Olav Larsen and The Alabama Rodeo Stars profile picture

Olav Larsen and The Alabama Rodeo Stars

New album out NOW

About Me


Olav Larsen was born in Stavanger, a small town on the south-west coast of Norway. His passion for American roots music came at an early age. "My father used to play all kinds of American music" Olav says. "On the one hand he would listen to the old records by Hank Williams, Blind Willie McTell, Jimmy Rodgers and Robert Johnson, but on the other he also enjoyed the new generation of great songwriters, like Bob Dylan, Steve Forbert, Neil Young, John Prine, Guy Clark, Steve Goodman, John Phillips and Townes Van Zandt to mention just a few" he continues.

For Olav it doesn’t stop here! Although he still listens to all the "old guys", he also finds a lot of inspiration in the likes of Ryan Adams, Bright Eyes, Richmond Fountain, Howe Gelb, Elvis Perkins and many of the other talented singer/songwriters of his own generation.


His first long player recorded with his band The Alabama Rodeo Stars, intitled "Loves come to Town", was released in august 2006 in Europe and March 2007 in the USA.
"Sad & Happy Sing-A-longs" is Olav Larsen & The Alabama Rodeo Stars second long player and will be released in February 2008.

I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V4.4 (www.strikefile.com/myspace)

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 2/10/2006
Band Website: WWW.alabamarodeostars.COM
Band Members: Erlend Aasland: Banjo, Pedal-steel, Guitar and backing vocals

Jonny Engelsvoll: Piano, Accordion, organ and backing vocals

Torje Fanebust Aas: Bass and backing vocals

Olav Larsen: Acoustic guitar, harmonica, vocals and backing vocals

Arne Andersen: Drums, percussions and backing vocals

Guests on the "Sad & happy Sing-a-longs" album

Mazz Swift: Fiddle & duet vocal Benedicte Brænden: Duet vocal

The lady choir:
Ingfrid Straumstøyl: Backing & duet vocals Ingjerd Østrem: Backing vocals
Stine Janvin Motland: Backing vocalsExtra guests: Runar Ã…se: Backing vocals
Ole Ellingsen: Backing vocals
Torje Mjåland: Saxophone
Influences: Jerry Garcia, The Band, Bob Dylan, Howe Gelb, Giant Sand, John Prine, Neil Young, Loudon Wainwright III, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Will Oldham, Ryan Adams, Lucinda Williams, Wilco, Tumbleweed, Son Volt, Uncle Tupelo, Texum, early Eric Clapton, Leon Russel, Steve Goodman, Randy Newman, Otis Redding, Mark Olsen, Jayhawks, The List, Steve Earle, Ben Harper, Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Chris Hillman, Leonard Cohen, John Hiatt, Tom Waits, the Carter Family, Willie Nelson, Gordon Lightfoot, Ray Davies, Melanie, Aime Mann, Nick Lowe, Steve Earle, Lou Reed, Van Morrison, Jerry Lee Lewis (country version), The Lofty Pillars, Ben Harper, Joe Henry, Fred Eaglesmith, David Bowie, Bryan Ferry, Todd Rundgren, Prince, Pete Seeger, Woody Gutherie, Tom Russel, The Band, Dr John, Richmond Fountain, Steve Forbert, Kurt Wagner, Adam Green, Al Green, Bee Gees (4 first records), Willie Nelson, Ry Cooder, Jackson Brown, David Allan Coe, Beck, Frank Black, Jorma Kaukonen, Dolly Parton, Silver Jews, Bruce Springsteen, Mississippi John Hurt, Lowell George, Catherine Irwin, Brett Dennen, Roy Lønhøiden, Uncle Tuka, Jason Molina, Frank Black, The Lofty Pillars, Fats Domino, Ray Charles, Rolling Stones, The Faces, Daniel Johnston, Steve Forbert, The Handsome Family ....and about a thousand others!
Sounds Like: A ruff version of Charley Pride .... At least that's what it looks like...
Record Label: Rootsy.nu (Europe), HYENA (US)
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

"Songs we wish were ours"

Once a month The Alabama Rodeo Stars will be performing a song in the YouTube series called SONGS WE WISH WERE OURS. First out is "Fennerio", an old traditional song made famous to us by the late grea...
Posted by Olav Larsen and The Alabama Rodeo Stars on Mon, 18 Jun 2007 12:09:00 PST

USA REVIEWS

Reviews from USA
Posted by Olav Larsen and The Alabama Rodeo Stars on Thu, 05 Apr 2007 05:31:00 PST

LIVE SHOWS WITH MAGNOLIA ELECTRIC CO (Oslo & Stavanger)

We played a gig with Jason Molina in Manchester earlier this year.He is comming to Norway for some gigs with his more than excellent band Magnolia Electric Co in May, and has invited us to play with h...
Posted by Olav Larsen and The Alabama Rodeo Stars on Wed, 07 Mar 2007 10:42:00 PST

The art of storytelling....

«What is storytelling?» «Storytelling is simply the art of telling a story» most of us would answer.And that is true, it is simply the art of telling a story. And an art it is. A simple story can be h...
Posted by Olav Larsen and The Alabama Rodeo Stars on Sat, 03 Mar 2007 04:45:00 PST

Mini tour of UK....(pictures)

Some pictures from the bands tour of England between the 1st and 6th of February:Our first "gig" was in on of the studios at BBC Scotland. Tired as hell after being on the road for seven hours we play...
Posted by Olav Larsen and The Alabama Rodeo Stars on Thu, 22 Feb 2007 07:45:00 PST

I met a gentleman in London.....

The man I'm talking about is the great Darrel Scott. i really fell in love this man and his music. Great guitar player and excellent singer. The songs he writes are among the best you'll ever hear. He...
Posted by Olav Larsen and The Alabama Rodeo Stars on Tue, 13 Feb 2007 01:44:00 PST

Unhappy/dreamer: The music video!

Our first music video has finally been uploaded on youtube. Please feel free to have a look at it.Although it's a low budget video it looks quite good, don't you think. They should give me an Oscar, t...
Posted by Olav Larsen and The Alabama Rodeo Stars on Tue, 23 Jan 2007 04:37:00 PST

I love my cd's.......

I buy about 10 to 20 cd's a month. I love music! It's that simple! This picture shows were I spend most of my spare time. The couch is carefully placed in front of my stereo, right in the middle of th...
Posted by Olav Larsen and The Alabama Rodeo Stars on Mon, 22 Jan 2007 11:26:00 PST

The day Olav met The Handsome Family...

I got to warm up for The Handsome Family. One of my favourite americana bands. The concert took place on the 30th of september 2006 and this picture was taken by Eirik Lye right after the show....
Posted by Olav Larsen and The Alabama Rodeo Stars on Mon, 22 Jan 2007 10:54:00 PST

A true story.....

I just love this song. It was written by the late great Shel Silverstein. Besides writing children books, Shel also wrote a lot of songs for other artists. For Jonny Cash he wrote "A boy named sue" (a...
Posted by Olav Larsen and The Alabama Rodeo Stars on Wed, 29 Nov 2006 09:01:00 PST