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Biography

Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado Scandinavia’s premier root-rockers reveal their brand new album “House of Sticks” Scandinavia’s premier roots-rock renegades Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado return with their brand new album of high-energy swamp rock, smouldering ballads and cinematic blues-rock on ‘House of Sticks‘, which will be released on 31 January via Provogue / Mascot Label Group. Their ninth studio album delivers a fresh, modern take on the blues. It channels the vibes of contemporary giants like The Black Keys and My Baby or a modern JJ Cale take while staying true to the band’s deep blues roots. The band have spent the last two decades traversing Europe, covering almost every inch, over twenty countries, sweeping through the islands and mainland of their home country Denmark and through the rocky terrains and bright lights of Sweden, Finland and Norway countryside and cities. They’ve graced stages in the valleys and mountain regions in Switzerland and have circumnavigated Germany, France, The Netherlands as well as hurtling through Croatia, Greece, the UK and Spain. They’ve played aboard cruise ships, packed all eight members into smokey jazz bars to large theatres and captivated the biggest festival stages. Their euphoric blend of Blues’ n Roll has taken them as far as the US, Canada and India on their quest to enchant crowds into the Black Tornado congregation with their electrifying live performances. Spending nine to ten months a year on the road means that Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado are all about the journey, physically and figuratively. Staring out of the van windows as the eight band members career through highways, mountain paths and city back streets. It’s impossible not to watch the world go by and think. But it’s the listener and the fan in the crowd that they want to bring onto the journey. From moving feet on the dancefloor to moving minds within the lyrics, telling people is not what they’re here for. It’s about bringing them along for the experience. “I don’t like to analyse my lyrics too much.  I find it kind of devalues the song if it’s explained too much,” says the smooth voiced and softly spoken Risager. “I might have thought about something when I wrote it, but it can mean something else for the listener. If I say it means something else, it’s taking away the listener’s experience,” he explains.  “I’ve had moments where people have said that a song I’ve sung is something they have experienced or had couples tell me that a song has been used at their Wedding or has been “their” song, and I’m proud of that. They’ve used the song for their experience.” They have revealed their single, “Inner Light,” a soulful funk-laden earworm that fuses Sly and the Family Stone’s swagger with Risager’s distinctive smoky vocals. “This song,” he says, “was pretty clear to me when writing about it. It’s about getting older. The light has changed a little bit. It happens to everybody. The whole thing is not as bright as it once was when you get older.” Though reflective, the song also oozes with optimism as he croons, “I know I’m stronger than the darkness, I’m going to hold on till summer comes around, and I remember every soul that we lost along the way,” to a bright brass section, bringing the light into view. “I’m also a big funk fan. I always create a funk song when I write the songs for the album. It’s usually a floor filler, too. We see ourselves as a blues rock band, but funk is a part of the blues family,” he smiles. Things have been steadily building for the band over recent years. “We’re constantly growing,” enthuses Risager. “It’s a crucial thing,  and one of the reasons why it’s still fun is because it’s always moving in the right direction to bigger venues, bigger crowds. We’ve also been playing in new countries. For instance, we just started playing in Spain last year, where we never played there before; we played in mainland Spain and the Islands. The Spanish audience was really enthusiastic.” “Some of the places we’re biggest in are Hamburg, Berlin, Stockholm, and Malmö. When I started out, I would call around Copenhagen venues for a support slot and not get anything. Now we headline with nearly 1000 people there to see us,” he smiles. “But,” he interjects, “I’m always more nervous when playing in my hometown than when I’m playing anywhere else. I can play in Germany for 4,000 people and be fine, and then I can play a small duo or trio show in Copenhagen and be really nervous.” When the Octet takes to the stage, it’s a visual feast. The traditional set up of vocals, guitar, bass and drums is joined by a piano, woodwind, brass, strings and multiple backing vocalists.  “I don’t see myself as a very good entertainer,” he says modestly. His laid-back stage presence and delivery are complemented by the band of friends of twenty years around him. “They do that department of the show. They get people to clap and do funny moves, and of course, they also have their solos. So we have so many strings to play on, and that’s also one of the secrets of how we’ve been together for so long. I’m not standing with the whole responsibility to entertain the audience.  