Bouke (42) from Emmen rehearses for concerts in Ziggo Dome: ‘It’s about the last percent’

The joke is obvious and is therefore made. ‘Elvis has entered the building’, says drummer Michael van Werven when Bouke Scholten enters the rehearsal room just after the agreed time – half past eleven in the morning.

Bouke is the Elvis tribute singer in the Netherlands. The 42-year-old Emmen native won four different TV shows with repertoire from The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll and will perform twice in a packed Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam with The ElvisMatters Band later this month, on April 18 and 19.

The eleven musicians have already spent a whole day of rehearsals in the JBStudio on the outskirts of Almelo. Last night they slept in the associated break and breakfast. And today, Saturday, Bouke himself will be there to put the finishing touches on the project. “It’s about the last percent,” says the singer. “For that last bit of feeling.”

‘The voice always works’

There is no indication that he has been out of action for two months. A hip injury forced him to move his February and March concerts to a later date. How is he doing now? “The voice always works.” And further? “You have to get your fitness back. We are going to work hard on that.”

Musically, the singer has little to worry about, as is evident from the first rehearsal number See See Rider. The ElvisMatters Band – with musicians from all over the world, including guitarist Rody Prins from Nieuw-Weerdinge – is rock solid. The experience shines through. And otherwise the talent: saxophonist Sendi Wessel from Klazienaveen is only 20. She brought a cake to celebrate her birthday.

That such a rehearsal is useful and necessary becomes clear when the ladies’ choir is delayed during the intro of It’s Now Or Never. “We don’t have this time in the Ziggo Dome, do we?” Bouke says. The problem lies in the harmony singing: who takes which voice? “Just stop. It’s not powerful enough like that. Not really.”

Father Jochem Scholten on accordion

Another bottleneck is the transition from Rock-A-Hula Baby Unpleasant Wooden Heart, in which Bouke’s father Jochem Scholten takes care of the accordion part. The intention is for him to fill in at the same time as bassist Björn Groenen. “But Jochem is standing behind something, in the wings,” Bouke outlines the problem. “So they don’t see each other.”

The agreement is that drummer Michael gives two taps in advance. But things aren’t really going well. “What if Dad just starts himself? You can also play the bass notes.” With a smile: “And if you just play all the bass parts, we can leave Björn at home.”

As a proud father, Jochem has experienced all the ups and downs in his son’s career. The performances in cafeterias, in bars and at weddings. But also the three shows that his son gave in the Ziggo Dome last year as headliner The Tribute – Battle of the Bands. “Believe it or not, but I initially advised Bouke against participating in that TV program,” his father reflects. “Because he had already won three talent shows. That certainly wouldn’t happen a fourth time.”

‘We remain sober about it’

So that turned out a bit differently. Bouke won the SBS6 show by force majeure and was therefore allowed to perform three times for an hour in the Amsterdam music hall as the main act among the other finalists. “This month he has been there twice on his own. And the 2025 show is already in the agenda. All those people, 17,000 at a time, now come especially for Bouke and his band. Of course that makes me proud, very proud. But we also remain sober about it. Because if we have learned anything, it is that all that media attention can be over in an instant.”

By the way, father Jochem is not the only family member who will soon be able to shine in Amsterdam. The same applies to Bouke’s cousin Rudy Wagner, singer of the song for life. And himself a cousin of Django Wagner, another star in that genre. “Rudy is the reason I ever started,” says Bouke, while Rudy hits the high note in Love Me With All Of Your Heart. “He sang at my uncle’s wedding and I thought that was so fantastic.”

They perform the duet together The Impossible Dream from the Broadway musical Man of La Mancha. After other stars such as Frank Sinatra, Shirley Bassey, Diana Ross and Jacques Brel, Elvis sang that classic in 1972 during his world-famous performances at Madison Square Garden in New York. “And shall we now go through the medley?”

There is no tension yet

There doesn’t seem to be any tension on this Saturday. That will soon be different, Bouke realizes, when he steps onto the stage of the Ziggo Dome. “But I just know it will be okay. Because it is fun to do and we are completely attuned to each other. It’s all a matter of timing and feeling.”

And after those stressful days? A little rest? On the contrary. The next challenge is on the agenda on King’s Day: a performance for the members of the royal family on Noorderplein in home town Emmen. With an audience of millions on the other side of the screen. “And can we mention De Toppers yet?” asks father Jochem. “On May 24 and 25, Bouke will be with them in the Johan Cruijff Arena. Because of course it can always be even bigger.”