Amund Maarud

Amund Maarud (born 7 April 1981 in Nes, Akershus, Norway) is a Norwegian blues/rock musician (guitar, vocals) and composer.

Maarud is known both as a solo artist and as the frontman of the rock band The Grand (2005–2010), as well as several other projects, including the duo Morudes (2010–), which he formed with his brother, drummer Henrik Maarud. He is also the co-owner of Snaxville Studio, a recording facility. Amund Maarud (central) with his own Amund Maarud Band during the «Hamar Musikkfestival» 2004.

Career 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.

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

Awards and nominations

2003: Spellemannprisen nomination in the blues/country category for Ripped, Stripped & Southern Fried 2011: Spellemannprisen win in the blues category for the solo album Electric 2012: Spellemannprisen nomination in the blues category for the solo album Dirt 2015: Spellemannprisen nomination in the rock category for the solo album Volt 2016: Tono's Edvard-prisen in the popular music category 2016: Bluesprisen, Notodden Blues Festival 2018: His own star at the Blues Walk of Fame, Notodden 2018: Spellemannprisen nomination in the open category for Invisible Airships with Amgala Temple

Discography Solo albums 2011: Electric (Snaxville Recordings/Musikkoperatørene) 2012: Dirt (Snaxville Recordings/Musikkoperatørene) 2015: Volt (Snaxville Recordings/Musikkoperatørene)

Collaborative works

Within MaarudKara 1999: First Blues (Tylden)

With Amund Maarud Band 2003: Ripped, Stripped & Southernfried (Blue Mood/BMG) 2004: Commotion (BMG)

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

Within Amgala Temple

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

With Lucky Lips

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

Lineups in bands or backing bands

Members of Amund Maarud Band (2000–2005) 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–)

Members of The Grand (2005–2010) Amund Maarud – guitar & vocals Henrik Maarud – drums Per Tobro – bass Eirik Tovsrud Knudsen – Hammond B3 organ

Members of Morudes (2010–) Amund Maarud – guitar & vocals Henrik Maarud – drums & vocals

Backingband Amund Maarud (2010–) Amund Maarud – guitar & vocals Henrik Maarud – drums & vocals Egil Stemkens – bass Simen Aanerud – piano Bendik Brænne – baryton saxophone

Members of Amund Maarud trio (2023–)

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