john-beland.com

Well, everything must come to an end and so goes a great summer tour of Norway. What a fantastic time we have had playing with some of Norway’s top musicians and performing at festivals and clubs throughout the country.
Thanks to everyone who turned out to see the shows and pick up a few CD’s. And speaking of CD’s, I’m really excited about Country Music Import distributing JOHN BELAND - THE FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS YEARS. Now we will see product in the racks throughout Norway.

On the recording front, I had a great time recording my next single, EDDIE’S GOT A GUN right right here in Norway at KONGSHAVEN STUDIO. What a lovely place and a special thanks goes out to Bjorn Ole Rasch for making me feel right at home.

I’m also proud to announce that I will return to Norway in October, to start production on a new CD by Per Gunnar Stolen and Frank Fjellvang, two outstanding singer songwriters from Kristiansand. I am very thrilled, as this will be my first Norway production and I hope the begining of many more to come.

Work also begins on the soundtrack for the Hilltop Festival DVD, featuring the great Freddy Weller and I in concert. I will be working on the mixes when I return to Texas.

Plans are also made to record a new DVD BBender instructional video in November. Everything is a “go” and we will start on it before Thanksgiving.
So, its been a busy busy summer, full of music and friends.

A special nod and hug to my boy Tyler, who shared this trip with me and played some great bass guitar behind his dad. He did a great job for his first ever tour. Thanks Ty! I love ya, buddy!

So thats it. We hop on the plane in a few hours and head back to the USA, taking back with us many precious memories of a fantastic summer tour in this lovely country. We’ll be back in October….and I can’t wait.

BTW..a great big hug to my manager Berit Goversten, who’s hard work was responsible for all this success.
She is the best manager an ol country rocker like me could ever hope to find. Thanks B.
Special thanks to my webmaster Lotta, of course and to my friend Tor for loaning me all his guitars for the tour.
Much love and cheers to everyone for making this trip unforgettable.

Off to the airport….!!!!
John B
Kristiansand

Well, folks. 

The old say “Time flies when you have fun” is true.  That said, time didn’t allow JB to post too much in this blog, so let me fill you in with a short note.

The tour has been great success. Every gig has been welcomed with  a warm heart and the audience has gone wild more than once.  

From a private party in Kristiansand June 17, a show for children with special needs with Arly Karlsen June 19th, a live radio show and a gig at 8th Avenue in Vanse June 20th, Wonderful Telfords Bar and Restaurant June 21st, the American Days, Farsund, Vanse June 26-29, ( photos on the website, check under “News”) Agder Sound, Vennesla July 3rd, Midsummer Night Blues Festival in Mandal, July 4th, Roots and Boots in Flekkefjord, July 9th,  the Hiltorp Festival, Vigeland July 11-12, Saron’s Dal, Kvinesdal July 13th, Roots and Boots again July 18 - 19th,  and now he is on his way to the OSE Blues Festival starting July 26th.

John managed to squeeze in a recording of a new single too. It was recorded in Bjorn Ole Rasch’s studio -Kongshavns Studio, Kristiansand July 25th. Bjarn Ole plays with “Secret Garden” among others.  JB was backed up by three lovely ladies,  Nina Munksgaard, Anne Takle and Mari Klingen. See pics HERE. The song recorded is “Eddie’s Got A Gun”.

We hope you have enjoyed the tour.

Thanks.

For JB/
Webmaster.

SO.

The Norway Tour started. So far so good.

John and his son Tyler arrived in Norway Monday (June 16^th). Tuesday we were invited as guests to Dolly Parton’s show when she performed here in town, Kristiansand.

WHAT an experience, and WHAT A LADY!!!!!

Wednesday, went to rehearsal at the Kristiansand Music Conservatory. The band has a Norwegian drummer and he NAILED it from line one!!

Tyler Beland on bass is also amazing. Father and son really have the right chemistry on stage, and since this is their first tour together it simply put – is Magic to both of them

Today, Thursday was the first show. John and Arly Karlsen, our Norwegian Country artist made a half hour long show at the Krossen school, a school for children with  special needs. The auditorium didn’t have an empty seat and students as well as teachers went wild! What a fantastic audience.

After that we went straight to Vennesla, a small community outside Kristiansand. We visited Agder Sound (Agder Lyd) a business for sales and rental of all kinds of  musical instruments, stages, sound and light. John will give a concert here in July, and the owner, Trond kindly gave us both a harmonica and a stand today. GREAT!!  J

Tomorrow we’ll be heading west.  Concert on 8 Avenue in Vanse. It will be good to come “home”.  This is probably one of Norway’s most beautiful sceneries with incredibly warm and kind people. John has played here several times and is welcomed as The King every time!

