Merry Christmas and Happy 2009

Another year done... it's hard to understand how fast time flies!

Eat well and be happy. I would like to thank a lot of people here for their help during 2008 but you all know who you are so I'll just think of you instead and raise a glass of nice single malt and say Cheers!

Merry Christmas and CU in 2009!

Ben

Kitaraklubi MTV3

I'm this weeks guest at MTV3 MAX Kitaraklubi hosted by Marsi Nyman.
The program airs Tuesday (Dec 9) 20.30 on MTV3 MAX. Reruns are on Wednesday at 19.30 and on Saturday at 21.00.
Don't miss it!

Cheers,

Ben

Abu Dhabi etc

Wow, what a way to end the year for BGB!!!

Abu Dhabi was a blast! Great gig! Super weather! Nice people + 2 days off in Dubai with our good friends Ari and Ihab who took SOOOOO good care of us :-) 7 star treatment all the way!

All the art work is done for the album and in january we'll put up some songs on my

space and here. The Finnish release is the first week of February and the releaseparty gig is at On the Rocks friday the 6th.

Guitar Slingers have a few gigs here and I've got some acoustic gigs with Bryn othervise I'm taking it easy...

Talk to ya soon!

Ben

End of the year + new album

The Finnish dates for this year are now done. The last three were really good! Especially Seinäjoki which sort of has become one of my favourite gigs. Närpes was also a nice suprise.
Miri, John and Kasper are doing a great job and I'm very confident with the band at the moment, everything just feels good..we have exellent jams and the songs work so well :-)
We have one more show for this year... the Abu Dhabi Jazz Festival... that's going to be a super great way to end the year!

The new album is mixed and mastered. It's going to be called "Kaleidoscope". I wrote so many different kinds of music for this album and I think if you'd look at my music thru a kaleidoscope this is what you'd get... it's all me but somehow different you know :-)
The track listing is as follows,
1. Julie ( a rocker, Go'vt Purple if you like he,he)
2. Because we can (an instrumental answer to the question "Why do you guys play songs with out lyrics and singing?)
3. Dead in the water ( a cover of the David Gray song, i'm very pleased with it!)
4. Soul searching (an instrumental "prelude" to "This soul of Mine")
5. This Soul of Mine ( BGB goes P.Floyd)
6. You ain't got nothing on me ( a tounge in cheek rocker, the lyrics are very much about me)
7. Bright lights and Dreams ( Stely Dan feel on this one but the chorus is kind of AOR)
8. Make up my mind with my heart ( a bluesy slow shuffle, has become a live favourite already)
9. Lia ( a short instrumental dedicated to my daughter)
10. What comes around goes around ( a different kind of ballad, really pleased with this one)
11. Suburban Blues Jam ( an instrumental live jam in the studio... great vibe!)

We will put up some songs on the myspace site in january and the album will be ou in Finland the first week in february and Germany about the same time.

We'll do a few shows here in Finland before we start the German tour the 13th of february.

More later, be cool!

Ben

Yo!

We're taking a weeks break in between gigs originally to finnish the album but since everything is already recorded I'm spending time with the kids and Johns gone fishing...Miri's busy with Paul Oxley's Unit and Kasper is recording some heavy metal stuff.

Pete Knuutinen sound enginer supreme did the first part of the tour but he's commited to do IDOLS from now on until it ends... he wasn't happy about it :-) Thanks Pete, always a pleasure to have you with us!!

Jukka "Beavis" Oja is coming home from some tour in Germany just in time to continue with us at On the Rocks the 30th. He is also doing Guitar Slingers and is a cool guy who yet doesn't play golf ( like Pete he,he ).

As I said the album is now 80% ready only mixing of 3 songs remain and then the mastering.
Once the mastering is done I'll write a little describtion about the songs.

All the best and C U out there,

Ben

New gig 31.10 Nevada, Porvoo

Hi everybody,

Some good news for a change.... we got a gig in Porvoo, good old Nevada. BGB has played here many times before and it's a great place.

Also everything execpt 1 vocal is done with the new album. I'm very pleased with it... it will be strange to wait until february to have it out. We're already playing 3-4 songs of it live.

Take care,

Ben

Another cancellation...!!!

This business sucks! I'm very tired of booking all gigs myself...I'm supposed to be able to write music and practice with the band or even by myself and not sit in my office talking to clubs, promoters etc.
I just heard that Karjaa, Affes the 31.10 is cancelled...this is the 4th cancellation for this tour. What is most disturbing is that it's not up to us but business simply isn't good enough for clubs and they can't afford to have bands playing anymore.
With the economy being what it is and everything loosing value (execpt vintage guitars ha,ha!) one must admit that these are hard time for anyone.

