Joost 

I grew up in a large family, where music always played a large role.

Singing became my hobby in my early twenties and in those days I also started to play African music. I sang and played the percussion instruments in several African bands.

A few years later a friend of mine told me about an Irish singer that she liked very much, Mary Black. I also loved her songs, and Mary Black is the one who inspired me to go and discover the music from the beautiful Green Isle.

So I stopped playing African music and started to buy and to listen to Irish songs and ballads. That is how my love for this music was born.

I've sung in some Irish folk bands here in Holland, one of them was Cat in the Corner, from the city of Enkhuizen. In 2005 I decided to start my own band: Irish Red.

In Irish Red I sing and I play the bodhrán and other percussion instruments.