The Secret Singer-Songwriter Society

The Secret Singer-Songwriter Society

Last night I went to The Hague to enjoy The Secret Singer-Songwriter Society organized by an American singer-songwriter: Richard Morris.
To be honest,  first I did not really understand what was going on there but I just took a train to The Hague and I was happy GedFx was waiting for me at Central Station. I knew GedFx because he has been playing at SWAN at the Noorderparkkamer ( a monthly open mic which is organized by me.)  So he took me to this little restaurant called Quirky

(Quirky, Lunchroom & Gallery )

Christine, the owner of this restaurant welcomed us and showed us where we could leave our coats and guitars. I never had met Richard and I was a little surprised that he was busy with cooking. So I thought he might be the cook of the restaurant.
Then Sharon Gosler and Ell Sol arrived. Sharon I already knew from a gig in café Langereis in Amsterdam and Ell Sol I also knew from his great performance he gave at SWAN. Okay, while Richard was cooking I found out that the other nice young people who were in the room were students of a school and that they were working this night as stagiaires. Richard was cooking for them and the songwriters, but in fact he is the founder of The  Secret Singer-Songwriter Society which is a Dutch non-profit foundation just established this year. Its mission  is to foster the work of singer-songwriters by recording, distributing and promoting their songs to raise money for and awareness of a multitude of humanitarian causes around the world.

I loved to meet Richard, he is a very open-minded and creative person and he made me feel very welcome at this gig. So first we had dinner together and then the fifth singer-songwriter arrived. Her name is Arlette and she lives in The Hague.  Ell Sol and Sharon are from The Hague, too, and GedFx is from Utrecht.

students cooking

dinner together

Ell Sol  and GedFx

It was a very international company cause the students were from all over the world and Christine is British and Richard is from the USA. After dinner everybody was busy to get things fixed before the guests would came in. Christine told us all tables were reserved and dinner would start at 8.30 pm

Christine, owner of the restaurant

Arlette and Ged trying to fix the sound

When all guest arrived Arlette sang two of her songs. She has a nice folky voice and a very good presentation. Later on she sang more of her songs, but first Richard explained to the people what was happening this night. After that it was my turn. On facebook I had seen that Craig was planning to come over and so I had asked Craig Latta to bring his guitar with him. Later on we played some songs together.

Arlette Hovinga - WeAreLette

Craig Latta on bass and Annette Vogel ( me :) )

Then it was Ell Sol his turn. He did a good job and I am glad I invited him to play at SWAN in june on a Sunday afternoon in the Noorderparkkamer.

Ell Sol, singing in between the audience

In the mean time Gedfx made me really laugh, he said he was a bit nervous, but he really had nothing to worry about. He is a nice performancer, has really nice songs and a good voice and most important: the audience was GREAT ! While I was drinking my wine and waiting for my second turn I loved to listen to GedFx and Sharon Gosler.
While Arlette was singing her songs I really had to go because I needed to catch a train and bus, I wanted to stay longer because now I had to miss the songs of Richard, who also played later on.

GedFx

Sharon Gosler

I didn't want to leave, but I was in a hurry so I already left the place at 22.15 and I turned right in stead of left so I got totally lost in the dark and lonely streets of The Haque. There were not many people and then some girl took me on her bike to get me at a busstation. Finally I caught a train but I missed my bus in Amsterdam so I arrived home at 01.15. It was not really a problem to me, I didn't want to miss this nice gig, thanks to Richard, Christine and colleague singersongwriters and the very nice audience !
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singing for the Homeless

I just came back from this special gig. Somehow I got to this special place where homeless people can eat and live for about three months. I knew what I could expect but it's been a long time I sang for the homeless.
This afternoon I decided to sing some songs I used to sing in the streets (which was not a very good idea, but  I didn't know that yet).
As you can read in this blog my musical career started as a street musician and when I was just 18 I travelled through Europe and earned my money by singing in the streets. That's where I met a lot of people and  I also know very well how it feels when you are alone and feeling lonesome and just surviving your f* life. When you are always looking for a place to stay and counting money. You can read about my homeless life in my autobiography  -just send me an email and I'll give you a link where you can order the book.  ( As an author, I do not use my real name.) Anyway, I know a lot about beggars, drunks and streetpeople, and I can tell you this: there are 'bad' people and there are 'good' people. Just the same as everywhere,  in all layers of the population. Some of them were my friends and some of them were definitely not. But however, I've had fun with some really tough beggars in France and yes, I stood next to them when they begged in front of churches and yes, I begged by singing and me and the beggars did a good job together in these early eighties of the last century.

