New theatre show ‘Tow Bar Needed’

Towbar needed back in Utrecht!

This Saturday, the 10th of July, Tjerk Ridder and Peter Bijl will return to Utrecht. At. 14.00 hrs the mayor of the city of Utrecht, Mr. Wolfsen, will welcome the party on Domplein.
We would hereby like to invite you to come and celebrate the great success of the hitchhiking journey with us!

The details are as follows:
Date: Saturday 10. July
Time: 14.00 hrs
Place: Domplein, Utrecht

Prior to the reception on Domplein, Tjerk and Peter will be welcomed by Frank du Mosch in the radio show Cappuccino which is broadcasted on Saturday, 10th July on Radio 2. Around 9.20 Tjerk Ridder will give a report of the journey and sing the title track Unterwegs.

See you on Saturday!

Back to the Eighties

Duran Duran, Billy Ocean, Feargal Sharkey, Salt’n’ Pepa, Kajagoogoo, Cyndi Lauper, Rick Astley: we have been in Serbia for over a week and what strikes us, apart from the meat consumption, is the music. Everywhere we go, we hear hits from the eighties, as is the case – or should we say: as is especially the case? – on petrol stations, not a bad condition for hitchhiking.

Hitchhiking is a good way to make contact. How different is travelling by train or plane where conversation with fellow-travellers is short and more informal. If at all. » Lees meer…

Unterwegs

The songtitle of the project. Written in February, inspired by the first stage of the Caravan Hitchhiking journey.

Unterwegs (link to the song)
Unterwegs kann zu Hause sein
Unterwegs, es gibt keine Pause nein
Unterwegs in das Leben herein. » Lees meer…

Moving Shanghai

In the last week of May I had a fantastic week in Shanghai. I was there to perform at the Dutch Culture Center at the World Expo. I used the weeks preceeding the performance to bring together my experiences of ‘Stage 1′ into a theatrical report of my journey. » Lees meer…

First stage of “Tow Bar Needed” a great success

This winter, Utrecht musician Tjerk Ridder traveled through Europe, hitchhiking with a caravan, but without a car. Destinations: The European Capitals of Culture 2010: Essen/Ruhr (Germany) and Pécs (Hungary). But the actual project goal was the journey itself. And this journey was – to put it mildly – overwhelming. And so was the media attention. Ridder made it to the national TV news in five different European countries and even became close to being a national TV star in Hungary. » Lees meer…

Contemplations on the way home

On the way home, while miles are passing by between Prague and Utrecht, I have a lot of time to contemplate on all experiences and encounters of part I of the project. Starting with the departure from Utrecht Dom Square in Mayor Wolfsen’s car. My first wintery week in The Netherlands ending with the warm welcome in Limburg. The grand opening of Ruhr 2010 at Essen Zollverein. » Lees meer…

Old and new images

Yesterday we were invited to Pécs City Hall. City Hall was built in the early 20th century, directly at the main square, Széchenyi tér. It has a dignified classic character. High ceilings, charm, style, but also some of the waggishness of the pre-communist era. » Lees meer…

Impressed with the Szent Mór school

Today I was invited to the annual song presentation of the Pécs Szent Mór school. First noticeable detail is that this catholic school offers both elementary and higher education. Another detail is that the school – apart from offering regular subjects – pays a lot of attention to expression and music. The song presentation is both intended to train the students singing skills, and to also teach the children to listen and get used to performing in front of audiences. » Lees meer…