The Blackbirds

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Blackbirds


Img_capt = The Blackbirds 2005
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Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin =
Genre = Rock/pop
Years_active = 1996 –present
Label = VME / Voices of Wonder
Associated_acts =
URL =
Current_members = Thomas Nessheim - Vocal/guitar
Thor Lønning - Guitar/vocal
Tommy Hjelvin - Drums/harmonies
Tore Kneppen - Bass
Past_members =
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The Blackbirds is a Norwegian rock band from Oslo. The Band was formed in 1996, but it wasn't until 2001, when five became four, they developed their own unique style. Two guitars, bass and drums was the recipe for The Blackbirds elegant sound. These four young men from Oslo has known each other for many years and this can easily be heard when they’re playing. The Blackbirds is a very good liveband with experience from hundreds of liveshows throughout the country.

In 2002 The Blackbirds song "Naked" was used as the main theme music for the TV show Trigger on NRK. On the final show, 10. May 2002, The Blackbirds played the theme song live ( [http://www.nrk.no/kanal/nrk1/trigger/1851564.html NRK Trigger video here] ). But only seven days after this important appearance for the band, Thor (Guitar/vocal) suffered from Pneumothorax. This set back Thor, and the band for a whole year.

When the band was back on track again, they played a lot of gigs in Norway before they met [http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/home/bransjeregister?opendocument&url=http://www.mic.no/symfoni/kontakt.nsf/pub/kper2003090513055874150148 Martin Abrahamsen] (co-producer/engineer)and Stein Bull Hansen (producer) and recorded the single "Easy" in [http://www.fagerborgstudio.no/retro/1BFB095F-0BAC-4122-BFE4-340CC60E2197.html Fagerborg Studio] , Oslo, Norway. "Easy" was played on over 30 local radios in Norway and stayed 11 weeks on the playlist of Norway's biggest radio channel NRK P1 ( [http://www2.nrk.no/spillelister/clistep1.splist See NRK P1 playlists from 28. feb 2005 - 15. may 2005] )

Later in 2005 The Blackbirds started recording their album "Riddles & affairs" in Grand Sport Studio (Øystein Greni in the Norwegian band Bigbang's studio). Lars Håvard Haugen (from the Norwegian bandHellbillies) produced the album, Nikolai Eilertsen (from Bigbang,and The National Bank) was the engineer. . Kai Andersen at Athletic Sound (Halden, Norway)did the mixing Björn Engelmann at Cutting Room (Stockholm, Sweden) did the mastering.

When the album "Riddles & affairs" was finished, The Blackbirds signed with [http://www.vme.no/index.php Voices Music & Entertainment AS (VME / Voices of Wonder)] They also got a new manager Jon Christian Foss from [http://www.boheme-entertainment.com/ Boheme Entertainment]

The debutalbum "Riddles & Affairs" is now out and they’ve played two sold-out gigs at [http://www.rockefeller.no Rockefeller] as support act for the American band Live (band). They’re also voted to play at [http://www.norwegianwood.no NorwegianWood Festival 2006] . This was decided by NRK P1 listeners ( [http://www.nrk.no/musikk/5650614.html NRK P1 Underwood Contest)]

Albums

* 2006 – Riddles & Affairs

Singles

* 2002 – Naked
* 2005 – Easy
* 2006 – Lovesong

Compilations

Lovesong is going to be on the upcoming compilation CD “The Big Indie Comeback Vol 2” that will be released by [http://www.matchboxrecordings.co.uk/ Matchbox Recordings Ltd] in UK.

Album reviews

* [http://oslopuls.no/musikk/article1352940.ece Aftenposten]
* [http://www.dagbladet.no/kultur/2006/06/20/469387.html Dagbladet]
* [http://www.t-a.no/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060620/FILTER01/106200036&SearchID=73253254799192 Trønder Avisa]
* [http://www.rogalandsavis.no/puls/musikk/article2156315.ece Rogalands Avis]
* [http://www.rb.no/lokal_kultur/cd-guiden/article2156443.ece Romerikes Blad]
* [http://www.ranablad.no/kultur/article2156769.ece Rana Blad]
* [http://www.moss-avis.no/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060627/MUSIKKANMELDELSE/60627018/1048&nocache=1 Moss Avis]
* [http://www.ba.no/forbruker_guider/plateguiden/article2203974.ece Bergens Avisen]

External links

* [http://www.theblackbirds.com The Blackbirds official homepage]
* [http://www.myspace.com/blackbirdsthe The Blackbirds official MySpace]

Sources

* [http://www2.nrk.no/spillelister/clistep1.splist NRK P1 playlists from 28. feb 2005 - 15. may 2005]
* [http://www.nrk.no/kanal/nrk1/trigger/1851564.html NRK Television]
* [http://www.nrk.no/musikk/5650614.html NRK P1 NorwegianWood contest]
* [http://www.vme.no/index.php Voices Music & Entertainment AS (VME / Voices of Wonder)]
* [http://www.dagsavisen.no/nyetakter/article2153709.ece Dagsavisen]
* [http://www.dagbladet.no/uteliv/arrangement.html?kalender_id=105857 Dagbladet]
* [http://www.rb.no/lokal_kultur/article2153920.ece Romerikes Blad]
* [http://www.coinsmusic.no