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aaah, Le Touquet - what a beautiful place. The People were nice, the Beer expensive and the Music was fantastic!! Here are some pictures from our Saturday night show and the Sunday afternoon Jam in Le Touquet.

The KingBirds at the Karlskoga Rock and Blues Fest March 2009

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The KingBirds began in 1981 under the name Blueass Blues band, three musicians- Ralph Broqvist, Per Hero and Peter Gustavsson - and a shared love of blues music. Twenty-eight years later the band has gone through a few changes (like a new name) but two original members, Ralph and Per, are still here and above all…their love of music still remains true.

From the beginning they were a hard working trio who performed original material and clever covers all in a shake-up of Chicago style blues, rock n’ roll with a twist of Texas-boogie. Soon they became a popular band at local clubs and parties. With the addition of bass player Morgan Jansson in 1991, the band was ready to spread their wings and focus on what they wanted to accomplish with their music – and it didn’t take long. In 1993 they played their first Blues festival – Åmål Blues Festival – which was followed by requests from all the top blues and music festivals in Norway and Sweden. They released their first full-length record “Breakin’ Through” (1996) on the independent Soundtronix label. In 1995 Soul-legend Arthur Conley heard the Band and signed them to his Holland Label Sweat Records for their second release “Hooked on you” (1996). The band was now fast becoming one of the hottest names on the Scandinavian Blues circuit. Blaze Records signed them and released the bands third and fourth recordings “That Rockin’ Rhythm & Blues” (1999) and “Crossing” (2001). Both under the Blueass name. These releases found their way out of Scandinavia and into the hands of European and American radio DJ’s and Music Critics. The response was enormous. They loved the music…They loved Blueass!!

It’s now 2009, and the band is in top form. With the addition of a new singer and harmonica/guitar player Tor Jamt (a previous band-mate 1994-’98) and the newest member, a talented keyboard player, Janne Persson the band has got a long-awaited energy injection it needed. Ralph’s guitar playing is better than ever and the rhythm section of Morgan and Per are one of the tightest around. Creativity has flowed back into the band and the song-writing duo of Ralph and Tor has produced some of the best Soul and Blues inspired songs that make you glad to be ALIVE! Tours to USA, Germany and all parts of Scandinavia has kept The KingBirds tuned into their fans and what they’re hungry for. Currently working hard recording their first CD under the new name, the band has kept up a modest tour schedule – mostly by special requests – including France’s ‘Fete de la musique' in Le Touquet and Montreuil-sur-Mer (June 2009). Just recently The KingBirds new song ‘Who’s To Blame’ from their recording demo has made its way into playlists on radio show The Blues Palace on KMHD in Portland Oregon. Two more songs from the demo have also been popular in regular rotation on Sweden’s national radio stations.

Another big change is a new name: THE KINGBIRDS More grownup. More serious. Same great music!

USA TOUR A SUCCESS!

In January 2003, the band was selected to perform in July at the Waterfront Blues festival (WFBF) in Portland, Oregon. The WFBF is considered to be one of the largest outdoor blues festivals in the USA and is the main fundraiser for the Oregon Food Bank. Over 10,000 people saw the band perform at the WFBF On July 4th as well as the thousands more that attended their concerts over a 3-week Pacific Northwest USA tour which was sponsored in-part by: SAS Airlines, Susie-Que Productions, Opie-lux Amps and Drumone.com. A new tour is now in the works with two US booking agents who have committed themselves to helping The KingBirds on another US Tour.

For more information/PR/Booking on THE KINGBIRDS Please contact Susie-Que at thekingbirdspr@hotmail.com

Thanks and we'll see you at a show soon!