Upside - Down Town
Upside - Down Town
a tribute to
GREG TROOPER and more !!
Greg Trooper (1956–2017) was an American singer-songwriter.
Inspired by artists such as Otis Redding, Bob Dylan and Hank Williams, he developed a repertoire that is difficult to place in any single category. Roots, (alt-)country, folk, Americana — you name it.
The appreciation for his music is evident from the fact that artists such as Vince Gill and Billy Bragg recorded his songs. Emmylou Harris and Steve Earle — who became a close friend of Greg’s — appeared as guest musicians on a number of his recordings.
Just as in the United States, Greg also built up a loyal fangroup in the Netherlands. And virtually everyone who knew him or saw and heard him perform, agrees that he deserved far greater recognition and appreciation for the beauty he brought into the world.
Upside - Down
Town
Our band was formed in 2018 and is named after an album by Greg Trooper.
We — Aad, Marcel, Mario, Rienk and Rob — share a common passion for music in general, and for Americana in particular.
If we can give our audience even a part of the feeling and enjoyment that we share among ourselves, our mission will already be accomplished!
Our mission
Our aim is to let people enjoy beautiful Americana music, and our our desire to keep Greg Trooper’s music alive.
How wonderful it would be to pass on to our audience the feeling he was able to put into his songs himself.
Imitating Greg is a no-go area— we couldn’t do it, nor would we want to. Instead, we want to take our audience along on his journey.
To that end, we aim to present his music in an authentic way, performed well and with feeling and respect. Through our performances, we offer a glimpse into his life and musical career by playing a selection of his songs, supported by visual material.
Below is a small selection of this visual material. Those familiar with Greg’s music will surely recognise some of it.
Those who have seen Greg perform live, know him primarily as a singer-songwriter, often appearing solo. In his later years, this was mostly how he performed. The videos of him that can be found online (for example on YouTube) also capture, with only a few exceptions, solo performances.
Those who are familiar with his albums, however, know how beautifully his songs sound with a full band. We hope you’ll come and listen sometime!
To the question “Do you only play music by Greg Trooper?” our answer is: “Certainly not!!
Greg’s music forms a kind of common thread throughout our repertoire. In addition, we enjoy playing songs by artists such as Johnny Cash, John Hiatt, Bruce Springsteen, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Eagles, and even the Rolling Stones.
Aad, Marcel, Mario, Rienk and Rob
Make it Through this World - theater tour
Of course, we enjoy performing at events, festivals and welcoming music venues. In addition, we have created a complete Greg Trooper tribute show, specifically designed for a theatre setting.
The title of this show is “Make It Through This World”, named after one of Greg’s songs and also the title of one of his albums.
Our performance consists of a selection of Greg’s songs, complemented by a number of songs by artists who inspired him, and is supported by a slide show. It comes into its own best in a theatrical setting and has a running time of just over two hours.
Line-up and Repertoire
Our “standard” line-up is a five-piece band (percussion, bass, rhythm and lead guitar — or mandolin/slide — keyboards, and vocals with multi-part harmonies). Depending on the situation and possibilities, this line-up can be adapted. It is also possible for us to perform in a very small, acoustic setting.
Our repertoire is varied, ranging from quiet and sensitive ballads to more powerful up-tempo songs.
In addition to Greg Trooper’s music, we enjoy playing songs by artists such as Johnny Cash, the Eagles, Bruce Springsteen, Creedence Clearwater Revival, John Hiatt, The Jayhawks — and even the Stones make an appearance now and then.
Interested — or just want to say something?
If you’re interested, or if you’d simply like to get in touch, we’d of course be happy to hear from you. Please enter your email address and leave us a message, and we’ll get back to you!