Danish roots-rock sensation Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado are back with their brand new single, “Long Time Ago,” out now via Provogue/Mascot Label Group.
They will also be playing the following UK shows:
12 Oct - Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh
13 Oct - Carlisle Rock and Blues Festival
This track is the second release from their yet to be announced and much-anticipated new album and it offers a fresh, modern take on the blues, channeling 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.
“Long Time Ago” is a masterclass in blending classic blues traditions with modern soundscapes. The single is driven by a pulsating groove and Risager’s soulful vocals, reminiscent of the swampy, raw energy that has become synonymous with The Black Tornado’s sound. Accompanying the release is a stunning lyric video, shot on the road, capturing the melancholic yet captivating spirit of the blues noir—a perfect visual complement to the track’s mood.
“Long Time Ago is a song about searching,” says Thorbjørn. “Everybody’s searching for something. Maybe you’re searching for true love, maybe you’re searching for your lost youth, maybe you’re searching for something and you don’t even know what it is.”
The release of “Long Time Ago” follows a string of accolades and successes for Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado, including winning four Danish Music Awards (often referred to as the Danish Grammys) and eight nominations, as well as receiving the prestigious Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik in 2014. The band has also been honored with the European Blues Award for Best Band in 2017 and was voted “Best Album” by Classic Rock’s Blues Magazine for their 2014 album ‘Too Many Roads.’
It’s been twenty years since they released their debut album, ‘Live 2004,’ and since then, they’ve picked up numerous awards and blazed a trail across the world, captivating 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, and Risager himself, sharing the stage with legends such as Buddy Guy and Robben Ford. They’ve even picked up a fan in Elwood Blues himself - Dan Aykroyd! - who hailed their “Hot rhythm and blues.”
“Long Time Ago” is a powerful reminder of why Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado have become one of the most respected names in modern blues. With over 60,000 physical albums sold / 20 million streams over the past decade, and a dedicated following that continues to grow rapidly, Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado are showing no signs of slowing down. The band is set to continue their non-stop touring schedule throughout 2024 and beyond, bringing their electrifying live performances to fans across Europe and North America.
The Black Tornado Band
Thorbjørn Risager Vocal, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
Emil Balsgaard Piano, Organ, Wurlitzer, Clavinet, Farfisa
Joachim Svensmark Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Synthesizer, Piano, Viola, Drums, Percussion, Glockenspiel, Mandolin
Kasper Wagner Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax, Flutes, Clarinet
Hans Nybo Tenor Sax, Bass Clarinet
Peter W Kehl Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Trombone, Sousaphone
Søren Bøjgaard Bass, Moog Bass, Baritone Guitar, Synthesizer, Piano, Percussion, Mix, Producer
Martin Seidelin Drums, Percussion
Legendary South African blues rock, roots, Americana, rock guitarist and singer songwriter, Steve Louw releases his new double album Between Time on Friday September 6th.
Released as a 2-CD digipack, double vinyl, & digital, the album is available from https://orcd.co/SteveLouwBetweenTime.
To coincide with today's release of Between Time, Louw has released “Cruel Hand of Fate” featuring Joe Bonamassa; the fourth single taken from the new album.
Watch the official music video “Cruel Hand of Fate” via YouTube HERE.
“Before highways and cars people travelled by foot, horse and then train if you could afford it, or of you could jump on board,” says Louw about the new single “Cruel Hand of Fate.”
Continues Louw, “Trains have a mystery to them, their rhythm coming from way off and then fading into the future. As a kid I used to put coins on the train tracks and feel the warm squashed coin in my hand as the train clacked away.”
“The song is about a traveling musician who feels that his time is running out. He needs to jump a ride to see his love one last time. The song has the rhythm of the train tracks and a nod to the journey we are all on.”
Joe Bonamassa plays a beautiful country style solo which fits right in with the mystery behind “Cruel Hand of Fate.” Using a Fender Telecaster B Bender guitar, an invention which by moving the guitar’s bridge conjures a pedal steel effect, creates a counterpoint to the song’s brooding slide guitar.
Louw’s new album, Between Time, arrives decades into a long career, stretching back to the 1990s, when Louw partnered with South African record producer Kevin Shirley while fronting Big Sky, his vehicle to acclaim in his native South Africa.
