Sjoerd van Ravenzwaaij

Sjoerd started his musical career on the tin whistle in 1996. After learning such tunes as ‘Old Mcdonald’s Farm’ and ‘Danny Boy’ he decided to take his chances and join a band. He met a singer who told him ‘you can’t just play the whistle, you’ll have to play an additional instrument’. Sjoerd decided to follow that advice a year later. He bought a $100 banjo and started practising.

In 1999 he met singer Piet Karregat during a session in Almere with whom he formed the duo The Irish Wolfhounds (Peaking Through The Window, 2001). They became quite popular and went on playing untill 2002 when they decided to stop at the peak of fame. After a short break ('bout 1 month) he joined two new bands : Fanach (Is dit het nou?, 2002) and Caa A Dram (One More, 2004). He also played for a short period with The Mullingar Races ( Regrouped, 2004). While playing with those groups and in various sessions around Holland he met Vincent, Douwe and Nienke. They got along very well both musically and as friends and the idea of Harmony Glen was born.

Harmony Glen started out in Januari of 2005. We recorded our debut album (Before Dawn (EIMM02)) in 2006 and we launched our second album (Streaming Tunes (EIMM03)) in 2007. Next to playing the banjo and guitar, there are some tunes and a song written by Sjoerd on that album.

Also, in 2006 Sjoerd was the first ever Dutch man to enter the Fleadh Cheoil on the Tenor Banjo.

Sjoerd now plays his banjo where and whenever he can. His skills on the banjo have been praised (and cursed) both by laymen and professional musicians. He sometimes likes to play a tune on tinwhistle or sing a song and accompany himself or others on the guitar which he also plays very well , but he is mainly widely known as ‘that friendly guy dressed in black, with the banjo and the smoking fingers’... Sjoerd currently lives in a cabin in the woods (on a campsite in Overberg) with his girlfriend Nienke, enjoying the quiet life at home.

Above is a video of Harmony Glen while on tour in Ireland during the Feakle Festival. Both on- and off stage. As the video is a compilation made by someone else, it's not just us, but a friend of her's (explaining the new 'fold up' tent) as well. So, both entertaing and educational as well...Enjoy

DISCOGRAPHY

The Irish Wolfhounds "Peeking Through the Window" (2001)
Fanach "Is Dit Het Nou?" (2002)
Caa A Dram "One More..." (2004)
The Mullingar Races "Regrouped" (2004)
Harmony Glen "Before Dawn" (2006)
Harmony Glen "Streaming Tunes" (2007)
Harmony Glen "Three Wheels" (2008)

RECORDING NEWS!

SOME REVIEW EXCERPTS:

"although the banjo is a cheerful instrument by itself, Sjoerd van Ravenzwaaij even manages to add a bit of melancholy to its sound."
Folkforum.nl