G.I.R.L.S.I.N.T.H.E.C.I.T.Y.! is the latest collection of original songs from Wouter Hamel. The title track from this brand new EP is a unique collaboration between Wouter and troubadour Lucky Fonz III. They wrote the song together for a concert that took place on a magical summer evening at Amsterdam’s famed venue, the Concertgebouw. They were immediately inspired to record the song. After a melancholic overture, the song burst out in a cheerful and sunny refrain. G.I.R.L.S.I.N.T.H.E.C.I.T.Y.! pays tribute to all the ‘Girls in the City’ - to each and every one!
With a velvety Dixieland vibe, the song ‘Noam’ takes place in a sleepy harbour town at the beginning of the last century. ‘Remembrance Day’ may come on strong but remains vulnerable and comforting. ‘Hotel Door’ was recorded when Hamel was alone in a forest with only a laptop, a piano, a guitar, an alto violin and a cello – along with some bullfrogs. The instrumental piano etude ‘Cupcakes & Sprinkles’ is dedicated to LouLou.
After two platinum albums and a live DVD/documentary One More Time on the Merry-Go-Round, this EP is a follow-up to Hamel’s third album Lohengrin, which had him performing shows in such places as Korea, Japan, Indonesia, China, Singapore, Germany, France, Austria and Belgium.
The release of G.I.R.L.S.I.N.T.H.E.C.I.T.Y.! is timed with the start of the band’s theatre tour 2013. The tracks from this EP will be played live for the first time during these shows in their home and native land of the Netherlands.
Gijs, Rory, Thierry, Sven, Jasper and Wouter await you!
Wouter and his band are embarking on a new challenge. In March 2013 they’ll be heading to Asia to win over new hearts and minds, beginning on 2 and 3 March during the Java Jazz Festival in Indonesia and 9 March at the Mosaic Festival in Singapore. More dates to follow!
Due to this voyage of discovery, three shows in the Netherlands have been bumped to other dates. The Brielle show will now take place on 17 March 2013, while Vlaardingen and Venray will happen during the theatre tour of 2014. Sold tickets remain valid but if you can’t make it then contact the theatre to get your money back. Sorry for any inconvenience!
Jong Talent
Wouter gave a master class to the young singer/songwriter Polle for the TV programme ‘Jong Talent’. Broadcast November 17th, you can still watch it here. And be sure to tune into NED3 on 26 December at 15.30 to watch the finale concert as Wouter and Polle perform with the mighty Metropole Orchestra.
Maestro
The TV show Maestro features eight famous Dutchies with a passion for classical music who are competing to see which one can become the most worthy conductor of the acclaimed Holland Symfonia Orchestra. Wouter will be on hand as a guest soloist. Tune into NED1 on Thursday 13 December at 20.30. Watch it back here
DWDD
Wouter, Ruben Hein, Kris Berry and the Amsterdam Sinfonietta orchestra will be guests on the TV show ‘De Wereld Draait Door’ on Tuesday 11 December. From January, this illustrious grouping will be touring the larger theatres of the Netherlands. Watch it back here
Telegraaf Christmas Concert
On Christmas day, 25 December, Wouter and his band will be performing on TV’s NED1 as part of the Telegraaf Christmas Concert.
Amsterdam Sinfonietta invited the Norwegian singer Ane Brun for the programme ‘Breder dan Klassiek’. Unfortunately Brun had to cancel due to illness, and so the ensemble asked Ruben Hein, Kris Berry and Wouter Hamel to put together a substitute programme. And it’s a firecracker. A tour through the Netherlands begins in January. Check out the schedule here
For their 2011 release Lohengrin, Wouter and his band are nominated for an Edisons Award, want to help the guys win, please vote here for the album.
The song Demise is nominated for a Radio 6 Jazz & soul award, vote for Demise here.
Thank you for your support!
It’s official. After concerts in Korea and Japan, a third Asian country can be added to the roster when Wouter and his band take on China in October. The first gig will be during the Hong Kong International Jazz Festival on 11 October, before the band moves on to the cities of Shenzhen and Zhongsan on the 13 and 14 October. We are very curious if the Chinese get as excited about Wouter’s music as their neighbours. Keep an eye on the website for a photo report.
The official Wouter Hamel store is now online! You can order signed CDS and posters, as well as the new Wouter Hamel t-shirt. Very soon there will be many more products added – so keep this site in your sights.
Wouter Hamel and his band will be touring South Korea and Japan this month. After two performances in the World Expo city of Yeosu, a club show in Seoul and three gigs in the famed department store Shinsegae, they’ll take off to Japan to play at the tried and true Billboard Live clubs in Tokyo and Osaka. Tour dates here
This month will also see the release of Julee Karan’s new album with the Hamel song ‘Rendez-Vous’ acting as single and new theme song for the programme Rendez-Vous on J-Wave radio. Wouter also arranged the song ‘All the Way’ and joined Julee to sing it as a duet.
