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About the Real Roots Cafe

Fostering Authentic Sounds: The Real Roots Café’s Legacy

Jan Janssen

For over twenty-five years, The Real Roots Café has remained a nonprofit, Dutch-language music platform that represents a broad spectrum of authentic music genres. Its mission is simple: to showcase music that is deeply rooted in and reflects the ongoing evolution of North American societies and cultures. More than just a website, The Real Roots Café is a gathering place for those who appreciate “Real People, Real Instruments, and Real Music.”

Jan Janssen (JJ) is the visionary behind The Real Roots Café. A former local DJ with a deep passion for music dating back to the late 1960s and early 1970s, JJ founded the site in the early 1990s out of a desire to connect with others who shared his enthusiasm. For JJ, music wasn’t just something to listen to—it was an experience that sparked conversation and connection. Realizing that he needed an outlet to share his favorite tracks and industry insights, he created The Real Roots Café as a welcoming space for music lovers.

In 2006, The Real Roots Café celebrated its 10th anniversary online by partnering with Cultureel Podium Roepaen in Ottersum, Netherlands, near the German border in the Nijmegen, Kleve, and Goch region. Together, they hosted Roots @ Roepaen, featuring two stages: an acoustic indoor stage set in a beautifully renovated chapel and a large outdoor stage. The festival’s success earned it the nickname “the Paradiso of the East,” and Peter Pricken’s stunning photos captured the event’s unforgettable atmosphere.

The journey of The Real Roots Café is far from over. The team embraces the challenge of supporting exceptional artists who often lack exposure on mainstream radio stations and in national magazines. They believe that the finest American rock is rooted in folk, blues, and country traditions, enriched by the multicultural influences brought by waves of immigrants. The café’s mission is to capture these diverse sounds while staying connected to contemporary music trends.

The driving force behind this vision is the dedicated Real Roots Café Dream Team, including photographer Peter Pricken, Huub Thomassen, Fred SchmaleTon KokPatrick Struijker Boudier, Jaks Schuit, Thijs Walhof, Herman Sixma, Ronand Valstar, Bas Booy, Guus Draaier en Jan of course. Together, they continue to walk the long road, proud to amplify the voices of talented musicians from the fringes and bring their passion to life.