In March 2009 Gerard van Maasakkers received a Golden Harp, an oeuvre prize for artists who have made a special contribution to Dutch light music in their career. Appropriately, the album Jubileum was released that same week, a CD-DVD combination with a live anniversary concert by the Brabant troubadour and his band De Vaste Mannen, which was recorded in June 2008 at the Frits Philips Music Center
… in Eindhoven. In that year Van Maasakkers celebrated his thirtieth anniversary by asking several fellow singers to sing his repertoire on the album Anders and also during the anniversary concert. A few guest musicians, the Magogo chamber orchestra and brass band De Voortgang Nuenen also gave the party extra sparkle. The documentary Gerard 30 Years gives a beautiful and sometimes moving picture of the sympathetic singer-songwriter. He tells candidly about his life course, we follow him during the recordings of the album Anders and the preparations for Bloemencorso Valkenswaard, which in 2007 was devoted to Van Maasakkers oeuvre. A well-deserved tribute to a special, authentic singer. (SvdP)more
