Abel

Abel is a Dutch pop group from Breda, formed in 1997. The band broke through in 2000 with the iconic hit " Onderweg ", which stayed at number 1 in the Dutch charts for six weeks and became a classic within Dutch-language pop music. The track comes from their debut album De Stilte Voorbij , which also contains the singles " 3 Dagen Zon " and " Neem Me Mee ".

The band was founded by singer and guitarist Joris Rasenberg , together with Freek Imbens (keyboards), Robert Stobbelaar (bass) and John Koeken (drums). They initially performed as a cover band under the name The Acting Crowd , but in 1997 they switched to Dutch-language music and changed their name to Abel, inspired by the film of the same name by Alex van Warmerdam. Their first demo earned them a record deal. Although the debut single " 3 Dagen Zon " was not a hit, " Onderweg " marked their major breakthrough.

Following the success of their debut album, Abel released their second album Doen & Laten in 2002, followed by 12 Uur in 2010. After a period of relative quiet, the band returned in 2023 with the single " Jij Het Ook ", a preview of their fourth studio album Geen Water Bij De Wijn , released in August 2024. This album marks a new chapter for Abel, with fresh music and a series of performances throughout the Netherlands.