Anyway, I made a setlist and there were songs of Leonard Cohen and Simon & Garfunkel on it ( and Sandy Denny ofcourse). I had to play acoustic which is always really hard to do because I don't have a strong voice. I took my 13 years old daughter and her 12 years old friend with me and told them what was going to happen. Once a month some volunteers are cooking and everybody in the neighbourhood is invited to come over and eat a good meal. When we arrived after cycling 45 minutes in a cold wind,  people were very busy by preparing food and they offered some coffee and tea. I waited untill more people came in and then I decided to start, while the girls were at the toilet to do their make-up. I played some own songs and I sang Suzanne (Leonard Cohen). But I sang that song to low and it didn't feel good at all.I did some more covers, and remembered how I used to play them in the street. But this was 20 years ago and times  change ...I tried to tune in with the people, but I was a bit worried about the girls, so I could not really relax.  I could see they didn't feel comfortable at all and so first I felt sorry I took them with me. But when I sat down with them and we started to eat then everything changed. The guys at our table were really nice and funny and the girls were very fascinated by this guy who tried to hide some food so that he could eat it at night. Actually I think he was making jokes, but the girls were very impressed.

The guys started talking with us and one of them asked me if I would like to come back and sing at another place for homeless people. The girls were having fun  and happy and so from then I had a good time and I sang some more of my own songs. I thought the people liked my songs better then the covers, although one of them came to me and asked me if I sang songs of Joan Baez. (No, I don't but I can sing like her if I want to, which I don't want to, ofcourse). At 8 pm we got some icecream (delightful !  Actually, the whole meal tasted really good, it was Thais) and it was time to go home. One of the guys shaked hands with Luka and spoke to her: "You must do your best at school ! " and again she was very impressed and told me later that she had to think all the time about her fights with her parents about having a smartphone, tablet or whatever, and that now she realized how rich she was. Also my daughter told me she was glad I took her with me to meet these people, so they were pretty excited about this experience.
And me, I was excited because I was trying out my new glasses. They are fake !

I would like to show more pictures of this gig, but I don't think people appreciate.

So, if you want to know more about this place where I played this night, clilck on this link: instroomhuis
If you like what I am doing please click on the thumb up LIKE button on annette on facebook

Me and Auke

I just got this picture from Facebook and I am so happy with it !
It's a picture of last night, I played together with my friend and father of our two wonderful daughters.  It's been at least 10 years we did a gig together. We only played three songs last night but I loved playing with him again. And I loved watching my daughters who were excited to see us playing together.
On a Raft

If you like to read more about this night you can read my report here (in Dutch):


SongWritersAmsterdamNoord

Gig in The Notre Dame

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

Valentijn Steenhuis

Valentijn Steenhuis is the one who makes it possible for musicians to play in the church.
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.

Carlos

It was such a fun to do this gig. I already knew it was gonna be difficult to deal with the acoustic of the church but Carlos made a party of it. I mean, whatever he did, I heard this ECHO of my voice and I heard Mick laughing and so I started to feel happy and just have fun.

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.

De Hoek

In the mean time I got another cup of coffee and sat next to the fire to listen to the other musicians.Yeah, it was a really nice gig, it seems as if  I already recovered from this flu when I got home. Ruigoord gave me a lot of positive energy !

Pol Stevenson, (2nd from the right)

I've got the flu

So how do I get to this little village called Ruigoord...

