“Many people associate all blues music as sad music. This is wrong in my opinion. Black people originally used their music as a positive break in a hard everyday life – to get out of the misery and have a god time!”

Arle Hjelmeland:

(Let the) Good Time Charlie (Roll)

In autumn 2025, Norwegian rhythm & blues pioneers Good Time Charlie released their 13th album, boomin’, to outstanding critical acclaim. The response was immediate. Øyvind Pharo of Bluesnews awarded the album a perfect score, stating: “A complete hit!” Following the album release concert in Oslo, editor Rune Endal wrote: “Good Time Charlie swings more than ever. A superb concert! By far Norway’s finest band in its genre.” The new release “boomin’” follows the musical path established by the band’s debut classic Comin’ Down With The Blues (1995), widely regarded as a milestone in Norwegian blues history. The album features brand-new, heartfelt songs performed by the original lineup in peak form. The result is a band that honours its roots while sounding fresh, vital, and contemporary. Formed in 1982, Good Time Charlie is considered a pioneering force in authentic rhythm & blues in Norway. Drawing inspiration from New Orleans R&B, West Coast blues, boogie-woogie, and rockin’ soul, the band has developed a distinctive and powerful sound.

(Arle Hjelmeland  / Photo by Ruben Olsen)

Over the years, they have collaborated with blues legends such as Lowell Fulson, Hubert Sumlin, Pinetop Perkins, and Jimmy Dawkins, earning strong national and international recognition. With 13 critically acclaimed albums and multiple Spellemann Award (Norwegian Grammy) nominations, Good Time Charlie has left a lasting imprint on the Scandinavian and European blues scene. Live, the band is renowned for its infectious groove, musical authority, and uncompromising professionalism. The band are Arle Hjelmeland on vocals, harmonica; Johnny Augland on guitar, piano, vocals; Per Fredriksen on drums; Leif Korsnes on bass, vocals; Steinar Karlsen on guitar, vocals.

Interview by Michael Limnios

What do you learn about yourself from the blues and what does the blues mean to you?

I discovered blues music when I was 12 years old. It wasn't easy to get blues records in the small town I lived in, I had friends with older siblings who had blues records.

Blues struck a very special nerve in me. That feeling is still just as strong when I hear blues and soul that resonates with me. In blues music, there is a nerve I could identify with. I will be an avid bluesman my whole life. Always on the lookout for artists who resonate with me.

I started Good Time Charlie in 1982 and after 44 years, I am still going strong. Blues has clearly been very important to the person I have become, and will be until I die. Blues is a big part of my life and has made my life good and meaningful. I have three children, 2 of whom are musicians inspired by the music they grew up with, the third is a photographer and a ceramicist.

How do you describe your sound and songbook? What characterize band’s music philosophy?

From the start, I was focused on Good Time Charlie recreating the authentic sound that black blues music had in the 40s, 50s, and 60s. I bought old amplifiers, microphones, and guitars from Rod Piazza in Mighty Flyers, among other things. And we dressed inspired by the blues musicians of the same period. This was new in Norway and went down well.

The authentic soundscape has been the band's hallmark. We were also conscious of playing good obscure songs, not the played-out blues classics. This became the band's philosophy early on, to stand out and have a distinctive character. This made us audience favorites. Even the punks came to our concerts.

“I want my music to make people happy, but at the same time have a clear message! The lyrics I write now are more related to the importance of unity and respect, in a world that has gone completely off its hinges.” (Good Time Charlie / Photo by Geir Hareide Andersen)

Why do you think that the Blues music continues to generate such a devoted following in Norway?

That's an interesting question. I was born in 1958. In 1970 I was 12 years old and blues was a big part of popular music in Norway. This was largely British blues, and Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac were huge, "everyone" had their records. The road from there to the black artists was short for me.

The first time I heard a black vocalist and pianist was "The Big Boat" with Eddie Boyd, with Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac as a backing band, I was completely blown away! There a new world opened up for me. I joined the Scandinavian Blues Association when I was 16, and eagerly studied the members' magazine Jefferson

Beatlesmania led to great activity with local bands in Norway from the early 60s and 70s. The British Blues Invation led to many of the rocking local bands that played at dance events having blues songs in their repertoire. Most of today's young blues musicians in Norway either had parents who played blues in local bands, or grew up with blues music at home.