Well, the only good thing is that the new album is coming along great!! Now if I only can afford to pay the studio bills :-)

People of Tammisaari! Get off you butt and come to No:1 on Friday and listen to a great band!!
No:1 is one of the best clubs in this country and it's a shame that we will be the last live band there for a long time... SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ROCK'N'ROLL CLUB!!

Cheers,

Ben

18.10 Kajaani Balls Cancelled !!

Unfortunately the promoter of the club Balls has "gone missing" with the result that the gig the 18.10 in Kajaani is now cancelled.
This is a shame since I haven't played ther for a long time. I apologize to some of you who already emailed me about this gig.

We're entering the studio again tomorrow for the next 4 songs... we've rehearsed and are eager to hear the results!

C U

Ben

Acoustic gigs with Bryn Jones

We're doing a few gigs with Bryn again (check the dates on the gigs page).
We just did the first of four at Fanny goes to Hollywood...playing from 20.00 untill 23.00 nonstop!! well, I had to take 2 piss breaks...
Bryn knows so many songs and it's always a blast playing with him, please come and enjoy an acoustic evening with a glass of wine or a few beers, you won't regret it :-)

Cheers,

Ben

Radio Rock

This week I'm the guesting DJ at Radio Rock here in Helsinki and every day at 15.15 and 17.40 they will play my comments + a song I've chosen.

Ben

We're back...

Thanks to Mickes magic the Blog works again!
We rehearsed 3 new songs yesterday and I'm very happy with the band at the moment. Can't wait to record them and hear what you think of the new stuff when the new album comes out next year!

Here's a link to something pretty cool!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma2UrUfEFQU
3 young guys doing instrumental rock and they play E.G.O !
The guitar player Arne is only 12 years old!!!

Well, I need to start writting more lyrics...

C U Guys later,

Ben

Meatloaf etc.

Now it's 100% sure that Guitar Slingers is the warmup band the 11.8 at the Hartwall Arena here in Helsinki. The headliner is of course Meatloaf... it's also Petri Auers birthday so we'll have some extra fun I'm sure.Don't miss it since who knows when and if Meatloaf will tour again...

The gig at Kotkan Meripäivät was nice even though it was sunday. Good practise for the 11th.

I've updated the gigs page with more BGB gigs + we have been invited to perform at the Abu Dhabi International Jazz Festival in November...now that's an honour! It's the same organiser who did the Dubai Jazz Fest. So I guess we did well there :-)

Alright... that's it for now C U!

Ben

Back in business

After a very rare and wonderful vacation I'm back again. Batterys recharged and ready to ROCK!
Yesterday I had an as always funny,cool gig with Bryn Jones in Hanko.
Playing with Bryn is a real joy! He knows so many songs and where as I might not know them it leaves a lot of room for me to add things that I think might suit the song. We should definitely do more gigs together!

This weekend I have 2 gigs, the first one is with Niklas Roström cover band MILK at Apollo nightclub in Helsinki. Their guitarist couldn't make it so they gave me a call. I've never been there before and I have NEVER played a lot of the songs we're going to do...it'll be intresting and fun to help them out.

The other one is at On the Rocks on sunday. We're billed as Ben Granfelt & Friends but it's basically BGB + Tipe Johnson and Jarmo Nikku. We're going to do 4 new songs and some BGB stuff +a nice bunch of good old stuff with Tipe and Jarmo. Come along for some good classic Rock!

In August I'll finnish the last to songs that need vocals and then we'll mix them before we start with the next bunch of songs... can't hardly wait!
I thought the new album would be more blues rock but i'm in such a good mood and happy at the moment that the newer songs are reflecting that and not exactly blues :-)

Well, gotta go C U out there...

Ben

Summertime!

It was great again to do a couple of shows with Kasper in the band!
Tampere and especially Aulanko Blues were really good. Jamming IS SO much fun!
We just finnished another 2 days in the studio as well and now have 5 songs ( + 1 long introduction) ready for the new album.

Fightsport Magazine in Finland has an interview in their latest issue.
Fuzz Magazine from Sweden has a gig rig page with my gear and I'll do an interview later.

Did an update on the gig page check it out! We had to cancel the Granfelt / Nillu gig but I'll do the same date (20.7) with BGB playing 5-7 own songs (3-4 new ones!!) and then Tipe and Jarmo will come up and we'll do a bunch of cool covers...it's party time!!!