After the extensive Dutch tour, Hamel and band are now touring in Germany. Besides shows in Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen, Dresden, Munich, Mainz, Frankfurt, Cologne and Dusseldorf, they also performed at the daily show Abendschau on Bayerisches Fernsehen
Wouter has something to say about his new single ‘GiuGiu’: “GiuGiu has been a friend for a very long time. She used to travel a lot and there were years when it seemed impossible to meet up between her adventures. This song is a cry for help: ‘Let’s meet up soon!’”
In the single’s video, you will meet the original GiuGiu. The song is from Hamel’s album Lohengrin that was much celebrated in the Dutch press when it was released in 2011. You can read a selection of reviews below.
Review Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch)
Review Elsevier (in Dutch)
Review het Parool (in Dutch)
Review de Telegraaf (in Dutch)
Hamel’s album Lohengrin will be officially released in Germany on Friday 17 February. In preparation, Wouter has been talking endlessly with the German media in the last months. But that’s not all. Wouter will be performing on the nationally broadcast ZDF program Morgenmagazin on Wednesday 22 February. To properly welcome this German release, a video of the acoustic version of the title track Lohengrin is now online for you to view. And watch out Germany: Wouter and band will be touring your country in April.
You can read/listen/view a selection of Wouter Hamel’s appearance in the German press below.
MDR - Figaro (radio) album of the week
Arte - Metropolis (tv), hamel at 33.40 minutes
ZDF Morgenmagazin (tv)
Stern.de
Cosmopolitan Germany (print)
Aachener Nachrichten (print)
Petra (print)
Jazzthing (print)
Hamburger Morgenpost (print)
Freundin (print)
Fur Sie (print)
Having begun in Laren on 17 January, Wouter Hamel’s theatre tour is now officially in full swing. Over the next three months, Hamel and his band will be playing their latest programme in over 50 cities.
Besides performing as part of a full band, each of the musicians will also strive to get outside of their usual comfort zones by reaching out to play from a whole arsenal of instruments. These special nights will suck you in through all the surprises. Don’t miss it. Check out the full schedule.
Review NRC-Handelsblad (in Dutch)
Review NU.nl (in Dutch)
Review 3voor12 Friesland (in Dutch)
We’re pleased to announce that Wouter Hamel’s new album has been released in two Asian countries so far! In South Korea Lohengrin not only made it to number 3 on the pop album chart list, but was also Album of the Month in the biggest record store chain there.
In Japan, Hamel and his band brought successful shows to Osaka and Tokyo. During his stay, Wouter also held several interviews and visited numerous radio stations. The video for the first single ‘Demise’ will be added to the video playlist of one of Japan’s most popular music channels.
Have a listen to Lohengrin Live in Tokyo.
Lohengrin will be officiallly released in Germany in February 2012. To celebrate his album release, Hamel and his band will tour through out Germany in April, for venues, tour dates and tickets see our agenda. Stay tuned, more dates will be announced!!
19.4. Berlin - Postbahnhof
20.4. Hamburg - Grünspan
22.4. Dresden - Tonne
24.4. München - Ampere
25.4. Mainz - Frankfurter Hof
26.4. Frankfurt - Yellowstage
28.4. Köln - Studio 672
29.4. Düsseldorf - Savoy Theater
Hamel will be the support act of Caro Emerald on her first official German tour!
See all dates.
Official Dutch album release at Comedy Theater in Amsterdam on the 22nd of September. Hamel and band will give a mini concert, only playing songs from the new record.
Before heading to the Comedy Theater, Wouter will perform a few acoustic songs at the Fame store in Amsterdam, afterwards Hamel will be available for record signing.
Pre order Lohengrin at bol.com or iTunes
Pre-order Lohengrin (Netherlands only) now via bol.com or Dox Records.
Just announced: new Asian tour dates:
02/10 - Yonsei University Seoul, South-Korea
12/11 - Billboard Live Osaka, Japan
14/11 - Billboard Live Tokyo, Japan
15/11 - Billboard Live Tokyo, Japan
On Saturday 27 August Wouter Hamel will be closing the Uitmarkt in Amsterdam, joined by Fuse string ensemble and with guest appearances of Simone Kleinsma, Giovanca and Benjamin Herman. His show on the main stage will be broadcasted live on Dutch television. For Wouter Hamel this will be a teaser of his Dutch tour that will happen from 17 January till 17 April 2012. See the complete tour list.
FIRST TRACK OF WOUTER HAMEL’S NEW ALBUM HAS BEEN RELEASED!
The first track of Wouter Hamel’s new album had it’s premiere on Dutch Radio 2. The single is called Demise, and is part of Wouter Hamel’s forthcoming album, which is expected in autumn in The Netherlands, and will be released in the UK, Germany and Japan later this year.
Demise is now available on Dutch iTunes
