I've had the chance to see these rockers from the Achterhoek live dozens of times (I lived "just around the corner"). Yet every time I chose to skip the party. Should I have gone after all?
Normaal
Normaal is a Dutch rock band considered the founder of boerenrock (farmer rock). The group was founded in early 1973 by Bennie Jolink (Buizen Beernd) and Jan Manschot (Brekken Jan Schampschot) and broke through in 1977 with the hit Oerend Hard. Singing in the local dialect (Achterhoeks) became the band's trademark. On 19 December 2015, Normaal gave a farewell concert at GelreDome stadium. Since 2018, there has been a statue of Normaal on Dorpsstraat in Hummelo. In 2019, the band reunited for a reunion concert.
The band comes from the Achterhoek. Their fans call themselves 'anhangers' or 'høkers'. The tours they organise are called 'veldtochten', consisting of concerts often held in (large) party tents. Since 2000, alongside the annual 'veldtocht', there has also been a theatre tour. Drinking, women, motocross, partying or in Normaal-speak: høken (pronounced [ˈhʏ:kə(n)]?), but also the Achterhoek mentality and rural life are themes that appear in the lyrics.
Riding motorcycles is also an important pastime. Several band members have survived serious motorcycle accidents. Their first hit Oerend Hard is about motorcycling and a subsequent accident in the area of 't Hengelse Zand, a wooded area near the Achterhoek town of Hengelo.
Normaal is the band with the most Top 40 hits without ever having a number 1 hit. Bennie Jolink also received an Edison award for the complete oeuvre of Normaal, presented on the TV programme De Wereld Draait Door.
At the end of 1973, drummer Jan Manschot and singer-guitarist Bennie Jolink founded a band. Guitarist Ferdi Joly, who, like Jan and Bennie, had also studied in Enschede, and the later bassist Willem Terhorst became, after many changes, the other members of the band. The band only started rehearsing at the beginning of 1974. After a brainstorming session among the musicians, it was decided to name the group Normaal. At the end of 1974, they had their first performance as "Amusementsorkest Normaal".
The first major performance was during the Lochem Popfestival (De Popmeeting, 1975), traditionally held on Ascension Day. Singing in the Achterhoek dialect became a trademark. Shortly afterwards came the hit Oerend Hard (1977). Normaal is thus considered the founder of dialect pop.
The lineup was (until after the performance in Lochem at the Popmeeting in 1975): Bennie Jolink (Boozin' Bennie, later Buizen Beernd), Ferdi Joly (Fast Fender Fucker, later Frederik Puntdroad), Jan Manschot (Brekken Jan Schampschot), Willem van Dijk and Jan Kolkman. This lineup would also perform again in 2003.
https://www.normaal.nl/
Photo: public domain
