Blue Sands

Blue Sands is the duo of bassist Reindert Kragt (NL) and vocalist Esther Van Hees (BE). Voice and bass form an intimate combination, nourished by diverse influences - from grunge and jazz to video game music - which you can clearly hear in their set.

In 2020, the debut EP 'Flowers Made of Clay' was released, followed by the album 'No Longer Blue' in 2022. On 12 January 2025, they presented their new album 'For you' (label ZenneZ Records) at the Bimhuis in Amsterdam. The album, featuring Miguel Boelens, Anton Goudsmit and Hermine Deurloo as guests, received four stars in the Volkskrant. Critics describe their sound as cinematic, dreamy and distinctive.

Armed with effect pedals, Blue Sands builds their own sonic world. They have shared the stage with Mete Erker, Kika Sprangers, Ben van Gelder, Jef Neve, Jeroen van Vliet, Marta Arpini and Anton Goudsmit, among others.

In the press:

"For you is at times even enchanting. As if Kragt's electric bass and Van Hees' voice were made for each other." - Gijsbert Kamer (de Volkskrant)

"It is a combination that is absolutely not boring. You might expect that, but the album actually contains a special timbre and sounds surprisingly fresh and atmospheric. The sound is very intimate and the calm that emanates from the music is beautiful." - Eric van der Weste (jazznu)

"Reindert Kragt and Esther Van Hees transform the venue into a living room with melancholic gems from the debut album 'No Longer Blue'." - Christel Meijer (jazzenzo)

"Blue Sands needs remarkably few means to captivate... The sound regularly has something sad, but also something dreamy." - Ruud de Zwart (festivalinfo.nl)

"Playful and nimble interplay gives all the music they perform a strikingly fresh character and they continue to captivate until the last note has faded. Kragt and Van Hees have been playing together for a long time and their audible friendship gives an extraordinarily charming glow to their music."