Louw broke back into the music scene rousingly with his 2021 solo album Headlight Dreams, which Shirley helped push into existence, telling Louw after a decade of silence that it was time for him to make another record. He assembled a crack band, including keyboardist Kevin McKendree (John Hiatt), drummer Greg Morrow (Billy Gibbons), bass player Alison Prestwood (Buddy Miller), guitarists Rob McNelley (Hank Williams Jr), and Doug Lancio (Bob Dylan).
Headlight Dreams received solid reviews and earned him his third South African Music Award nomination. Thunder and Rain followed hot on its heels, a rich and natural album of muscular folk and insistent rock, a blend that Louw has refined throughout his career.
With Between Time, he explores those moments that fall outside the strict constructs of time with songs that have past, present, and future, while using imagery that’s both timeless and present. Cut live in the studio with his same band; the music has a transcendent quality, a chemistry that blends craft and inspiration into something mystical.
The stars align on three songs recorded back-to-back on the same day. The heartfelt “Killers”, where ‘Killers with numbers not names, came killing across the plains’, flows into, ‘In the Badlands, sand turned to dust, outsiders stand, steel turned to rust’, on the driving “Giants Walk The Land” (co-written with Midnight Oil’s Jim Moginie), and to a new beginning on “Time to Get On,” ‘As we face to the sun, it’s time to get on’.
Hearing the band discover the inherent passion and tenderness within the songs is part of the pleasure of Between Time. Their chemistry is evident on the low-down shuffle of “Do Me Good” and the country honk of “Alibi.” They swing hard on “Get Real Gone” and ratchet up the tension on “Flowers on The Graves of Doves,” a ringing, roiling number that conjures the mystery of early R.E.M.
You feel the band as much as you hear them, as on “Highway to the Sun,” the eight-minute exit to the 20-song collection. Louw is as much a member of the band as he is its leader. His steady, propulsive guitar playing providing as much of a connective tissue as his unguarded voice.
Added to that is Jim Moginie, whose eclectic guitar sound and creative force evoke the natural world’s power on “Giants Walk The Land,” and Hammond maestro Lachy Doley, who teases out the reassuring comfort lurking within “Streets of Rain.”
Between Time is a record filled with compassion and heart, a defining album for an artist who has consistently delivered great-sounding music over several decades.
Acclaimed blues-rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Joanne Shaw Taylor has just released her latest single, “Black & Gold,” available now on all major streaming platforms. This soulful, blues-gospel rendition breathes new life into Sam Sparro’s 2008 Grammy nominated hit, showcasing Joanne’s unique ability to reimagine modern classics with a timeless sound.
Produced by Kevin Shirley (The Black Crowes, Aerosmith), Joanne’s powerful vocals and emotive interpretation transform “Black & Gold” into a compelling, classic-sounding track that balances modern sensibilities with an almost retro feel. “I always loved the desperation of the lyrics and thought it could make a great Blues/Gospel song if performed differently,” Joanne shares. “I played my version to Kevin Shirley in the studio, and fortunately, he heard the same thing I did.”
“Black & Gold” is the latest in a series of singles Joanne has been steadily releasing since her critically acclaimed album Heavy Soul, which debuted at #2 on the Billboard Blues Album chart. Most recently she released “Hold of My Heart” featuring Sav Madigan, which marked the first release from a slate of material Joanne is set to unveil over the next year, signalling an exciting new chapter.
Joanne has embraced a prolific approach to her music, releasing new singles that continue to resonate with both long-time fans and new listeners alike. Her partnership with Journeyman Records allows Joanne to bypass traditional album cycles, delivering a steady stream of fresh, high-quality music that cuts through the industry noise and keeps her audience engaged.
Discovered by Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics at the age of 16, Joanne Shaw Taylor has established herself as one of the most prominent voices in blues-rock. With a career that has earned praise from legends such as Stevie Wonder and Annie Lennox, Joanne continues to captivate audiences worldwide with her expressive vocals and exceptional guitar skills. Her latest album, Heavy Soul, has been lauded for its fusion of contemporary soul-pop with traditional blues, solidifying Joanne’s reputation as a powerful and dynamic force in the music world.
Joanne is currently preparing to embark on her “Heavy Soul” U.S. Tour this fall, where fans can expect to hear selections from Heavy Soul as well as her songs from her previous recordings and classic blues songs. Known for her dynamic and captivating live shows, Joanne is set to bring her signature blend of blues, soul, and rock to audiences across the country. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit joanneshawtaylor.com.
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