Amund Maarud
Amund Maarud (born 7 April 1981 in Nes, Akershus, Norway) is a Norwegian blues/rock musician (guitar, vocals) and composer, known as a solo artist and as frontman of rock bands The Grand (2005-2010) and the duo «Morudes» (2010 -) with his brother, the drummer Henrik Maarud. Career. Maarud is known to many as one of the best blues guitarists in Norway. He has toured domestically and internationally with various bands, to the delight of their audiences and the press. The concerts are invariably described as potent live show which combines various elements from blues to psychedelic rock . Together with his brother Henrik Maarud (drums), he started the band «MaarudKara» at the age of six. The band came second in the "Talentiaden" (1997) on NRK, and released the album "First Blues" the year after. In 2000 he started his solo career backed by his band A. M. Band, still with his brother drummer and with blues in their repertoire. The band released two albums "Ripped, Stripped & Southern Fried" (2003) and "Commotion" (2004), and was nominated for the Spellemannprisen 2003 in the class Blues/country for the debut album "Ripped, Stripped & Southern Fried". In 2006 he initiated the bandet  The Grand, with the same lineup as A. M. Band, but had a more rocky and psychedelic expression. The band released the album "The Grand" (2007). The band is currently on rest for an indefinite period of time. Together with his drummer brother, he started the duo «Morudes» in 2010, and started around the turn of 2010/2011 a new solo project under his own name. Solo project has a musical idiom that is closer to traditional guitar blues. With him on stage are his drummer brother, Simen Aanerud (piano), and Bendik Brænne (baryton saxophone). He thus figures in two bands  with many similarities in origin, but who will part in their musical expression. For the solo album "Electric" he was awarded Spellemannprisen 2011 in the class Blues. Maarud debuted as an actor in the film "Kommandør Treholt og Ninjatroppen" that premiered in August 2010. He is co-owner of Snaxville Studio.