I feel awefull, my body won't listen to me when I say: Stand up and go ! This is an order !

Got another night to get a little better before I will find my way through the snow. Tomorrow I will play at Ruigoord in a church. The show must go on !

reverbnation

Great ASG party at Roger Hammond's house

Last Saturday I was really f*d up by some stupid ego-problems and so I needed to go out somewhere in the city. Okke, my friend and father of my lovely daughters pushed me to go out and drink, just to forget me, myself and my ego. Actually I already had drunk some red wine when I called Danielle, she's a very active singersongwriter in Amsterdam, and I asked her to come over to get anywhere what was possible that night.
Then she told me about this Amsterdam Songwriter Guild Party at Roger's house and that I was very welcome to enjoy this party. She called Luke Nyman so that I could get a ride to some place called Vijfhuizen ( never heard of it before ) and so I took my  bike to cycle as soon as possible to Luke's place ( I did this in 30 minutes and at the time I arrived I was completely sober again). He and Dirk-Jan (and girlfriend) were waiting for me (they are both singersongwriters ) and then we took this hired car. So we drove to Vijfhuizen and Roger Hammond and his wife welcomed us. There was a fire and food and dranks and I was so happy to be there, because it was nice, cosey and the singersongwriters who played that night were awesome.
Me, I played some songs too, and I was glad Craig also was at the party so that we could play together again ( We had a gig together at Barco's a few months ago), and also Danielle sang some songs with me.

Roger Hammond  playing his songs on the couch

The singersongwriters who played that night were: Danalyze ( Daniëlle), De Hoek ( only Mizza ), Roger Hammond, Dirk-Jan, Max Vanremmerden, Kathy Ziegler, Luke Nyman.

Dirk-Jan playing is songs

Annette Vogel & Craig Latta (photo: M. Vanremmerden)

Max Vanremmerden on piano

Roger Hammond

Danalyze and Roger Hammond playing together

These black/white pictures are taken by Max Vanremmerden:

 Dirk-Jan Smit ( calls himself Dear John)

Kathy Ziegler

Danielle Cornelissen (Danalyze)

Luke Nyman

Mizza Hendrix

SWAN open mic Amsterdam-Noord

Before I'm gonna report on the SWANblog about everything what happened last night I will write here my report about my own gig last night in the Noorderparkkamer. I mean, that's how it all started: I like what I really am and since I found out I have got at least three nice schizo-personalitys ( teacher, author, musician ) life became just one big party even when I visit hell sometimes. Since I tell myself I am the 'one and only enlightened borderliner', my life changed completely. ( But... to be honest, what I really am is none of all these identitys, because I don't believe you and I really are existing, so whatever is happening it  is all a beautiful illusion.)
Anyway, it all started by looking for a stage where I can sing my songs everyday. If not possible: every week. If not possible: every month. ( I'm pretty flexible.) So this is what happens: first I found - by coincidence - the Tricky Theater ( Barco these days), then I found the ASG ( Amsterdam Songwriter Guild ), then I found Bruno Edsme and then I found The Noorderparkkamer.
In the Tricky Theater I started singing some of my songs, the ASG supported me by  letting be SWAN  their 'daughter', and Bruno offered me to help and to find a stage for singersongwriters in Amsterdam - Noord , and The Noorderparkkamer offered a stage. So now I can sing my songs once a month. Need to cycle just 10 minutes. Well this is my ego-trip, but to tell you the truth, it gives me so much more fun and happiness to listen to the many other musicians who come from all over the world to play their songs in a house with just one room somewhere in the middle of nowhere. And this house with just one room is called the Room of the Northern Parc. ( sounds weird in English, so let's translate this in Dutch: Noorderparkkamer.) Now this is an important thing to realize: Bruno Edsme and I work together by organizing these nights and I love doing this with him 'cause he's a very special person.
What I actually want is to get some rappers in that Room, I know these guys like to be tough and think they need their own scene, but so what. I like free jazz, I like punk, I like Joan Baez and I like rap. In Amsterdam-Noord I've heard some really good rappers.
But back to me. I played last night three songs and I choose the most easy songs for us to play. This is because I've gotta lot on my mind nowadays, (as a teacher on a primaryschool I need to take good care of my lovely 25 kids. ) So when I started I thought this was gonna be easy, but then something weird happened: me and Mick were not tuned,allthough we both tuned in just before playing.The difference between our sound was at least a whole tune ! I couldn't believe my ears but after two measures we stopped and took a second change after tuning in again.