Ah... my vacation starts on thursday!! I'll be gone for 2 1/2 weeks.

C U later alligator,

Ben

Good Afternoon...

After a dissapointing Formula 1 race in Monaco I've decided to do a few updates...

I'm doing 3 ENGL clincs for DLX Music in HElsinki, Kuopio and Tampere next week. I'll mainly be demoing the Invader 100 amp but also playing with backing tracks 4-5 songs. Come along!

Guitar Slingers will most surely support Meatloaf at Jäähalli in Helsinki the 11.8. Meatloafs management has approved it and we're just working out technical details but that'll be a fun gig.

That's it...

Ben

myspace

Just a quick note to say tat www.myspace.com/theguitarslingers is up and running thanks to Jukka Oja. Check it out1

Ben

Good Morning

Guitar Slingers, I forgot how good this band can sound :-) Everyone had a smile on their face when we rehearsed yesterday. We've included a couple of songs never played by this lineup before and it will be great to do some gigs again.
IMPORTANT NOTE! The Guitar Slingers Kotkan Meripäivät gig has been rescheduled to sunday the 27.7 at 14.00!! Bring your family along it'll be a great day in the sun...hopefully we'll have some sunshine!?

I'm going back to bed to catch a little sleep before I head out to back my gear for the gigs...

ZZZZ,

Ben

Life!

Life is great ! My wife Jonna gave birth to our daughter april 30th. 4310gr and 52 cm. All is well in the family...Jim is confused but that was expected.

We've been in the studio and have 2 songs completly ready + 1 missing vocals.

I'm taking a little break from BGB to be with the family and then do few Guitar Slingers gigs.

BGB start work again in June with a couple of gigs and more studio sessions.

Be well, I am!

Ben

Yes!!!

Well, the first whole gig with Kasper went really good! He's in for sure! can't wait for more gigs but first more rehearsals, new songs and studio.

By the way, here's a link to a review of Sum of Memories http://grooveyardrecords.com/bengranfeltband.html
Can't really ask for anything more in a review, can you?

New photos from Germany up as well later today, check them out!

Ben

Howdy,

The GTR tour is done... I almost wish it would go on since we had a great time. I'd like to thank Jartse, Pepe, Pekka, Juuso, Anssi and Miri + of course Riku our soundguy... Well done! I know I got some new friends 'cos I sold out all my cds :-)

This upcoming saturday BGB will play the first gig with Kasper Mårtenson as a full band member! We're rehearsing new stuff and for those who come down to the Texas Bar&Grill we'll play at least 4 songs that haven't been played live before!
After the weekend we'll be in Miri's studio recording the first 2-3 new songs.

Why a keyboard player in BGB you might ask? ...well, I want more textures and also I don't want to have to fill up every little space with guitar sounds. All the new songs I've written will have keyboards and Kasper is an obvious choise since he has played with us on various jams before + he's a very relaxed nice guy.

Last sunday I saw Tommy Emanuel here in Helsinki.... what a player! Unbelivable chops but he knows when to use them and when not. He played a lot of beautiful originals and ended the concert with a fantastic version of Imagine...I was in tears! Honestly! If you like great music check him out.

That's it for now...I have to learn new lyrics for the rehearsals tomorrow.

C U

Ben

Good Morning,

It's 7.40 in the morning and I've just dressed Jim and sent him and Jonna off to daycare / work.
Very rock'n'roll indeed :-)
Yesterday I did a recording for a TV show called Guitar Club.It is hosted by the very talented Marsi Nyman, 45 mins of only guitars and equipment + a 1 take live performance of my version of Cocaine with Anssi Nykänen on drums and Harri Rantanen on bass (we couldn't do another take because on union rules with lunch breaks etc.). The show with about 20 chapters will start in the autumn on the MTV MAX channel here in Finland. Before me they did a chapter with Varre Vartianen on guitar...incidently the house band and Marsi are members in Varres Husband band ... they we're so good I almost went home :-) seriously!!

Later today we rehearse with the GTR Tour band in Tampere and the first show is on saturday in Kokkola. I'm sure it'll be a cool tour!

Ok, gotta run to the train...

C U out there,

Ben

Home sweet home...

