Racoon

Acoustic rock band Racoon became one of the Netherlands’ most successful acts with the 2005 ballad Love You More, one of the biggest Dutch hits ever. Formed in Zeeland in 1997 by singer Bart van der Weide and guitarist Dennis Huige, the band was completed by bassist Stefan de Kroon and drummer Paul Bukkens. Their debut album Till Monkeys Fly (2000) featured the radio hit Feel Like Flying, followed by Here We Go, Stereo! (2001). Their breakthrough came with Another Day (2005), producing hits including Love You More, Laugh About It and Brother. Before You Leave continued their success with Lucky All My Life and Clean Again. In 2011, Liverpool Rain became their first Dutch number-one album, featuring No Mercy, Took a Hit and the title track. In 2012 Racoon released Oceaan for the Dutch hitfilm Alles Is Familie. The song became their most-streamed track and remains hugely popular. The Singles Collection (2013) and All in Good Time (2015) also topped the charts. Look Ahead and See the Distance followed in 2017, the year Maarten van Damme replaced bassist Stefan de Kroon. Racoon’s first Dutch-language album Spijt Is Iets Voor Later (2021) reached number one, led by their biggest hit to date: Het Is Al Laat Toch. In 2024 the band returned to English with It Is What It Is, featuring the singles Nickel for Goodbye, It's You or Me, The Ones We Seek and Bring Me My Horse.