Next week the festivals begin and we will post more blogs then.

Toady it rained, but we ordered sunshine again, starting tomorrow.

Berit

Manager.

 (Post came up a few days (2) late due  to a hardworking Webmaster..)

Hello all. Been a while since I last posted, so here’s a little update for you.

Just arrived in Kristiansand Norway, along with my son Tyler, for the start of a summer tour of festivals and clubs. The weather here couldn’t be better. It’s warm and clear and the sun is up till the late hours.
We were met at the airport by my lovely manager Berit Govertsen and top musician and friend Tor Einar Jakobsen, who picked up a very tired and jet-lagged father & son from the baggage claim. Unfortunately, we forgot to lock the back of the car and my bag went flying out into the street as the car pulled away from the airport. No real damage but lots of excitement!!!
This is Ty’s first trip overseas and he’s very excited about it, needless to say.

Tonight  myself, Berit and our dear friends Svein & Liv Siri Skaardal will be guests of Dolly Parton for her Kristiansand performance. It’s been years since we last saw each other and I’m really looking forward to seeing her again. Many of you know that I used to be  her guitarist, but more than that, she has always been a dear friend. So, tonight will be special. One of my fondest memories is singing a duet with Dolly for the Burrito Bros album HEARTS ON THE LINE. Unfortunately, our lame producer failed to get clearance from Dolly’s label RCA, and the recording has never been released. But we sounded like brother and sister together. One day I hope to record with her again.

We will be rehearsing for the tour at the Academy Of Music in Kristiansand over the next few days. The first gig is Thursday, where I will co-headline with Norway’s country music legend, Arly Karlsen for an acoustic performance. Arly is a great guy and wonderful performer with a huge following throughout the country. I’m honored to be sharing the stage with him.

Well, I am off to the music store in Kristiansand, for pics, strings and STUFF for the gigs ahead. I will be posting more as the tour gets going. I hope everyone has a rockin summer this year! Stay safe and happy!!!
JB

Hey gang! Greetings from Hometown, Illinois where Im sitting in this great pub called “Deja Brew”, sipping a Guiness & writing this blog for the brand new “and improved” JB Website. Hometown, by the way, is located on the southwest side of Chicago. It’s where I grew up and often go back to for a little “grounding.”
 First off thanks for stopping by. It’s going to be a great year of country rockin ahead and I’m thrilled to be sharing the adventures with all of you.
  I have to stop and thank my dear friend Lotta for building this neat site. She’s the greatest! And next up, a big career welcome to my new manager Berit Govertsen, in Kristiansand Norway, who’s now taking over the reins of this diverse & crazy career of mine. Lord knows it’s an undertaking, not for the faint of heart, which requires much work, dedication and devotion, and I’m very honored to be putting it all in her capable hands.
 
 I just returned from 2 weeks in Norway, my third visit there in 6 months. What a time we had playing for thousands of die hard Burrito, Ricky Nelson, Linda Ronstadt and JB fans. I never expected to be finding myself in Norway as a constant touring act, but if you have followed my career then you’ll know that nothing in surprising. I love it out there and have made many great new friends who have taken me into their circle. Like Australia was to me years ago, Norway is now a second home for this ol country rocker.
 
 We go back there in June for more touring. This time with my son Tyler (18) on bass. It’s a dream come true for both of us. He’s a great musician who’s played in a number of bands out in northern California. This is our first time together onstage and it’s going to be friggin great!!!! Don’t miss it when we hit your town.
 
 I had a chance to catch up with my dear ol friend, and folk icon, Arlo Guthrie just the other day. It was great to see him again and we shared a ton of laughs reminicing about our days working together. He was very sweet to introduce me to the sold out crowd just prior to his performance of City Of New Orleans. Once upon a time, at the Quiet Night in Chicago on a winters day in 1971 little Steve Goodman came in and showed us the song…just having written it. We worked it up right there in the club and went on to do it live every night. It became one of the most famous songs of all time, and Arlo’s biggest hit. Ahhhh, those were magic golden days.
 
 I’m back home to Texas on Sunday and will begin work on a new solo CD for summer, as well as rehearsals for the June / July tour. It’s going to be fantastic to tour with Ty on Bass and bruce, once again, on drums. We will do a mixture of FBB stuff as well as JB originals and alot of rockabilly Tele. Come out and see us ok?
 Talk soon…Thanks for stopping by. Now I have to flag down this waitress for another Guiness. Cheers all!!!!
 JB