Although I still got this flu, I decided to try to ignore my sick body because how can I ever let this gig pass up.... ! And besides, my awesome colleague Ingrid offered me to work for me tomorrow so that I can recover one more day ...and so that made it possible for me to get up this afternoon and get dressed. And so I went to this very special place near Amsterdam.
Yes, today I played in the Notre Dame; the one and only, the Notre Dame of this special village called Ruigoord.
Ruigoord belongs in a long tradition of artistic colonies where art and daily life are integrated in a social experiment. Ruigoord is an idealistic and idyllic place where artists can pursue their chosen discipline. However, it is the accent on joint collective projects that gives it the character of a contemporary artists colony, answering to the deep human need for interchange and shared experience, expression and ectasy.
This need grows ever stronger as the times grow ever more egocentric and materialistic. The little green oasis that Ruigoord has become answers to the artist’s need to withdraw for a time from the cares of city life, which has always been a reason for the existence of artists colonies
MORE Info: Ruigoord
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| Valentijn Steenhuis |
I must say, I was expecting a complete empty and cold church, because of the snow and rain - I didn't care anyway - and yep, I had a hard time for just a a couple of minutes ( I almost started crying) when I arrived at CS and Mick called me and told me I had to walk to his car for about 300 metres ( it was too far for me in my condition). Fortunately he finally drove his car to the parking place just in front of the ferry behind the Central Station of Amsterdam to pick me up. But, however, the snow was already gone in just one night, and the sun already started to shine when I crossed the river near Central Station of Amsterdam and Mick picked me up so that I didn't need to walk any metre and the church wasn't thát cold and there was a really nice sympathetic audience ( sorry, this was a really long sentence).
Arjen, Mick and me drove in this little green car to Ruigoord and after searching for a while ( it's always a bit hard to find the village) the first person we saw walking in the street was the woman who sings her songs with her friend in a band called the "Ruigoord Rebels". She showed us the way and told us where we could park the car.
When we entered the church there was a fireside and some people were drinking and smoking in a very relaxing way and Valentijn welcomed us very friendly. I heard this singersongwriter playing - I thought he sounded great ( I will look up his name in a minute, okay, he's called Pol Stevenson), and I ordered a cup of coffee to get warm and relax a bit. When I sat down near the fireside I drank my coffee and then I saw Danielle came in with her friend and I was glad she passed by.
Well, we had a little soundcheck and I was surprised that Carlos, the other half of the "Ruigoord Rebels' did the sound this afternoon. I know the Ruigoord Rebels because they have been playing at the SWANnights I organize every first Wednesday of the month in the Noorderparkkamer.
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| Carlos |
Okay, I got this flu, so I had to quit, otherwise I think we could have played there for hours. Valentijn asked us to play just one more song and so I asked Danielle to sing with me the song 'By My Side' which she did great. I really hope Valentijn will ask us to come back and that Carlos will do the sound again. I really recommand this place, just go there or try to get a gig and play your songs, or just go there to visit this special village, you will like it !
When we were finished it was the turn of De Hoek, two nice guys who sing their songs in Dutch.
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| De Hoek |
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| Pol Stevenson, (2nd from the right) |
prachtig, beautifull nice place to play!!!!
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