Andreas Hellkvist

Even though Ludvika is just about half an hour from where I grew up, I haven't spent much time there over the years. It has mostly been a place you pass on the way to somewhere else. Though, I have played at both the jazz club and the church a number of times before. This…

Got together with my friend and favorite groove drummer Ola Bothzén to record a new album for the Orgelparty Pop Edition project. The repertoire was developed during the release tour for our first album earlier this year, so we just had to brush up a little and get to work! This album will be a…

I have to admit, it's a lot of work doing the Quadraphonic show! First of all, the B3, 4 leslies and a bunch of other stuff needs to be loaded in my Ford. I'm actually surprised each time I manage to fit everything in there! Not a lot of space left when it's all packed.…

The last week I have been in sort of a bubble, preparing and practicing for my Quadraphonic projects. So, at was a little strange to get out and just play some good old blues. But I have to say, also very liberating. Playing with Arnesen blues band is so liberating. You know that if you…

The was truly one of most anticipated gigs on thill fall. Kjell Öhman, one of my biggest inspirations on the Hammond organ and also just musically in general passed away 10 years ago, almost to the day. The year after I put together a tribute project, that only did a few concerts. But it was…

A hard swinging afternoon at Kulturoasen with some of Ray Charles best hits. A lot of fun!

And so, finally, the day came. I have been so looking forward to this, for so many reasons. First of all it has been so much fun exploring the sounds of this wonderful organ. It has opened up a whole new world to me. Didn't really know much about theatre organs before, but now I…

One thing is for sure - no matter how you feel before, whether you're tired, ill or down, once you get on stage with this band it all goes away. Feels like I've had a cold for the last month or so and the energy level has been up and down. But when you're out…

Always a blast to play at Livejazzbaren! One of the few venues where a jazz musician can feel like a rock star. The audience is so amazing here! And they really seemed to dig the Ray Charles repertoire.

My only appearance at this year's jazz festival in Stockholm. Hadn't been at this place before but it was a really nice venue outside Stockhom, almost on the countryside. At least with some beautiful scenery on the way there. Though, it started out a bit stressful. There had been an accident with a truck between…

Final gig of the tour! We had a few days in between the last concert where we did some recordings at the HQ. Played at this place a few times beofre and really like it, though I was happily surprised to see that they have built a proper stage. A nice way to end the…

The tour continued to Härnösand and the local blues club. Also a venue where I have been many times before. A convenient distance of about 45 minutes from Sundsvall, so a nice stress free day. And a nice gig on top of that!

I have always liked anniversaries. I'm probably quite nostalgic by nature, but I think anniversaries also givce us the chance to remember and appreciate things we might otherwise forget. September 20th, 2015 was the first time I met Hans Bollandsås. He drove down from Trondheim, Norway to Uppsala and we met and had a little…

Kulturnatten! The night when Uppsala overflows with culture of all different kinds, in venues and streets all across town. It is one of my favorite days of the year in Uppsala. I always try to find something to do, as it also is a great opportunity to catch people who normally wouldn't go to one…

I played at Hallbergs Jazz & Blues for the first time in 2003, also then with Arnesen Bluesband. And over the years it's actually the only band I've played with here. Not that I mind, but it is notable, considering I do do many other things on the jazz & blues scene. Arnesen Bluesband is…

Would you believe me if I told you that a lunch concert in a small town elderly home was a hell of a party? I probably wouldn't, but that's how it was. Kanalgården organises concerts on a regular basis and except the people living there, there's also audience coming from outside. Usually a couple of…

One of the main purposes of this Iceland trip was to spend some time and make recordings on this beautiful Hammond B3 organ. I don't know exactly what will come out of it, but there's a lot of recorded material and you'll probably see it later this fall.

What a concert! As a part of the festival Ljósanott this concert was held in the backyard of a private home in a residential area. I didn't know at all what to expect, but any expectations would have been well exceeded. We did a combination of Eythor Ingi's own songs and rock clasics. So much…

Last day of summer! An interesting theme for a concert, where you can play both summer and autumn songs. And so we did, among much else. Playing with Monica is always fun, spontaneous and challenging and it is often the intimate interplay that the audience dig.

A true honor to start the festival day at Skeppsholmen. Claes Janson has been a part of the festival many years its early days but I have previously just been a visitor. So it was great to get out on that stage. They had a New B3 with a Leslie 122XB as backline and it…

August 16th, the actual date when Elvis passed away in 1977. Kent used to do bigger shoes aournd this date in the outdoors park stage Parksnäckan in Uppsala. I played there most of those years, so Elvis in August became a tradition. My parents used to come down and listen . Now there hasn't been…

I had to rush back from Trinity's concert in Borlänge to join Kent and the band for the second set of this concert. Luckily, everthing worked out as planned. I had prepared by putting my Nord Organ 3 at the venue the day before so when I got there for the gig I only had…

Last church concert this anniversary summer with Trinity. I was so happy it was in Stora Tuna kyrka in Borlänge, where I grew up. I have been to this church for so many occasions when I was younger so it is a very special place for me. Many people, including old friends and extended family…

Beautiful late summer night at Kafé Himlavalvet. It has become a tradition to play here each year and not only is the audience coming back, but new people are finding us too. Hunku Dory is somewhat of an outliar when it somes to my musical projects and that makes it all the more interesting to…