He already feels some light nerves, or actually healthy tension, flowing through his body. 25 years after his musical career began and he regularly destroyed the canteen of the WKE football club, Jannes will be in a packed Ahoy tomorrow and Friday evenings. “I’m going to sing all my hits.”
Antonio was a very tough fisherman, he sailed across the Mediterranean… Eleonora will be heard en masse from more than 15,000 voices over the next two evenings. And all those other hits, because after 25 years of performing, Jannes has quite a few choices when it comes to putting together a playlist that his fans can literally all sing along to. “I am very much looking forward to celebrating this anniversary together with all the fans, friends, family and people from the industry,” the singer from Emmen looks ahead. “I am very proud and grateful that I can be in Ahoy again.”
“I once attended the Nacht van Oranje in Ahoy and was allowed to sing a few songs. There I promised myself that I would one day give a concert in Ahoy,” says Wolters. In 2012 that dream came true. The Emmen resident succeeds in selling out the concert hall. In the run-up, he is making a docusoap, Just Jannes. And now he returns to the Mecca of Dutch music, where many big stars performed.
His first show sold out within fifteen minutes, so a second was added. “Every artist dreams of Ahoy. A party tent or Mega Pirate Festival is also great, but standing alone in Ahoy with your own fans is a step further.”
In 2001, when Jannes released his first album Bella Bianca, the singer was mainly known in the region. That changed a year later, when he brought From Casablanca to Napoli. An album with two huge hits, Ga maar weg and Eleonora.
“That was at a time when Dutch-language music was not that popular. But thanks to the people from pirate stations and my fans, it became very big,” the Emmen resident looks back, who also remembers a moment on Radio Drenthe. “I was sitting in the car waiting for my wife, we went to the store. Suddenly I heard my song Ga maar weg was being played. That was very special for me at that time.
“In 25 years, Wolters has seen a lot change. Not only the disappearance of the old CDs, but also the status of Dutch-language music. Yet much has also remained the same. “Dutch-language music is okay for the whole of the Netherlands these days. And the nice thing is that those old songs from 25 years ago are still doing well with the new generation.”
For the time being, fans of Jannes do not have to fear that the King of the Pirates will retire soon. “I want to continue for a long time. Maybe there will be a theater tour or another big concert, I don’t know yet. I’ll let it all happen to me.”
But first Ahoy. Tomorrow evening, just before his performance, Jannes will be sitting surrounded by his family and his manager in the Ahoy dressing room. There is no real ritual, but he may unconsciously look at or feel the gold ring on his finger. “It belonged to my grandfather and is important to me and gives me happiness.” Afterwards, Jannes can go on stage with a big smile for a very special anniversary party.