RADIO INTERVIEW: Anne on Ongehoord Boskamp with Mick Boskamp

The bush bandits

Amsterdam’s raw rock heart with a melodic soul

The Bush Bandits are a four-piece band from Amsterdam with a signature sound: a powerful, melodic fusion of rock, pop, and grunge influences, driven by raw emotion and musical depth. Every song tells a story—ranging from unfiltered tearjerkers to heavy-hitting tracks with a message.

Band Lineup:

🥁 Marky robinson – drums
🎸 Serge van den Akker – bass
🎸 Han van den Essenburg – Rhythm & Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
🎤 Anne SteenKamp – Lead Vocals

Origins & Background

The Bush Bandits were founded in 2013 by lead singer Anne Steenkamp following her career in Lebanon, where she performed at renowned venues such as Musichall, BO18 Classic, DRM Beirut, and SNATCH, as well as major festivals like Byblos, Jounieh, and Deir el Ammar. Fronting the breakbeat act Cablejuice (album PIMPARREST), she previously graced the stages of Lowlands, Noorderslag, Dance Valley, Festival de Bourges (FR), Melkweg, Paradiso (ADE), and 3voor12 (VPRO Radio).

The Creative Heart

Anne and guitarist Han van den Essenburg form the creative heart of the band, writing and composing their entire original repertoire. Songs originate as acoustic drafts before being fully arranged by the whole band—a collective process where every member leaves their distinct mark.

Live Performances

With shows at iconic venues like Paradiso, Pakhuis Wilhelmina, De Groene Weide (Terschelling), Akhnaton, Vrij Paleis, Flint Amersfoort, and StayOkay Amsterdam, The Bush Bandits have built a reputation for commanding both festival-sized stages and intimate rooms. Their original repertoire takes center stage, while their selective choice of covers is intentional—with every rare rendition completely reimagined and made entirely their own.

Highlights

In 2020, the band delivered a moving live performance for Giro 555 on NPO Radio 1 (hosted by Lara Billie Rense) during the national fundraiser for the Beirut Blast victims. Anne performed Pain, a track she co-wrote with Lebanese bassist Michel Labaki. They have also featured acoustically on broadcasts such as De Nacht van het Goede Leven (NPO, Adeline van Lier).

In 2024, The Bush Bandits released their debut EP Bite The Bullet—available on all major streaming platforms and as an exclusive limited-edition vinyl release. The band is currently in the studio working on a new full-length album, slated for release in 2027.