Member Since: 4/20/2007
Band Website: rapalje.com
Band Members: - DIEB -
Vocals, Fiddle, Tin Whisle & Accordeon
Dieb started his 'career' when he met Maceál in his local pub '1672'. They formed a band with some other musicians and played symphonic rock music. This music was soon changed into folkrock. After hearing some musicians in his local pub playing celtic folk music, the rock part was kicked out of the band and Dieb and Maceál started a duo called 'Ruk en Pluk'. Dieb tried to play the accordion and Maceál a guitar. Every time Dieb had a new instrument it had to be tested on the audience immediately.- WILLIAM -
Vocals, Gitouki, Mandonlin, Bodhrán,& Tea-Chest-Bass
Well known as a street performer in Groningen and Oldenburg because of his voice, music and charmes. Maceál playing on one side of the street and William on the other, playing the same instruments, didn't work out. When Maceál learned to play the squeeze box and the tea-chest-bass they tried to play someting together. Maceál already had a duo with Dieb and introduced William to the band. His first introduction was on the CD 'Celts in Kilts'. He sang the song 'Jock Stuart' and played gitouki on 'The Drunken Sailor' and 'William's Favourite'.- MACEAL -
Vocals, Harmonica’s, Gitouki, Bodhrán & Tea-Chest-Bass
This multi-instrumentalist was at first a one-man-band playing eleven instruments at the same time. Nowadays he playes three instruments simultaneously and adds two imaginary bandmembers to Rapalje. After 'Ruk en Pluk' a group was formed with the name 'De Eikeltjes aldus Ronald'. The first attempt to have a decent name was with 'Klootjesfolk'. He invented a new instrument, the gitouki and complete new tunings for the mouth-organ and the squeeze box.- DAVID -
Highlandpipes, Borderpipes, Tin Whistle & Low Whistle
This half Scottish enthusiast started playing the Scottish bagpipes in 1992 with the ‘Clan MacBeth Pipe band’ from the city of Groningen. Nowadays, he is an instructor with this band, and with ‘The Islanders’. David was ‘discovered’ by Rapalje during a Scottish festival, where he stood out amongst others because of his obvious talent and melodic way of playing. Playing Scottish bagpipes, tin whistle and low whistle this youngest asset to the band blows a fresh breeze through Rapalje.
Influences: Irish music pub O'Ceallaigh in Groningen, the Netherlands and all the muscians who ever played in the sessions there...
Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: None