Dubai was great! Got the flu but that's alright, it was worth it :-)
It looks like we'll go back later this year...more about that asap.
John and Anssi were great! Good Laughs!
Getting ready for the GTR gigs,

C U

Ben

Hello from Dubai

Life is grand sometimes :-) Things are good in Dubai... we had a great gig yesterday and the audience really dug us. at first I was afraid they would walk away because of the stage volume (which wasnt loud at all!) but NO! a great succes indeed!
Anssi Nykanen on drums... well, he is a bit crazy in a positive way and what a drummer! He took the house down with his drum solo.
We also had a little 30 min jam with Lori from Canada who played before us, what a great singer! Thank God I only had to play guitar.
People are very friendly here and try to do the best they can to make us feel good.
We met a lot of Finns after the gig who wanted to show us around and they knew everywater hole in the town.
Next gig on sunday, cant wait :-)

C U

Ben

Thanks...

We had a great time in Germany and the 3 last gigs were really good with very good crowds. This week Dubai and then hopefully in to the studio to record the first 3-4 new songs.
Here are a couple of links to pictures from the tour.
http://i2pm.zenfolio.com/p451107949/
http://www.accu-becher.de/Ben/

Cheers and Danke schön!

Ben, Miri and John (Mr. Mummelman)

Guten Tag...

We're back in Wetter after two days on the road (Hereford and Reinheim). It was great to get out and play live again, the new songs are getting familiar to us and they have gotten great comments from the fans.

Colin from the UK came over to Hereford and brought us some cds to listen to in the van, thanks.
Christian Tolle came by earlier during reheasals and played some of his new stuff for us...what a killer player! He also gave us a copy of the new Steve Lukather cd which sounded very good too. DON'T WORRY! I'M BUYING A LEGAL CD AS SOON AS IT'S OUT :-)

I've only got working titles for the new songs we play live, and they are Julie (heavy early -70s stuff), Suck it up! (Heavy funk) and Mr.Johnson (an instrumental tribute to Eric Johnson).The rest of the new ones we'll be working on in Helsinki in march. A lot of the new one's will have keyboards because they feel like they need them...to get a -70's vibe you know he,he

I'm looking forward to tonights gig because we rehearsed here and the crew here is so nice so we'll try to play our best... better hide that Jaegermaester bottle Miri and John :-)

I've got some news about Guitar Slingers that I'll post when I get home next week.

Rock on!

Ben

Ben

Greetings from Germany!

Here we are in Wetter and our third day of rehearsals for new songs. So far we've recorded ruogh demos of 9 songs. Some are not more than jams and some we will play live already tomorrow!
We are rehearsing at Live Earth Music Hall here in Wetter and we couldn't hope for better hospitality. Gunther and his team are taking very good care of us indeed :-)
We will actually play here on friday so it'll be nice to play some of the stuff we've been torturing them with "for real".
Gunther is putting his final touch to his new studio and it looks really good with very nice equipment and good rooms etc.

The gig in Haltern last friday was a very nice suprise also. Good stage, good PA, nice big crowd and of course Frank and his band Punk Floyd did a very good jobb as support and had done a great jobb with promotion ...many old Wishbone fans in the audience too!

Well, my ears have rested enough ...back to rehearsals :-)

C U

Ben

On the road again...

Tomorrow we leave for Hamburg where we're staying for 1 night before the first gig. We'll probably visit Down Town Blues Club for dinner and some drinks :-)
We've rehearsed only once due to everyones busy schedules but the feeling is there and hopefully the almighty muscle memory will take care of the rest he,he...

C U out there...

Ben

Welcome!

Hope you like the new design! Micke has done a great jobb as usual. There is still a lot of info to come but the basics are here, surf around and enjoy.The equipment page is coming along again...check it out!

2008 started with 3 Granfelt / Nikku Gigs. I or, I must say we were SO positively suprised by the turn out on the gigs!! Thanks a lot for coming! There will be more gigs during the summer and in the autumn for sure.

I've had plenty of time to spend with my family and Jim (now 1 year and 9 months) witnessed his first soundcheck last week wednesday. He had his own Ukulele in bag with him and created quite a show when he strapped it on and played(!?) along when we checked the levels etc. Way to go Jimi boy!

I've also had time to train more BJJ and beyond any of my expectations I was awarded the brown belt by our Brazilian master Alexandre Paiva in December. Today writting this I'm sitting here with a pulled muscle in my back... I'm getting old ha,ha...

It'll be a pleasure to go on the road with Miri and Johnny again in February, we'll have some time to rehearse new songs and hopefully some new old stuff as well.

That's about it for now, cheers!

Ben

PS. Thanks for all the nice comments, sms and emails about the TV Documentary :-)