Many of those who visit blues clubs in Norway today are my age. They were introduced to blues music early on as part of rock music in the 60s. This gave blues music a good foothold in Norway.

When I started Good Time Charlie in the early 80s, you could play blues everywhere in Norway. This led to many young musicians hearing blues live and being inspired to form their own blues bands. There was also more activity with black and white blues artists and bands from the USA.

At that time, blues rock was big in Norway. Good Time Charlie wanted to be a counterpart to this, we stood out, and got lots of gigs.

Over the past 25 years, the Norwegian Blues Union, the blues festivals and the Norwegian blues clubs have done a great job of recruiting young musicians to blues music.

Since 1995, I have done well over 1000 school concerts where I have played blues for children with various projects with members of Good Time Charlie. Through the children's project JUBELBLUES, the band has released 4 children's albums with Norwegian lyrics, and music books for the albums. This can be used as a teaching program in schools.

Good Time Charlie experiences at concerts that young musicians eagerly sit in the front row, asking us to play children's blues songs they heard us play at school when they were children. For us, it is a very nice experience that Good Time Charlie is leaving its mark on the new generation of musicians.

“I find that some of today's blues musicians show little interest in the roots of blues music, and the great style creators and blues songs that became the foundation of rock and roll and pop music. It seems that the inspiration for many musicians largely goes back to white performers such as the early Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton.” (Photo: Arle Hjelmeland with children, Norway 2018)

Are there any memories from gigs, jams, open acts and studio sessions which you’d like to share with us?

I am increasingly happy to have experienced that my band had the honor of being the backing band for blues legends like Lowell Fulson, Hubert Sumlin, Pinetop Perkins, James Cotton and Jimmy Dawkins. We had several tours with Lowell Fulson and Hubert Sumlin. Getting to know them was huge for me. They are in the top ward of style creators in blues, and in my opinion, learning about blues music directly from them must be the greatest honor a white musician can experience.

Lowell Fulson helped launch the careers of BB King and Ray Charles. Hubert Sumlin, Howlin Wolf’s guitarist, was a mentor to Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Keith Richards.

What do you miss most nowadays from the blues of past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I find that some of today's blues musicians show little interest in the roots of blues music, and the great style creators and blues songs that became the foundation of rock and roll and pop music. It seems that the inspiration for many musicians largely goes back to white performers such as the early Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton.

Creating your own distinctiveness and expression based on the great style creators in blues music has been important to me. If you base your expression on standard songs that are copies of copies, there will be little identity in my ears.

In the future, I hope for more documentation about the history of blues, and with that bring out the importance of creating your own expression based on the roots of blues music. Otherwise, I think much of blues music will be based on rock and funk.

“When I started Good Time Charlie in the early 80s, you could play blues everywhere in Norway. This led to many young musicians hearing blues live and being inspired to form their own blues bands. There was also more activity with black and white blues artists and bands from the USA.” (Photo: Good Time Charlie at The Luttprisen, Norway 2026)

What is the impact of the Blues and Jazz on the racial and socio-cultural implications?  How do you want the music to affect people?

Blues and Jazz not only redefined American popular music, but they also broke down the segregation barriers, acting as vehicles for social protest, and fostering racial intergration. This music provided a voice for the marginalized.

With today's troubled world, the unifying power of music is very important. I would like to encourage musicians of all genres to be part of making this world to a better place.

I want my music to make people happy, but at the same time have a clear message! The lyrics I write now are more related to the importance of unity and respect, in a world that has gone completely off its hinges.

Many people associate all blues music as sad music. This is wrong in my opinion. Black people originally used their music as a positive break in a hard everyday life – to get out of the misery and have a god time!

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

Stay humble and find joy in the process.

Be easy to work with and build genuine relationships.

Being authentically yourself is better than being a copy of someone else.

(Good Time Charlie / Photo by Geir Hareide Andersen)