“Johansson och det starka bandet” is a Swedish band from Goteborg on the swedish westcoast. The band have released 3 albums and play everything from rock´n roll to pure folk music. The latest album “Amerikat” has brought the band to two US-tours. Amerikat is a rock-opera and contains 20 songs about the young emigrant Gustav Johansson from Sweden. The project started in 2004 when Martin Johansson, the founder and leader of the band, visited his relatives in Illinois and Minnesota. The trip to USA inspired him to create a story that starts in Dalsland Sweden and goes all the way to Clarkfield Minnesota.
In 2009 the band did a great success with a tour from Chicago to Minneapolis. And that tour inspired the band so much, so when the chance came to do another tour, they didn’t hesitate. 2010 they went for a tour starting in Seattle and ended up in Portland.
The repertoire contained of both their own material and some really old covers. Some beautiful Swedish-American hymns as well. The tour brought the old Swedish American songs and stories to life and the American audience understood the content through some translations.
Buy Amerikat? Send a mail to martin@johanssonochdetstarkabandet.nu and we send you an album. It’s just 15 dollars + 5 dollars for the stamps. The translation for Amerikat is right here: translation
The hardcore members in the band are:
Martin Johansson 37, guitar, banjo, flutes and harmonica. He is the founder and leader of the band. He has written all the songs, both music and lyrics. He is playing both solo and in his band. He has performed in churches, festivals and rock clubs. And of course two US-tours.
Peter Ehlebrink 38, guitar & slide. Peter has been playing guitar all his life. His specialty is Swedish/American country music. He plays in several bands and has been at festivals and clubs, in Sweden and England. He is also a strong back up and harmony singer.
Jörgen Sundström 39, drums, banjo and guitar. Jörgen has played on many stages in many different bands. He is a great songwriter that can play a lot of instruments. He has been playing in many countries (England, Denmark, Norway etc.) Also a great singer.
Claes Johansson 36, bassplayer with a rock´n roll background. He has been playing on many albums and stages and has a big part in Johannson och det starka bandet, both as a musician and as an inspiration.
The folkmusic members are:
Elisabet Eriksson. 28, viol. Elisabet has been playing folk music all her life. Her specialty is local songs/tunes from the south west of Sweden called the county of Halland.
Niklas Ottosson 27, mandolina, has played on many stages in many different bands. He is a great songwriter that can play a lot of instruments. He is also working as a producer and is the producer of Amerikat, the latest album from Johansson och det starka bandet.
