Amund Maarud

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Amund Maarud | image = Amund_Maarud_trio_2023_007.jpg | caption = Maarud at the 2023 [[Kongsberg Jazzfestival]]. | image_size = 260px | landscape =  | alt = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|04|07|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Nes, Akershus]], Norway | death_date = | death_place = | origin = Norway | genre = [[Blues]], rock music | occupation = Musician, composer | instrument = Guitar, vocals | years_active =  | label = Blue Mood The Grand recordings Snaxville Recordings | website = {{URL|www.amundmaarud.no}} }}

'''Amund Maarud''' (born 7 April 1981 in [[Nes, Akershus]], Norway) is a [[Norwegians|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 (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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Musikknyheter.no - Morudes - Sinister Beat |url=https://www.musikknyheter.no/anmeldelser/16106/Morudes.html |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=www.musikknyheter.no}}</ref> [[File:Amund maarud band1.jpg|thumb|260px|Amund Maarud (central) with his own ''Amund Maarud Band'' during the «Hamar Musikkfestival» 2004. {{small|(Photo: Thomas Andersen)}}]]

== 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oyafestivalen.no/artist/amund-maarud/ |title=Amund Maarud Biography |publisher=[[Øyafestivalen]] |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426152007/http://oyafestivalen.no/artist/amund-maarud/ |archivedate=2012-04-26 }}</ref>

Together with his brother Henrik Maarud (drums), he formed the band MaarudKara at the age of six.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=NRK |date=2003-02-16 |title=Amund Maarud – umulig å mislike |url=https://www.nrk.no/kultur/amund-maarud-_-umulig-a-mislike-1.6358221 |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=NRK |language=nb-NO}}</ref> The group placed second in ''Talentiaden'' (1997) on [[NRK]] and released the album ''First Blues'' the following year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=NRK |date=2004-04-29 |title=Amund Maarud |url=https://www.nrk.no/kultur/amund-maarud-1.901603 |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=NRK |language=nb-NO}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0" /> The band released two albums, ''Ripped, Stripped & Southern Fried'' (2003) and ''Commotion'' (2004), and received a [[Spellemannprisen]] nomination in 2003 in the Blues/Country category for their debut album.

In 2006, he founded [[The Grand (band)|The Grand]], featuring the same lineup as A. M. Band but with a more rock-oriented and psychedelic sound. The band released their self-titled album ''The Grand'' in 2007. Since 2010, the group is on hiatus for an indefinite period.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Musikknyheter.no - The Grand tar pause |url=https://www.musikknyheter.no/news/6971 |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=www.musikknyheter.no}}</ref>

Together with his drummer brother, he formed the duo Morudes in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gaffa |date=2016-05-08 |title=Brødreduoen Morudes slipper sin første singel og musikkvideo |url=https://gaffa.no/nyheter/2016/august/brodreduoen-morudes-slipper-sin-forste-singel-og-musikkvideo/ |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=Brødreduoen Morudes slipper sin første singel og musikkvideo |language=da}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Musikknyheter.no - Amgala Temple slipper første singel! |url=https://www.musikknyheter.no/nyheter/18788/Amgala-Temple-slipper-f%C3%B8rste-singel!.html |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=www.musikknyheter.no}}</ref> 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).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rønsen |first=Arild |date=9 Mar 2022 |title=Amund Maarud - midt i americana |url=https://www.puls.no/18842.html |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=www.puls.no |language=no}}</ref>

=== Maarud as an actor === Maarud debuted as an actor in the film ''[[Norwegian Ninja|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'' <ref>{{Cite web |last=Einbu |first=Øyvind Mo Larsen og Ola |date=2013-02-12 |title=Disse er nominert til spellemannsprisen |url=https://www.rb.no/1-95-6496097 |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=Romerikes Blad |language=no}}</ref> * 2015: Spellemannprisen nomination in the rock category for the solo album ''Volt'' <ref>{{Cite web |last=Mo |first=Øyvind |date=2016-01-27 |title=Maarud er bookmakernes favoritt til Spellemannprisen |url=https://www.rb.no/5-43-225919 |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=Romerikes Blad |language=no}}</ref> * 2016: Tono's [[Edvardprisen|Edvard-prisen]] in the popular music category <ref>{{Cite web |last=kodeks |date=2016-09-25 |title=EDVARD-pris til Amund Maarud |url=https://www.tono.no/edvard-pris-amund-maarud/ |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=TONO |language=nb-NO}}</ref> * 2016: Bluesprisen, [[Notodden Blues Festival]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=NRK |date=2016-08-04 |title=Maarud fikk Bluesprisen |url=https://www.nrk.no/vestfoldogtelemark/maarud-fikk-bluesprisen-1.13073096 |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=NRK |language=nb-NO}}</ref> * 2018: His own star at the Blues Walk of Fame, Notodden <ref>{{Cite web |last=Andersen |first=Geir Hareide |date=2018-08-06 |title=Ble hedret med egen stjerne på «Walk of Fame» |url=https://www.glomdalen.no/5-43-847069 |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=Glåmdalen |language=no}}</ref> * 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)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musikknyheter.no/record/10439 |title=Amund Maarud – Dirt Review |first=Olivar |last=Grandø |date=11 November 2012 |accessdate=2012-11-11 |publisher=MusikkNyheter.no}}</ref> *2015: ''Volt'' (Snaxville Recordings/Musikkoperatørene)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vg.no/rampelys/musikk/musikkanmeldelser/plateanmeldelse-amund-maarud-volt/a/23418515 |title=Plateanmeldelse: Amund Maarud – "Volt" |first=Stein |last=Østbø |publisher=[[Verdens Gang]] |date=20 March 2015 |accessdate=2015-06-09}}</ref>

=== 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 (band)|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 == [[File:Amund Maarud Piknik i Parken 2017 (150833).jpg|thumb|Amund Maarud performing in 2017]]

=== 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

== References == {{portal|Norway|Music}} {{reflist}} {{commons category|Amund Maarud}}

== External links ==  * {{Official website}} * [http://nrk.no/musikk/artistar/3737049.html Biography on NRK Artists]

{{s-start}} {{s-bef | before = [[Billy T Band]]}} {{s-ttl | title = Recipient of the Blues [[Spellemannprisen]] | years = 2011}} {{s-aft | after = [[Billy T Band]]}} {{s-bef | before = [[Jarle Bernhoft]]}} {{s-ttl | title = Recipient of the popular music [[Edvardprisen]] | years = 2016}} {{s-aft | after = [[Marit Larsen]]}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maarud, Amund}} [[Category:1981 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Norwegian rock singers]] [[Category:Norwegian male guitarists]] [[Category:Norwegian rock guitarists]] [[Category:Norwegian composers]] [[Category:Norwegian male composers]] [[Category:Norwegian blues singers]] [[Category:Norwegian blues guitarists]] [[Category:Spellemannprisen winners]] [[Category:Musicians from Akershus]] [[Category:People from Nes Municipality (Akershus)]] [[Category:21st-century Norwegian singers]] [[Category:21st-century Norwegian guitarists]] [[Category:21st-century Norwegian male singers]]