#NETHERLANDS: It’s Waylon for Lisbon next May

Hot on the heels of announcements from elsewhere in Europe, Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS has revealed that Waylon will represent the Netherlands at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest.

No, it’s nothing to do with Mr Burns’ assistant in the Simpsons. This Waylon will be known to you if you remember the Common Linnets in Copenhagen in 2014. He was the one in the big hat.

Waylon was born Willem Bijkerk in 1980 in the town of Apeldoorn. His stage name comes from his idol, the US country & western singer Waylon Jennings. In 2008, he was runner-up in the first series of Holland’s Got Talent, coincidentally hosted by former entrant Gerard Joling. Waylon has been releasing material on and off since then, and in 2017 formed the Common Linnets with Ilse Delange. As you’ll know, they finished second to Conchita Wurst.

Here’s the Common Linnets’ performance in 2014.

Follow this LINK to see where we are in Lisbon.

We at Eurovision Ireland wish the Netherlands well in Lisbon.

Author: John Stanton

Source: Eurovision Ireland, AVROTROS