Then we played three songs ( Like a Bird - What I really Am - Why does it take so long) and I think we did allright for now. Although next time I wouldn't choose these three songs together anymore. While I was playing I notices Gareth Evens Jones came in and I was happy he came because I asked him many times and he's a busy man but I knew he would like the place. And I had put him on the list as second performer, so he had to sing after me. So when he started to sing his song about this angel 'you're my favourite angel 'I was happy to hear him again after almost 8 months.

Gareth

Dzuana

 I met Gareth many times at the open mic at the Tricky Theater, we even played together sometimes: me singing and he playing drums ! The host at the Tricky Theater used to be Dzuana and she also came in last night !  She messaged me if there was still place for her to sing her newest song and later in the evening she did play her songs. So Gareth and Dzuana reminded me of the good old times at the Tricky Theater where it all started in summer 2011 for me to be a singersongwriter. ( before that I didn't know I would be one, I am still not sure about me being one actually, because I don't like to play on my own. I do sing at least 25 originals though).
The other songwriters who came in last night were Otto Cepella, Lukas Blom & Vincent Hoftijzer, René de Vries and they were playing so good !  I know they are good musicians because I met them before at different places in Amsterdam and they played last year already several times at a SWANnight. I hope they keep coming back !
For me was Uri Deeper Water a surprise, I didn't know him but last night almost all musicians told me they already knew him for many years. I thought Uri is a great musician and entertainer with a very unique personality. He lives in Amsterdam-Noord so I hope he will show up every month to play at SWANnights. And for sure, I will play with him at his Fridaynightsessions at the NSDM werf one day.

Uri

Then there's somebody else I like to mention on my blog and that is Joan. He is from Spain, Barcelona, and he came all the way from The Haque to play at the Noorderparkkamer.

Joan

 He calls himself El Soll, El Sol, Soll El, or whatever, I can't handle is artistname, untill now he tells me everytime I write the name in a wrong way. I'm sorry, I will look it up later again, but just now I want to tell you that he is such a special guitarplayer and he sings from is heart and I thought he was playing so damn good that - when he told me he wanted to leave because he was not feeling well - I stole wine from the Noorderparkkamer to let him drink as much as he could handle. Anyway, I hope he will return one day, I really liked him.

Otto Cepella, a singersongwriter who let his guitar sing for him  in a beautiful  way

Lukas en Vincent as the Lonely Panda's

Rene as De AS

Ellen the bartender

sweet Marjolijn

 Margreet having fun with Vincent

I told you about the musicians but let me tell you about three woman who really mean something to me, and that are Marjolijn and Ellen. Since Bruno and I organize these SWANnights in the Noorderparkkamer, these two woman were almost always there to help. Marjolijn will leave me now for she doesn't work anymore for the Noorderparkkamer, but last night she came back just to help me out. And I called Ellen just one day before the SWANnight to help me out with the drinks and to get fixed some important things and she came all the way down to help. Thank you, ladies, thank you so much ! Then the third woman who really make me smile is Margreet. She's in the audience but she is so spontanious and enthousiastic about all the singers and I just love her to be in the audience.
Last but not least: I need to tell about Bruno. Bruno took his turntable and I thought that was so cool !

He did a great job with the sound and I think it's such a shame he didn't want to perform last night. He is such a good entertainer and we are a great team together. We went to another café to get drunk of the red wine and talk about the fantastic SWANnight.
Okay, this was my report about last night. Today I will report on the SWANblog and I'll put all the picture I took on it. I will write this report in DUTCH.
Click here:: SWAN