club shows in the UK, France and Belgium.
Support slots: Robert Cray and Mud Morganfield (Paradiso, Amsterdam) and De Dijk (Victorie, Alkmaar).
Dutch venues (selection): Paradiso, Patronaat (Revelation EP premiere), Podium Victorie, P60 (Amstelveen), De Vorstin (Hilversum), P3 (Purmerend), De Groote Weiver (Wormerveer).
National radio: live sessions on Radio Veronica (Countdown Café, Giel Beelen), NPO Radio 2 (Roodshow, Muziekcafé), 3FM and NPO Radio 1.
Production: self-released, except the Revelation EP (2018), co-produced with Mario Goossens of Triggerfinger.