# Festival review: Two days full of blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll: Breda Jazz Festival 2026: Photos

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2026/06/23/festival-review-two-days-full-of-blues-soul-and-rock-n-roll-breda-jazz-festival-2026-photos/
- Published: 2026-06-23T05:00:04+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**Two days, five bands, and plenty of blues at the Breda Jazz Festival 2026. Our
reporter saw performances by What The FRNK, José Ramirez, The Hoochies, The Zac 
Schulze Gang, and Marlon Pichel.**

An atmospheric festival report full of musical highlights from the heart of Breda.

![Verslag Breda Jazz Festival 2026](https://i0.wp.com/711571cc.delivery.rocketcdn.
me/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/260515-Zac-Schulze-Gang-018-1440x2160.jpg.webp?resize
=640%2C960&ssl=1)

We attended the annual Jazz Festival in Breda. Unfortunately, we couldn’t be there
for all days, but even in two days, so many bands play that we had to make a choice.

Fortunately, there is more than enough blues at the festival, and the choice fell
on the following five acts. On Thursday: What The FRNK, José Ramirez, and The Hoochies.
On Friday: The Zac Schulze Gang and Marlon Pichel.

Spread throughout Breda’s city center, the festival once again demonstrated just
how broad and vibrant blues and related musical styles can sound. From raw harmonica
blues to soulful grooves, from energetic blues rock to warm rock ‘n’ roll: over 
two days, we were treated to a fine cross-section.

![What the Frnk op Breda Jazz](https://i0.wp.com/711571cc.delivery.rocketcdn.me/
wp-content/uploads/2026/06/260514-What-the-Frnk-website-024-scaled.jpg.webp?resize
=640%2C427&ssl=1 "Verslag Breda Jazz Festival 2026 1")

It had been a while since we last saw What The FRNK live, so it was high time to
change that. A substantial stage was set up in the harbor of Breda, which came in
handy, as the Longhorns had come along.

The three horn players provide quite a bit of extra power to the band’s songs, which
are primarily their own. The band’s sound is a mix of blues, rock, and funk, featuring
a tight and driving rhythm section provided by Too Pierik (drums) and Twan van Hoof(
bass), and the soulful and funky sound of Guus van Lankveld on Rhodes and Hammond.

Add the Longhorns’ horn section to that, and the picture is almost complete, except
for one person. And that is frontman Frank Schurgers, who was visibly enjoying himself
on stage, which was clearly audible in his wonderful guitar work and vocals.

At the start of the evening, José Ramirez took to the stage at the Kerkplein beneath
the tower of the Grote Kerk of Breda. A showman through and through with a great
voice and fantastic guitar work. Together with his backing band, which is entirely
Dutch for this tour, they literally blew the roof off at the Kerkplein.

![The Hoochies live op Breda Jazz](https://i0.wp.com/711571cc.delivery.rocketcdn.
me/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/260515-The-Hoochies-036-scaled.jpg.webp?w=640&ssl=
1)

Blues overloaded with soul and funk, with a touch of Latin, makes José’s performance
just that little bit different, and that is exactly what we love to hear. A recurring
highlight is, of course, his solo walk through the audience, and that was certainly
not lacking during this amazing performance.

The closing act at the Kerkplein was none other than The Hoochies. When you say “
The Hoochies,” you say raw, pure, and authentic blues that doesn’t mince words. 
It is not for nothing that they represented the Netherlands at the International
Blues Challenge in Memphis.

![Jose Ramirez op Breda Jazz](https://i0.wp.com/711571cc.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-
content/uploads/2026/06/260514-Jose-Ramirez-website-017-scaled.jpg.webp?w=640&ssl
=1)

A great performance with a driving foundation by Chiel ten Vaarwerk (drums) and 
Jules van Brakel (bass), colored with vocals and harmonica by Richard Koster and
guitar work by Roelof Meijeringh. A fantastic conclusion to the first evening in
Breda, and the audience thought so too, joining in the dancing and enjoying themselves
on stage during the three (or was it four?) encores.

The Zac Schulze Gang has been one of the bands you have to see right now for quite
some time. And that is certainly evident from the turnout on this cold and possibly
rainy Friday afternoon in Breda.

Not only does the Kerkplein fill up quickly, but it also soon becomes clear that
many of those people have come to Breda specifically for Zac, Ben, and Ant.

And that doesn’t surprise us, because wherever these three men play, one thing is
certain: the audience is going to be treated to a whirlwind of rock, funk, and even
punk, but always with a clearly audible origin in the blues.

Rarely have I seen three men display so much energy and power as Zac and his “Gang”.
In the two sets they play, their own work is beautifully alternated with covers 
that are clearly played as a tribute to their musical heroes.

![Zac Schulze Gang live op Breda Jazz](https://i0.wp.com/711571cc.delivery.rocketcdn.
me/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/260515-Zac-Schulze-Gang-028.jpg.webp?w=640&ssl=1)

A nice guest appearance was reserved for Luca Holkenborg, who got to showcase his
skills a few times, and he certainly did. It is wonderful to see how a younger generation
of blues musicians receives extra attention in this way. Something we fortunately
see more often within the blues.

It was a busy day for Marlon, or rather, a busy week. In addition to the recently
released single *Try Again* with Danny Vera, for which he had various television
appearances that week, and the performances with the band *King Of The World*, he
is currently playing with his own band as a support act for Danny Vera.

That was also the case this Friday evening. After the performance at De Effenaar
in Eindhoven, the journey continued to Breda, where Marlon and his full band were
to provide the closing performance of the second evening. The setup and soundcheck
were done at a rapid pace so that Marlon could start.

From the very first notes, it is clear why he and his band are so busy. A wonderfully
warm bath of blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll is what we are treated to by his seven-
piece band. You feel the warmth of the Mississippi Delta in your heart while the
steam from the cold is clearly visible in the stage lights. Two sets full of energy
featuring Marlon’s raw vocal sound and a great band in which the brass section played
a nice, prominent role.

For part of the audience, the performance ends in a party on stage when they are
invited to join the crowd during the encore. A wonderful conclusion to this second(
and for us, unfortunately, last) evening in Breda.

![Marlon Pichel live op Breda Jazz 2026](https://i0.wp.com/711571cc.delivery.rocketcdn.
me/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/260516-Marlon-Pichel-049-scaled.jpg.webp?w=640&ssl
=1)

 

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