Our saxophone player, Hans Nybo, is a natural. As soon as he steps on stage, he just draws people’s attention.” ‘House of Sticks’ was recorded between April and June 2024 between Medley Studios and MillFactory NuVenue Studios in Copenhagen. It was produced once again by Risager and bass player Søren Bøjgaard, with additional production by guitarist Joachim Svensmark. “I can’t write songs when I’m on the road,” Risager explains his songwriting. “There’s too much going on when I’m touring. So, I need to be very concentrated and very focused on the concert. I recently found out that when I’m home I can write the best between 9am and noon. It’s taken a long time to work that out.  Once I have written the song and I take it to the band, that’s because I know this is going to hold water. We don’t work on songs with the band or in the studio that won’t be on the album.” The award-winning Danes have already released the pulsating groove of “Long Time Ago,” which sees Risager’s soulful vocals swoon around the swampy, raw energy that has become synonymous with The Black Tornado’s sound.  When “Already Gone” dropped in June, it was the band’s first new music since the release of their 2022 album, ‘Navigation Blues’. Its galloping rhythms strides through groove-infused blues rock, buoyed by searing solos and wrapped around a forlorn love story – “This is what I would call the most classic Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado song on the album.” “I will say my favourite track of the album is the title track “House of Sticks.” I think it’s a really wonderful song. I didn’t write it, it was our guitarist Joachim Svensmark,” he says. “It’s not a 12-bar Delta blues but has a Delta vibe, while still sounding very fresh; I think writing this kind of Delta blues is tough. So even though I didn’t write it, that song really sticks out, I think.” Elsewhere the band deliver a Stax-loaded masterstroke on “Climbed a Mountain”, the singer-songwriter ballad infused with Sam Cooke warmth on “Fine Summer Night,” and bring the listener on a journey of reflective laments and dancefloor-filling stompers. Therein lies the compelling charm of Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado – the ability to take you on their journey. “We’re quite broad; of course, some people think we’re too broad. It’s not really something that I do on purpose. This is just the 10 songs that came out this time,” he explains. The band’s adventures have taken them to highs and lows – From playing in India where Risager jammed on stage with the legendary Buddy Guy – “That was a big experience for me,” he says. To be victims of bad luck of Hollywood comedy movie proportions – delayed flights from the US to Canadian show saw them have to split the group up and travel separately across to the US to their destination, only to be hit by more flight and automobile troubles and to be saved by a fan getting wind of their problems and driving half the band to Canada to play the show. They’ve sold over 60,000 physical albums and surpassed 25 million streams over the past decade with thirteen albums, including eight studio; From the Heart (2006), Here I Am (2007), Track Record (2010), Dust & Scratches (2012), the multi-award-winning Too Many Roads (2014), Change My Game (2017), Come On In (2020) and Navigation Blues (2022) as well as a Best Of.  They’ve won four Danish Music Awards (with seven nominations), the “Best Band” in the European Blues Awards and won the prestigious German Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik Jahrespreis – German Record Critics’ Awards. Blazing a trail worldwide, they’ve captivated crowds with their dynamic stage presence and a sound that fuses soul Chicago blues, boogie, and rock ‘n’ roll with a voice where Ray Charles, Van Morrison, and Billy Gibbons meet in the middle. They’ve opened for Bonnie Raitt, the Tedeschi Trucks Band even picked up a fan in Elwood Blues himself – Dan Aykroyd! – who hailed their “Hot rhythm and blues.” Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado are showing no signs of slowing down. With every tour and every release, the Octet are bringing that delicious blend of swaggering boogie and irresistible blues to captivate even more people to come along for the ride. Musicians: Thorbjørn Risager – Vocal, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar Emil Balsgaard – Piano, Organ, Wurlitzer, Mellotron, Clavinet Joachim Svensmark – Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Viola, Background Vocals, Mellotron, Drum Programming Kasper Wagner – Alto Sax, Baritone Sax, Flute Hans Nybo – Tenor Sax Peter W Kehl – Trumpet, Fluegelhorn, Sousaphone, Trombone Søren Bøjgaard – Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Synthesizer, Bass Synthesizer, Electric Guitar, Piano Martin Seidelin – Drums, Percussion DISCOGRAPHY: Live 2004 (Music Mecca/Cope 2005) From the Heart (Cope Records 2006) Here I Am (Cope Records 2007) Live at Victoria (Cope Records 2009) Track Record (Cope Records 2010) Dust & Scratches (Cope Records 2012) Between Rock and Some Hard Blues (Cope Records 2013) Too Many Roads (Ruf Records 2014) Songs From The Road (Ruf Records 2015) Change My Game (Ruf Records 2017) Come On In (Ruf Records 2020) Best Of (Ruf Records 2021) Navigation Blues (Provogue Records/Mascot Label Group 2022) House of Sticks (Provogue Records/Mascot Label Group 2025) “This is the sort of band that gets booked by unwary festival promoters as an early evening support only to discover they’ve stolen the show by 8 pm. If you haven’t seen them yet, do. If you haven’t booked them yet, do…” Download the Biography as pdf here! …und German Bio hier!

