The Country Side Of Harmonica Sam

The Country Side of Harmonica Sam represents a rare and unique branch of contemporary country music. This is country music like it sounded in the late 50’s and early 60’s; more modern sounding than the 40’s Hillbilly style sometimes seen on the rockabilly scene around Europe. At the same time it’s far from the contemporary Nashville sound of country music. With a steady 4/4 shuffle, steel guitar and tic-tac bass, the band performs their own original songs right alongside classics from Faron Young, Skeets McDonald, Billy Walker and Ray Price - to name a few. The band members include : Peter Andersson (33) (pedal steel), [a6011655] (upright bass), [a1161829] (drums), Johan Bandling Melin (lead guitar/harmony vocals) and [a3196342] (lead vocals/rhythm guitar). With origins in the blues scene in the mid 90’s, Harmonica Sam soon took an interest in 50’s rock and country music. Harmonica Sam’s debut album in his own name, ”Rocker #1” (Enviken Rec), featuring piano rocker Boppin’ Steve and The Domestic Bumblebees was released in 2008 and a lot of shows across Europe followed. He first came across pedal steel player Peter Andersson in a show in 2009.Andersson had been playing western swing and country music for years together with his old buddies Ulrik Jansson and Patrik Malmros. Johan Bandling Melin, a talented songwriter from the bluegrass scene, also joined, and they all teamed up to form The Country Side of Harmonica Sam. In 2013 the band released a 7” single, ”Changing Her Thinking” creating a buzz among country music fans and rockabillies. In 2015 the band went to Berlin and Lightning Recorders to record their debut album ”Open Letter to the Blues”. The album will be released on El Toro Records (LP & CD) in July 2015 (LP in October).