The Kik

Based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, the group The Kik has, since the early 2010s, developed a precise reinterpretation of sixties beat and nederbeat, transposed into a Dutch‑language pop‑rock framework. Formed around singer‑guitarist Dave von Raven, The Kik began with an English repertoire before quickly turning to Dutch — a choice that has defined their identity on the local scene. The release of the album Springlevend in 2012 on Excelsior Recordings established their sound of sharp guitars, vintage organ and tight harmonies; this was followed by 2 in 2014 and Stad en Land in 2017, where the songwriting moved closer to contemporary Dutch pop. From 2013 The Kik became the resident band of the TV show De Wereld Draait Door, prompting extensive work on covers and rearrangements of Dutch and international classics, later documented in the Hertaalt! project. The album Jin, released in 2019, highlights a more melancholic and personal side while retaining the sixties aesthetic that characterises The Kik. On stage as in the studio, the band operates as a compact line‑up of guitars, bass, drums and keyboards, situated at the crossroads of vintage rock, melodic pop and the nederbeat tradition, with everyday, often ironic lyrics that root The Kik in the current Dutch pop landscape.