Knut Reiersrud (born 12 February 1961) is a Norwegian blues guitarist. His work also incorporates elements of Norwegian traditional music and African music. Reiersrud has recorded and played with David Lindley, the Blind Boys Of Alabama, Rickie Lee Jones, Nina Hagen and Swedish blues musician Sven Zetterberg. He has also numerous collaborations with Middle East performers like Rim Banna and Mahsa Vahdat. He lives in Oslo. He has collaborated extensively with the Norwegian organist Iver Kleive. He is lead guitarist and one of the original members of Cloudberry Cream.[1]

Knut Reiersrud
Background information
Born (1961-02-12) 12 February 1961 (age 63)
Oslo, Norway
GenresBlues, pop, rock
OccupationSinger
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1990s–present
LabelsKirkelig Kulturverksted
Websiteknutreiersrud.no

Career

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Reiersrud also plays the harmonica, mandolin, langeleik, oud, and Turkish saz, he has composed music for four Norwegian movies, and together with Iver Kleive, took part in the opening ceremony of the '94 Olympic Winter Games.[1]

In 2008 Reiersrud established his own festival «Trestock» at Nesodden, where a superteam of Norwegian musicians contributed. Among the artists can be mentioned Odd Nordstoga, Valkyrien Allstars and Reiersrud with his own Knut Reiersrud Band, and in collaboration with organist Iver Kleive. Upcoming artists, exciting for the younger audience, include Jarle Bernhoft (ex «Span») with his new project; the band «Lester», composed of Nikolai Eilertsen (ex BigBang) and David Wallumrød; and the indie band «Maika». Other names include The Grand; Amund Maarud's rock band, Spellemannprisen nominated Hemisfair [no]; the girls who play lively frantic noise in Katzenjammer; the Rockabilly girls in Lucky Lips; the country artist Ivar Thomas; the Nesodden heroes «Foggy Boys» and «Midnight Special»; the traditional music trio «Vrang»; and «Drøbak Bluesband».[2]

Reiersrud has for many years been host of the NRK radio program, Blues Asylet, together with Knut Borge. The program is meant to be a playground and a respite for blues and blues-friends of all shades.[3] In 2004, Krissy Matthews undertook a radio session with Reiersrud for Blues Asylet on NRK P2.[4][5]

Honors

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  • 1991: Spellemannprisen for the album Blå koral
  • 1992: Gammleng-prisen in the class Studio
  • 1995: Notodden Bluesfestivalpris
  • 2004: Spellemannprisen for Pretty Ugly
  • 2006: Danish Grammy for the tune "Nåde Over Nåde"

Discography

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Solo albums

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  • 1993 - Tramp (Kirkelig Kulturverksted), released in the U.S. in 1994 under the title Footwork
  • 1995 - Klapp (Kirkelig Kulturverksted)
  • 1998 - Soul of a Man (Kirkelig Kulturverksted)
  • 1999 - Sub (Kirkelig Kulturverksted)
  • 2001 - Sweet Showers of Rain (Kirkelig Kulturverksted)
  • 2004 - Pretty Ugly (Kirkelig Kulturverksted)
  • 2009 - Gitar (Big Dipper Records)
  • 2013 - Aftonblues (Bluestown Records)
  • 2015 - Tears Of The World (ACT Music), with Mighty Sam McClain
  • 2018 - Heat (Jazzland Recordings)

Collaborative works

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References

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  1. ^ a b Knut Reiersrud. Store Norske Leksikon. Retrieved 2012-10-23.
  2. ^ "Reiersrud lager sin egen festival" (in Norwegian). NRK.no. 2008-03-13. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
  3. ^ "Bluesasylet" (in Norwegian). NRK.no. Archived from the original on 2012-11-03. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
  4. ^ "Biography - Krissy Matthews - Singer, Guitarist Songwriter". Krissymatthews.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  5. ^ "Krissy Matthews : Biography". Last.fm. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  6. ^ "Knut Reiersrud Discography". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
  7. ^ "One Drop Is Plenty". Valley Entertainment. Retrieved 2011-07-12.
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Awards
Preceded by
No Open class award
Recipient of the Open class Spellemannprisen
1991
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Olav Dale, Terje Methi & Bent Wiedswang
Recipient of the Studio Gammleng-prisen
1992
Succeeded by
Edvard Askeland, Karl Johan Helgesen & Ida Lind
Preceded by Recipient of the Blues/country Spellemannprisen
2004
Succeeded by
Award split into two classes