Jeroen van Merwijk is a visual artist but also a cabaret performer, lyricist and presenter of radio and television programs such as Krachtvoer, Spijkers Met Koppen and Podium. He has been making full-length theater performances since 1985. Van Merwijk is not a man who makes concessions for the sake of the public: you have to take his intelligent, cynical humor and ironic view of the world as it is.
He also writes songs for other comedians such as Hans Dorresteijn, Harrie Jekkers and Adèle Bloemendaal. He received the 2005 Annie MG Schmidt Prize for his song Dat Vinden Boys Leuk. The album Vrij! is van Merwijk's first rock CD. Maarten van Roozendaal brought him into contact with Wouter Planteijd of the rock formation Sjako! Together with the other band members Richard Heijerman (drums), Thijs Vermeulen (bass guitar), René van Barneveld (guitar) and Nico Brandsen (organ) sang Van Merwijk's best theater songs. Sjako! was given complete musical freedom and that resulted in a successful mix of absurdist lyrics and solid rock. (SvdP)more