Jetsurfers
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Thorstein Elvestad, Bjørn Nilsen |
| Defunct | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Oslo , Norway |
| Products | Studio albums, live albums, compilation albums, EPs |
Jetsurfers was a musical group originating from Oslo, Norway, known for releasing a total of three studio albums, alongside one live recording and a compilation album.
History
The band was established in 1999 by Thorstein Elvestad and Bjørn Nilsen, soon joined by Vidar Fredsvik and Knut Carlsson. That same year, they debuted with the EP Jetsurfers - Saloon under the label Coco Pelli Records, followed by a series of acoustic performances in correctional facilities throughout southern Norway.
Their inaugural full-length album, Jetlagged in Jetland, was issued in late 2000 through Grammofon AS Electra, garnering favorable reviews and substantial airplay across Scandinavian radio stations. In 2001, Audun Norgaard succeeded Carlsson on bass, and a year later, Lars Linkas replaced Fredsvik as guitarist.
Released in 2002, their sophomore album Wildcards included the popular track «Fireworks», yet it faced challenges due to minimal promotional efforts from the record company. By mid-2003, Jetsurfers had become regular performers at Oslo’s Muddy Waters venue, where they recorded the live album An Evening at Muddy Waters, which achieved strong sales both at shows and online platforms.
The guitarist lineup saw further changes in 2004 with Cato Monrad taking over from Linkas, followed by Ulf H. Aass later that year. In July 2005, the Norwegian label One Stop Entertainment released the compilation Five Years Down the Road, featuring both new material and remastered tracks. This compilation attracted European radio exposure through a promotional campaign managed by Comstock Records based in Arizona, USA.
Having performed over 500 concerts—including opening slots for artists such as Mick Taylor, Johnny Winter, Hellbillies, and Buddy Miller—and appearing at various Norwegian festivals, Jetsurfers built a reputation as "one of Norway’s premier live acts." Their earlier albums were distributed in the United States via Perris Records and DWM Music Company.
Their final studio release came in 2007 with Western Reality, launched by Musikkoperatørene and supported by television promotion within Norway.
Influences
The band acknowledged inspiration from artists including Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, Georgia Satellites, The Allman Brothers Band, and Steve Earle.
Members
Final lineup
- Bjørn Nilsen – Lead vocals, guitar, harmonica, mandolin
- Audun Norgaard – Bass guitar, backing vocals
- Ivar H. Johansen – Drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Joachim Svendsen – Guitar, backing vocals
Previous members
- Vidar Fredsvik – Guitar
- Knut Carlsson – Bass guitar
- Lars Linkas – Guitar
- Cato Monrad – Guitar
- Ulf H. Aass – Guitar
- Torstein Elvestad – Drums, percussion
Discography
Studio albums
- Jetlagged in Jetland (2000)
- Wildcards (2002)
- Western Reality (2007)
Live albums
- An Evening at Muddy Waters (2003)
Compilation albums
- Five Years Down the Road (2005)
EPs
- Jetsurfers - Saloon (1999)
- Next of Kin (1999)