The idea that the whole should be greater than the individual parts is the very bedrock of the concept of “band”. And it is the pursuit of this feeling that makes musicians never really give up, even if the more superficial ambitions - fame, money, admiration - may go the same way as hairline over the years. De Akterutseilte have been around longer than most, and have thus seen a number of trains, buses, boats and planes depart without them. Even the name is a kind of legacy, from a house band John Heitman put together at the Ila pub Martins sometime in the 90s. But the ability to make the individual parts merge into a higher unity has, if possible, only become stronger over the years.

John Heitman and Arnt Rian could hardly have been more different as both artists and people, but in De Akterutseilte the contrasts are united in beautiful harmony. Where Heitman's lyrics and vocals are of the carelessly skinless kind, Rian fills his role with characteristic technique and delicate precision. Perhaps not surprising, given all the time the two have been playing together since their teens. “When you do five sessions at Orkanger as a 17-year-old, you learn to play in a band,” says John dryly of the fast time they share on stage. “I've always been fascinated by guitarists who use the guitar the way a vocalist uses their voice. And there aren't many of them. When I finish the last word in a phrase, Arnt takes over and makes it lyrical. A kind of call-and-response. It's not something we invented ourselves, but it's become a kind of trademark for us,” he continues.

Arnt Rian will be known to a fairly exclusive selection of connoisseurs as the man behind Rian Guitar; handmade string instruments of international renown. While John Heitman has a long career behind him in the Norwegian music scene, under band umbrellas such as BabyBaby and Chronicles. It was after Chronicles entered the years around 2012 that De Akterutseilte slowly but surely resurfaced in the approximate shape they have today. Bassist Bård Dahle has been with them from the start, and now forms the rhythm section with Magnus Forsberg on drums. Stig Solem sings harmony and plays various other instruments as needed. They are what John Heitman and Arnt Rian have always wanted - a band

Tickets at: https://de-akterutseilte.hoopla.no/event/692207485
or
just knock on the door.
WELCOME!