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This Saturday Musikator Open Air in Riesa (DE) – don’t miss out! 😎 Tickets => wt-arena.de/veranstaltung/musikator-openair-thorbjorn-risager-the-black-tornado #blues #rock #guitars #houseofsticks #releasetour See MoreSee Less
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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐨𝐥. 𝟐 is back on track tomorrow in Mönsterås Blues & Roots Festival, the official with around 50+ more concerts in the rest of 2025 taking us to 🇩🇰 🇩🇪 🇫🇮 🇸🇪 🇨🇭 🇳🇴 & 🇫🇷 😎Where will we see you? 👇Get your tickets from the link in the comment section (our website)! 🔥𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫 – 𝐕𝐨𝐥 𝟐🔥May 31 – Mönsterås Blues & Roots Festival, Mönsterås 🇸🇪June 14 – Musikator Open Air, Riesa 🇩🇪Jun 19 – Blues Garage, Hannover 🇩🇪Jun 20 – Ulmer Zelt, Ulm 🇩🇪Jun 21 – Kobel in Concert, Bubikon 🇨🇭Jun 26 – Hirsch, Nürnberg 🇩🇪Jun 27- Stadt Geldern Straßenparty 2025, Geldern 🇩🇪Jun 28 – Kiel (private function) 🇩🇪Jul 10 – Mojo Bluesbar , Copenhagen 🇩🇰 Aug 1 – Annelundsgarden, Malmö 🇸🇪Aug 2 – Solhallan, Löderup 🇸🇪Aug 15 – TBA 🇸🇪Aug 16 – Lasse i Parken Stockholm 🇸🇪Aug 23 – Skanska Mullret, Skånske Fagerhult 🇸🇪Aug 29 – MC Mosten, Ørsted 🇩🇰Aug 30 – TBA 🇩🇰Sep 6 – Blues in Lehrte, Lehrte 🇩🇪Sep 11 – Kulturhuset, Hyltebruk 🇸🇪Sep 12 – Kungsbacka Teater, Kungsbacka 🇸🇪Sep 13 – Varberg Teater, Varberg 🇸🇪Sep 18 – Konservi, Seon 🇨🇭Sep 19 – Kulturfabrik Kofmehl, Solothurn 🇨🇭Sep 20 – Eisenwerk, Frauenfeld 🇨🇭Sep 25 – Turbinen, Randers 🇩🇰Sep 26 – Kædekassen, Fanø 🇩🇰Sep 27 – Skråen i Nordkraft, Aalborg 🇩🇰Oct 3 – Bluesheaven Frederikshavn, Frederikshavn 🇩🇰Oct 4 – Kedelhuset / B Sharp, Silkeborg 🇩🇰Oct 15 – Tavastia-Klubi, Helsinki 🇫🇮Oct 17 – Tryckhallen / Rootsy, Falkenberg 🇸🇪Oct 18 – Cookin’, Borås 🇸🇪𝑂𝑐𝑡 24 – 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐷𝑎𝑟𝑘 𝑆𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝐵𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝐹𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑙 𝐿𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑦𝑒𝑛 (𝑆𝐽/𝑁𝑂) 🇳🇴 (𝐷𝑢𝑜)𝑂𝑐𝑡 25 – 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐷𝑎𝑟𝑘 𝑆𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝐵𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝐹𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑙 𝐿𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑏𝑦𝑒𝑛 (𝑆𝐽/𝑁𝑂) 🇳🇴 (𝐷𝑢𝑜𝘖𝑐𝘵 28 – 𝑇𝘩𝑜𝘳𝑏𝘫ø𝘳𝑛 𝑤. 𝘞𝑎𝘭𝑡𝘦𝑟 𝑇𝘳𝑜𝘶𝑡 & 𝐹𝘳𝑖𝘦𝑛𝘥𝑠 @𝘗𝑜𝘴𝑡𝘦𝑛 𝑂𝘥𝑒𝘯𝑠𝘦 🇩🇰𝑂𝘤𝑡 29 – 𝘛ℎ𝘰𝑟𝘣𝑗ø𝑟𝘯 𝘸. 𝑊𝘢𝑙𝘵𝑒𝘳 𝘛𝑟𝘰𝑢𝘵 & 𝘍𝑟𝘪𝑒𝘯𝑑𝘴 @𝑇𝘳𝑎𝘪𝑛, 𝘈̊𝑟𝘩𝑢𝘴 🇩🇰𝑂𝘤𝑡 30 – 𝘛ℎ𝘰𝑟𝘣𝑗ø𝑟𝘯 𝘸. 𝑊𝘢𝑙𝘵𝑒𝘳 𝘛𝑟𝘰𝑢𝘵 & 𝘍𝑟𝘪𝑒𝘯𝑑𝘴 @𝐸𝘬𝑠𝘦𝑟𝘤𝑒𝘳ℎ𝘶𝑠𝘦𝑡, 𝘍𝑟𝘦𝑑𝘦𝑟𝘪𝑐𝘪𝑎 🇩🇰𝘖𝑐𝘵 31 – 𝑇𝘩𝑜𝘳𝑏𝘫ø𝘳𝑛 𝑤. 