Henry Parker & Joost Dijkema

Event information

A shared passion for 70’s finger-style guitar music and a deep reverence for the work of cult legend
Michael Chapman has led these two musicians, living on either side of the North Sea, to journey
over the water to play music on each other’s home turf. Last year it was Henry Parker who travelled
over to The Netherlands and now is the time for Joost Dijkema to arrive on UK soil, guitar in hand.
Joost Dijkema (pronounced Yoh-st Dy-kumah) has released three studio albums, the most recent of
which ‘After Thunder Sun’ was described by Folk Radio as “a key listen for fans of high end guitar
music” and by Shindig! Magazine as “a startlingly great record.” The Dutch finger-style wizard
tours with Michael Chapman’s beloved 1951 all-mahogany Martin guitar which was handed to him
by Andru Chapman after Michael’s passing. Listening to Joost deftly pick his way through classic
songs such as Postcards Of Scarborough and Youth Is Wasted on the Young is to hear the spirit of
Michael’s music being kept alive by a true student of his work.
Likewise Henry Parker’s contribution and curation of the 2023 Tompkins Square record ‘I Thought
I Told You: A Yorkshire Tribute to Michael Chapman’ showcased his love of the 1970’s guitar
legend and helped to fly the flag for some of the greatest music to come out of the left-field folk
scene, curated by Harvest Records over half a century ago.
This 2025 UK tour will see the two musicians playing both solo, performing selections from their
own records, as well as jointly coming together on some of their favourite compositions by the late
great Michael Chapman, In The Valley, Among The Trees, Kodak Ghosts and countless more.
Links

Joost Dijkema
Live Video: https://youtu.be/Kq_BB2eGoGo?si=elUtjwMBF_3afUIR
Bandcamp: https://joostdijkema.bandcamp.com/
Website: https://www.joostdijkema.nl/
Henry Parker
Live Video: https://youtu.be/3_cj7mn8Wa8?si=BoiZou3D31KiJeDe
Bandcamp: https://henryparker.bandcamp.com/
Website: https://henryparkermusic.co.uk/
Press Quotes
Joost Dijkema
“Solos redolent of Richard Thompson. A startlingly great record.”
- SHINDIG! ★★★★
"Joost is a talented guitar picker. His new album, Time Thief, contains instrumentals where he
displays his virtuosity and songs where his warm vocal tones shine."
- NORMAN RECORDS

Henry Parker
“Channelling the ghosts of Jansch and Renbourn through his fingertips, the fluid playing and
emotive singing of Yorkshire-born Henry Parker evokes the spirit of the early-60’s folk revival as if
it were yesterday.” RnR ★★★★★
“Original material and traditional songs create an immersive and mellifluous world in which both
the peace and isolation of nature are unfurled evoked through subtle arrangements” Prog Magazine