DI-RECT

Di-Rect

Young pop/grunge band from The Hague that becomes very popular over a short period of time.
Full biography

Members

Frans van Zoest   gitaar, zang
Jamie Westland   drums
Bas Van Wageningen   basgitaar
Marcel Veenendaal   zang
Paul Jan Bakker   gitaar

Former members

Vince van Reeken   toetsinstrumenten
Tim Akkerman   gitaar, zang

Mentioned in the biography of

1982   Holger Schwedt
1998   John Sonneveld
1998   Tom Bakker
1998   Tony Cornelissen
2000   Kane
2001   Daniël Lohues
2001   Michel Schoots
2001   Skik
2002   Sven Figee
2002   VanVelzen
2003   ADHD
2003   Han Kooreneef
2003   Suburbs
2004   Jim
2004   Suburbs
2004   Tjeerd Oosterhuis
2006   Lange Frans & Baas B
2006   V.O.F. de Kunst
2007   Evert Nieuwstede
2008   Jan Rot
2009   Het Goede Doel
2010   Ben Saunders
2010   Paul Jan Bakker
2013   Fedde le Grand
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Concerts & Festivals

by Podiuminfo / Festivalinfo

2/3/23, AFAS Live, Amsterdam
2/4/23, AFAS Live, Amsterdam
2/12/23, Mainstage, 's-Hertogenbosch
2/18/23, Martiniplaza, Groningen
4/7/23, Paaspop Schijndel, Schijndel
5/18/23, Oerrock Festival, Ureterp
6/16/23, 't Wonder, Woerden
6/16/23, Pinkpop, Landgraaf
6/22/23, Concert at Sea, Brouwershaven
6/24/23, Indian Summer Festival, Broek op Langedijk
6/24/23, Spoorpark LIVE, Tilburg
7/7/23, Bospop, Weert
12/22/23, Ahoy, Rotterdam
12/23/23, Ahoy, Rotterdam
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Biography Di-Rect

Young pop/grunge band from The Hague that becomes very popular over a short period of time.

1999

Di-rect is formed. Drummer Jamie Westland and guitarist Frans van Zoest are the youngest band members, both aged 15. The oldest is 19-year-old Tim Akkerman.

2000

Di-rect records its first demo and plays its first gig at the 25th wedding anniversary of the parents of bassist Bas van Wageningen. Radio 3 DJ Rob Stenders gets hold of their demo from which he plays the song 'Just The Way I Do' in his show. Manager Edwin Jansen (Anouk, Kane, Billy the Kid) signs the band to record company Dino. Dinand Woesthoff and Dennis van Leeuwen from Kane help them write new songs and invite them to be their support act on their 'As Long As You Want This' 2000-tour.

Kane

2001

On April 18 the single Just The Way I Do is officially released. The video can be seen on (Dutch) music channels such as The Box, TMF and MTV. The single also enters the playlists of the Belgian radio stations. The band's full-length debut, Discover, is recorded with Daniël Lohues (Skik). The second single to be taken from the album is the Who cover 'My Generation'. In August Di-rect plays its first gig in Belgium at the Marktrock festival in Leuven. They also play at the second day of the Lowlands festival.

Skik

2002

The third single to be taken from the album is Inside My Head. Di-rect plays at the Noorderslag festival.

2003

Inside My Head is also a hit in Indonesia. From January 28 until February 2 Di-rect can be seen at the live music event Vrienden Van Amstel Live! in the Ahoy, Rotterdam. On March 6 Di-rect receives an Edison Music award for Inside My Head in the category Best Single National. On Liberation Day, May 5, Di-rect plays at several festivals across the country. Second album Over The Moon is gem-packed with sing-along rock songs, among which a cover of Q65's The Life I Live.

Q65 Suburbs

2004

Op January 8 Tim Akkerman plays with Elvis' original band, The TCB band, at the Elvis Second To None Party in a sold-out Paradiso Amsterdam. In the same week Di-rect plays in the big room at the Noorderslag festival. On March 23 the band wins an Edison Award, in the public-voted category Best Album for Over The Moon. At the TMF Awards (April 10) the band wins Best Rock video for Rollercoaster. Guitarist Spike contributes on rap posse ADHD's album Beng Je Hooft (Bang yer Head).

ADHD

2005

Along with DJ Tiësto, Bløf, Trijntje Oosterhuis, Acda & De Munnik, Dinand Woesthoff, Berget Lewis and Xander de Buisonjé, Di-rect plays on the benefit for the Tsunami victims in Asia on January 6 on the Dam square in Amsterdam. As of January 3 the band is protagonist on a real life television show of music television channel TMF that each day airs the making of Di-rect's new album All Systems Go that comes out on February 18. On January 21 it is preceded by the release of the single Hungry For Love. The album enjoys a number 1 chart entry. On March 19 Di-rect receives a 3FM Award for Best Live Act at the public station's award ceremonies at Amsterdam's panama club. In April it wins a TMF Award for Best Local Band. On May 16 Di-rect plays at the Pinkpop festival. Classical pianist Wibi Soerjadi is featured on the song Blind For You. Di-rect can be seen in a TV commercial and is also ambassador for DFY The People's Condom.

2006

Di-rect wins Best Live Act at the 3FM Awards in March. Singer Tim Akkerman sings the chorus on the single Ik Wacht Al Zo Lang ('I'm Already Waiting for Quite Some Time') by Dutch rappers Lange Frans & Baas B. The lyrics are inspired by the faith of a good friend of Akkerman who's been seriously ill for quite some time.

Lange Frans & Baas B

2007

Di-rect is the first Dutch band to perform live on Second Life, the virtual community on the internet, where visitors are able to live a second life. On January 15 Di-rect's theatre tour commences. On March 2 the band's fourth, untitled album comes out. It is preceded by the single A Good Thing. Di-Rect records the track Bring Down Tomorrow, the title song of the comedy Moordwijven (December) by director Dick Maas. The band is also included on the soundtrack of the comedy Alles Is Liefde. In October Di-rect wins the TMF Rocks Award for Best Rock Act.

2008

In November Di-rect kicks off a tour in which the band plays a Dutch version of the rockmusical Tommy. All song have been translated into Dutch by Jan Rot. For the occassion the band is joined by singers Marcel Veenendaal and Caroline Dest (Ebonique, Soulvation). The band is the official ambassador in the Netherlands for computer game Guitar Hero.

Ebonique Jan Rot Soulvation

2009

During a press conference at the Hard Rock Café in Amsterdam singer Tim Akkerman announces that he will leave Di-rect immediately after the band's theatre tour. He wants to focus on a solo career. In a statement he says that over the years their musical tastes have changed and that unfortunately his has developed into another direction with regard to the rest of the band. De other band member start a search for a new singer through a TV series. In the docusoap Wie Is Di-rect? (Who Is Di-rect?) the band auditions new singers. On 8 November Marcel Veenendaal from Arnhem is selected to become the band's new vocalist. He has performed with the band before during the tour with rock musical Tommy. The first single to be released with Veenendaal is Times Are Changing (9 November). Keyboard player Vince van Reeken also joins the band.

Tim Akkerman

2010

In the category Culture, Di-rect wins the Marketing Promotion Award of the city of The Hague. This award honours persons or organisations that have promoted the city of The Hague in a special or distinguisable way.

Photos Di-Rect

Audio/Video Di-Rect

Video Di-Rect