Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado return to the Magic Blues, one of the most authoritative acts in European blues-rock, capable of blending authentic roots with a modern spirit. Formed in the early 2000s as Thorbjørn Risager Blue7, they adopted their current name in 2014 to highlight the collective strength of a cohesive and distinctive ensemble. At the helm is Thorbjørn Risager himself: a magnetic vocalist and refined guitarist, able to evoke shades of Ray Charles and Van Morrison. Beside him, a rich lineup of keyboards, horns, bass, drums, and backing vocals enhances the band’s power and sonic variety. Their music weaves together soul, Chicago blues, boogie, and rock’n’roll, balancing energy and introspection. In their recent House of Sticks, they explore contemporary sounds without losing touch with their roots: driving grooves, heartfelt ballads, and modern touches coexist naturally. For over twenty years, they’ve brought their sound to festival and theater stages around the world, earning accolades such as the Danish Music Awards and Best Band at the European Blues Awards. On stage, they deliver an energetic and captivating show, powered by horns, vocal harmonies, and a constant dialogue with the audience. They’ve shared the stage with Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Robben Ford, and even earned praise from Dan Aykroyd of the Blues Brothers, who called them “hot rhythm and blues.” Welcome back to Magic Blues!

The Gamblers have toured all over Europe as a backing band for some of the most renowned names in the international blues scene, including Jerry Portnoy (legendary harmonica player for Muddy Waters and Eric Clapton), Otis Grand, Guitar Ray Scona, Big Pete Pearson, Paul Reddick, Deitra Farr, Jumpin’ Johnny Sansone, Sonny Rhodes, Keith Dunn, Kirk Fletcher, Steve Marriner, and Tony D from MonkeyJunk, among many others. These collaborations have led not only to strong artistic and personal bonds but also to highly acclaimed projects. Highlights include Otis Grand’s albums “New Sensation” (2004), “Poorman Blues” (2005), and “Hipster Blues” (2007); the unforgettable performance with Jerry Portnoy at the Cazorla Blues Festival (2005); the European tour with Canadian artist Paul Reddick (2010), who later produced the album “Photograph” (2015); and the tours with American bluesman Big Pete Pearson (2011, 2012), which resulted in the release of the studio album “Choose” (2012). In 2020, a new tour with Paul Reddick, Steve Marriner, and Tony D led to the recording of “Alive in Italia”, released by the Canadian label Stony Plain Records.Still active and constantly evolving, The Gamblers continue to pursue their musical journey with passion, bringing energy and authenticity to the international blues scene.