𝘞𝑎𝘭𝑡𝘦𝑟 𝑇𝘳𝑜𝘶𝑡 & 𝐹𝘳𝑖𝘦𝑛𝘥𝑠 @𝘛𝑖𝘯𝑔𝘩𝑎𝘭𝑙𝘦𝑛, 𝘝𝑖𝘣𝑜𝘳𝑔 🇩🇰𝘕𝑜𝘷 1 – 𝘛ℎ𝘰𝑟𝘣𝑗ø𝑟𝘯 𝘸. 𝑊𝘢𝑙𝘵𝑒𝘳 𝘛𝑟𝘰𝑢𝘵 & 𝘍𝑟𝘪𝑒𝘯𝑑𝘴 @𝐴𝘮𝑎𝘨𝑒𝘳 𝘉𝑖𝘰, 𝐶𝘰𝑝𝘦𝑛𝘩𝑎𝘨𝑒𝘯 🇩🇰Nov 6 – Pumpwerk, Wilhelmshaven 🇩🇪Nov 7 – Kuhstahl Tanna, Tanna 🇩🇪Nov 8 – Harmonie, Bonn 🇩🇪Nov 14 – TBC 🇫🇷 Nov 15 – Adler, Meidelstetten 🇩🇪Nov 28 – TBA 🇩🇰Nov 29 – Hotel Cecil, Copenhagen 🇩🇰Dec 5 – Kulturhuset Gimle, Føllenslev 🇩🇰Dec 11 – Blues Garage, Hannover 🇩🇪Dec 12 – Outbaix 2.0, Übach-Palenberg 🇩🇪Dec 13 – Scala Live, Ludwigsburg 🇩🇪𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔Jan 10 – Farum Jazzklub, Farum 🇩🇰Jan 11 – January Blues Festival @229, London, United Kingdom 🇬🇧Jan 23 – Arbis/Blå Kaktus, Norrköping 🇸🇪 Feb 7 – The Tivoli, Helsingborg 🇸🇪 Feb 26 – Gerd’s Juke Joint, Joldelund 🇩🇪Feb 27 – TBC 🇩🇪Feb 28 – Colos-Saal, Aschaffenburg 🇩🇪Mar 19 – Fabrik, Hamburg 🇩🇪Mar 20 – Club Volta, Cologne 🇩🇪Apr 23 – Musiktheater Piano, Dortmund 🇩🇪Mar 24 – Musiktheater Rex, Bensheim 🇩🇪Mar 25 – Music Hall Worpswede 🇩🇪May 8 – Stadthalle Schlüchtern 🇩🇪…and many more will follow soon! 😎🎸#thorbjørnrisagerandtheblacktornado #thorbjørnrisager #releasetour #newalbum #blues #rock #guitar #houseofstick Provogue Records United Stage Cope Music Management Crunchy Tunes On The Road Again Glory Box 3dog entertainment Mix Max Music Stetson Europe See MoreSee Less
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𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 ‘𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬’We’re very excited to find out that ‘𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬’ has been nominated in the album category for a 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬.❤The awardshow will take place on August 13th so fingers crossed🤞More info on the show the link in the comment section! 🔥Provogue Records Mascot Label Group Crunchy Tunes Stetson Europe ROSA Jazz Danmark TEMPI Dansk Musiker Forbund – DMF Dansk Artist Forbund Turbinen Jysk Blues Netværk #blues #guitars #DMAblues See MoreSee Less
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Mojo❤THORBJØRN RISAGER & EMIL BALSGAARDOnsdag d.28.5.Kl.19.00 – entré 150 krReservér en siddeplads via mailadressen billet@mojo.dk Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado See MoreSee Less
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In a week from now on May 31st we’ll be headlining Mönsterås Blues & Roots Festival, the official. We can’t wait to get back after 11 years and see you soon! 😎 Check out the program on the link in the comment section! 👇 #blues #rock #guitars #sverigesmysigastefestival #houseofsticks #releasetour #jaahaa #grymt See MoreSee Less
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