Amund Maarud

(Photo: Thomas Andersen)

• Name — Amund Maarud • Born — 7 April 1981 • Birthplace — Nes, Akershus, Norway • Origin — Norway • Genre — Blues, rock music • Occupation — Musician, composer • Instrument — Guitar, vocals • Label — Blue Mood The Grand recordings Snaxville Recordings • Website — www.amundmaarud.no

Maarud is widely regarded as one of Norway’s leading blues guitarists. He has toured both nationally and internationally with various bands, earning acclaim from audiences and the press alike. His live performances are frequently described as powerful shows that blend elements of blues, rock, and psychedelia. Together with his brother Henrik Maarud (drums), he formed the band MaarudKara at the age of six. The group placed second in Talentiaden (1997) on NRK and released the album First Blues the following year. In 2000, he began his solo career, performing with his backing group A. M. Band, which also featured his brother on drums and maintained a blues-oriented repertoire. The band released two albums, Ripped, Stripped & Southern Fried (2003) and Commotion (2004), and received a Spellemannprisen nomination in 2003 in the Blues/Country category for their debut album. In 2006, he founded The Grand, featuring the same lineup as A. M. Band but with a more rock-oriented and psychedelic sound. The band released their self-titled album The Grand in 2007. Since 2010, the group is on hiatus for an indefinite period. Together with his drummer brother, he formed the duo Morudes in 2010. Around the turn of 2010/2011, he launched a new solo project under his own name, featuring a musical style more closely rooted in traditional guitar blues. His live band included his brother on drums, Simen Aanerud on piano, and Bendik Brænne on baritone saxophone. While both bands shared similar origins, they differed in their musical expression. For his first solo album, Electric, he received Spellemannprisen 2011 in the Blues category. It was followed by two additional albums, Dirt (2012) and Volt (2015), forming a trilogy of rock influenced releases. Alongside Lars Horntveth and Gard Nilssen, he founded the jazz/blues/rock fusion trio Amgala Temple. They released an album, Invisible Airships, in 2018. The same year, he started an Americana influenced collaboration with Malin Pettersen's band Lucky Lips, which has resulted in two albums; Perfect Strangers (2018) and Wolves (2022).

Maarud debuted as an actor in the film Kommandør Treholt og Ninjatroppen that premiered in August 2010.

• 2011: Electric (Snaxville Recordings/Musikkoperatørene) • 2012: Dirt (Snaxville Recordings/Musikkoperatørene) • 2015: Volt (Snaxville Recordings/Musikkoperatørene)

• 1999: First Blues (Tylden)

• 2003: Ripped, Stripped & Southernfried (Blue Mood/BMG) • 2004: Commotion (BMG)

• 2007: The Grand (The Grand Recordings/Sonet)

• 2018: Invisible Airships (Pekula Records) • 2018: «Avenue Amgala» – single (Pekula Records)

• 2018: Perfect Strangers (Snaxville Recordings) • 2022: Wolves (Snaxville Recordings)

• Illustration — Amund Maarud performing in 2017

• Amund Maarud – guitar & vocals • Henrik Maarud – drums • Jan Eirik Hallingskog – bass (2000–2002) • Arne F. Rasmussen – harmonica (2000–2002) • Bill Troiani – bass guitar (−2003) • Håkon Høye – guitar (2003–2004) • Per Tobro – bass (2004–) • Eirik Tovsrud Knutsen – keyboards (2004–)

• Amund Maarud – guitar & vocals • Henrik Maarud – drums • Per Tobro – bass • Eirik Tovsrud Knudsen – Hammond B3 organ

• Amund Maarud – guitar & vocals • Henrik Maarud – drums & vocals

• Amund Maarud – guitar & vocals • Henrik Maarud – drums & vocals • Egil Stemkens – bass • Simen Aanerud – piano • Bendik Brænne – baryton saxophone

• Amund Maarud – guitar & vocals • Vegard Staum – drums • Kim André Tønnesen – bass