he award-winning Danish roots rockin’ octet Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado are set to release their new album ‘Live At Hotel Cecil‘ on the 19th of June via Provogue/Artone. To celebrate, they’ve revealed the foot stompin’, roof raisin’ new single ‘Hold My Lover Tight (Live)‘.
Pre-order and stream the latest singles – here.
Situated at the heart of Copenhagen, the Hotel Cecil has been home to a Jazzhouse and a Playhouse, and originally served as a meeting place, lecture hall, and administrative hub for the women’s emancipation movement in Denmark when it was built in 1936. Set against an Art Deco backdrop, it perfectly suits the smooth, smoky blues of Denmark’s hardest-working band.
The show was recorded at their sold-out performance on the 29th of November 2025, one of the band’s final shows on their ‘House of Sticks’ winter tour, and saw the band fully flexing their sophisticated might.
“Hotel Cecil has a certain intimacy,” says Risager. “It’s big enough to have power, but still close enough that you can really feel the faces in front of you. That kind of room invites you to dig deeper — both musically and emotionally. There’s a history in places like that. You can feel that many stories have unfolded there.”
Reflecting on the night, he recalls, “I remember a great sense of anticipation backstage — that quiet buzz before you walk on stage. The room felt warm, very present. The audience was listening — really listening — and then when the groove hit, they were right there with us. That exchange of energy is everything.”
It’s easy to assume these road-worn veterans, exuding effortless cool, treat this as just another day at the office, but that’s not the case. “I still get that little spark before walking on stage,” he smiles. “And I hope I always will. If you stop caring, maybe you should stop playing. But it’s not fear anymore. It’s a focus. A readiness.”
He continues, “We always approach a live show with respect — for the music, for each other, and for the audience. It’s never just about playing the songs as they are on the record. It’s about creating a moment that only exists that night.”
That’s what Risager and his band are: a conduit for these stories and these places with history, providing a connection for the audience in that specific moment. “I want people to feel lifted. Maybe they came in with a heavy day on their shoulders — I hope they leave lighter. Blues music can be soulful and deep, but it’s also about joy and release. If people walk away feeling connected, energised, maybe even a little transformed, then we’ve done our job.”
In February, the band revealed the first taster from the album: the slow and smouldering ‘Said I Was Hurt (Live)‘. This song, along with ‘Already Gone‘, ‘Long Time Ago‘, ‘House of Sticks‘, and ‘Inner Light‘, is one of five tracks taken from last year’s latest studio album, ‘House of Sticks‘.
There is always a certain anticipation when a new song is played live to the audience for the first time. “You can feel it in the room,” he explains. “There’s a certain silence when people are really listening — and then a reaction that’s genuine. Sometimes you see people mouthing the chorus by the second time around. That’s when you know something has landed. A special song doesn’t just entertain — it resonates.”
The set-list is sprinkled with songs from throughout the band’s bulging back catalogue. ‘Hold My Lover Tight (Live)‘ is one of four taken from 2017’s ‘Change My Game‘ and sees the band in full flight entertainer mode.
The eight-piece band adorned the high stage. The curtains are raised. As the lights are dimmed, the band’s neon logo draws your attention. The drape-flanked room catapults you to another place and another time. That’s where the Danish sensations draw you in.
Thorbjørn Risager (Vocals, Electric Guitar), Emil Balsgaard (Organ, Keys), Joachim Svensmark (Electric Guitar), Kasper Wagner (Baritone Sax), Hans Nybo (Tenor Sax), Peter W Kehl (Trumpet), Søren Bøjgaard (Bass), and Martin Seidelin (Drums, Percussion) – have won four Danish Music Awards (with seven nominations), the “Best Band” in the European Blues Awards and won the prestigious German Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik Jahrespreis – German Record Critics’ Awards. They’ve sold over 100,000 physical albums and surpassed 32 million streams, all the while blazing a trail worldwide with more than 1.500 shows. They’ve opened for Bonnie Raitt, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, jammed with the legendary Buddy Guy and even picked up a fan in Elwood Blues himself – Dan Aykroyd! – who hailed their “Hot rhythm and blues.”
‘Live At Hotel Cecil‘ proves to be a special moment.”A sold-out show still sends a tingling sensation through a band. It’s humbling. Truly. We’ve built this step by step over many years, often far from home. To see “Sold Out” means people have chosen to spend their evening with us. That’s not something I take lightly,” he says.
With the new album, Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado are bringing a little piece of themselves to their fans around the world. “Copenhagen means something special to us. It’s home. You know the streets; you know the energy of the city. And yes, there are often friends and family in the crowd. That adds another layer — you feel proud, but maybe also a little more vulnerable. But in the end, once the music starts, we’re all just part of the same experience.”
Tracklisting:
Tour Dates:
Mar 7 – Kappelborg, Skagen DK
Mar 12 – Jonköping Teater, Jonköping Teater SE
Mar 13 – Bollnäs Jazzklubb, Bollnäs SE
Mar 14 – Katalin, Uppsala SE
Mar 19 – Fabrik, Hamburg DE
Mar 20 – Club Volta, Cologne DE
Mar 21 – Jazzhaus, Freiburg DE
Mar 27 – Frimis Salonger, Örebro SE
Mar 28 – Mejeriet, Lund SE
Apr 1 to 5 – TBA, TBA
Apr 10 – Freja, Skövde SE
Apr 11 – Söderport, Kalmar SE
Apr 23 – Musiktheater Piano, Dortmund DE
Apr 24 – Musiktheater Rex, Bensheim DE
Apr 25 – Music Hall, Worpswede DE
Apr 30 – Budenzauber, Kiel DE
May 2 – Motala Blues Festival, Motala SE
May 7 – Tivoli Vredenburg, Utrecht NL
May 8 – Stadthalle, Schlüchtern DE
May 9 – Fahrzeugbau Meier, Altdorf-Ludersheim DE
May 30 – Tidaholm Blues Festival, Tidaholm SE
Jun 13 – TBA, Erfurt DE
Jun 14 – TBA, Riesa DE
Jun 19 – Blues Garage, Isernhagen DE
Jun 20 – Bluesnacht Petershagen, Petershagen DE
Jun 25 – Riverboat, Silkeborg DE
Line-up:
Thorbjørn Risager (Vocals, Electric Guitar)
Emil Balsgaard (Organ, Keys)
Joachim Svensmark (Electric Guitar)
Kasper Wagner (Baritone Sax)
Hans Nybo (Tenor Sax)
Peter W Kehl (Trumpet)
Søren Bøjgaard (Bass)
Martin Seidelin (Drums, Percussion)