The fanfare surrounding the 61st Edinburgh Festival Fringe will no doubt reach deafening levels this summer as the eyes and ears of Scotland's – and the world’s - culture vultures turn to the streets and venues of the country’s capital city.
This year, amidst the frenetic event’s thousands of premieres and return-performances, one act perches prominently on the line-up of Assembly, one of the Festival’s longest-running and most renowned production companies.
Tribute band The Dutch Eagles will ‘Take It Easyjet’ to Scotland this August and if you were too young, broke or simply elsewhere during the original’s comeback ‘Hell Freezes Over’ tour in 1994, this could literally be the next best thing.
Formed in 2003 by six musicians in Haarlem, Holland, the band are, to the eyes and ears of Eagles’ connoisseurs, spookily close to the original seventies-born uber-act, from lead vocalist Dennis Wind’s Henley-esque vocals and looks to the band’s authentic Eagles’ instruments.
The eclecticism of The Fringe – where there’s no such thing as a novelty performer and even the most obscure artiste could erupt into a hit - will provide a fitting stage for their first UK appearance.
Currently touring and selling out theatres in Holland with their ‘Welcome Back To The Hotel California’ show, a set that includes veritable doppelganger performances of classic Eagles’ material, the band will play 6 evenings a week from the 3rd to the 27th of August (10.30pm onwards) at one of the city’s most historic and atmospheric venues.
"We're really honoured to play at such a great festival,” says drummer and vocalist Bart Wagemakers. “It’s really a show for music lovers, from the generation that remembers The Eagles to a younger audience. Even if you simply love harmony and guitar-led, timeless songs, you’ll enjoy the performance.”
So if, on one of these Fringe nights, you want to be entranced and entertained by a classic act that you’d imagined had peaked in the seventies, were fast leaving their fifties and normally set comeback ticket prices somewhere in the sixties, take the fast lane to St George’s West. The Dutch Eagles have landed…
For further information on The Dutch Eagles and their Fringe performances, please contact alex@everymatic.com or sally@everymatic.com. Tickets are available for competitions and giveways. For press passes to the shows or to Assembly’s launch (where you can enjoy a sneak preview of the band) on 1st August, please email or call 0141 204 3567.
Acclaim for The Dutch Eagles
“You will be staggered by how good these boys really are…” Radio 2 (Holland)
“What do you call a band that defies the term ‘tribute band’? …The voice of Dennis Wind has an amazing resemblance to Don Henley…” Leeuwarder Courant
“When you closed your eyes, the resemblance was simply frightening!” BN de Stem
“Exceptionally brilliant lead vocals and five-part harmony singing, performed to perfection throughout the show.” Nieuwe Dokkumer Courant
“When these guys play Hotel California, it’s as stirring as the real deal.” Leidsch Dagblad
The Dutch Eagles are
Jaco van der Steen bass & vocals
Dennis Wind guitars & vocals
Bart Wagemakers drums & vocals
Ruben van Mastrigt keyboards & vocals
Arto Boyadjian guitars & vocals
Ivo Dinkelaar guitars & vocals