The members have backgrounds in both Jokke & Valentinerne and Jokke Med Tourettes, and as the band name suggests, this is a merger of the two.With Petter Pogo on bass, Runar ‘Kula’ Johannessen on drums and Petter Baarli himself on guitar, they formed a powerhouse with a long track record and solid experience of the material. Tarjei Foshaug has been the vocalist since 2006 and delivers Joachim’s songs with genuine passion, having established himself as a dynamic frontman.
In 2022, Valentourettes passed the 600-concert mark. The band has played to packed houses from Longyearbyen to Flekkefjord, to rapturous applause and great joy, both for those who were lucky enough to experience Jokke whilst he was still with us and for the younger generation who have had to make do with the records.
When the Torshov Theatre was to stage the musical *Verdiløse Menn* by Christopher Nielsen, based on Brother Joachim’s lyrics, it was only natural to hire Valentourettes (minus Tarjei) as the theatre orchestra. The production was an instant hit and, after a run at the small Torshov Theatre, was staged on the main stage of the National Theatre itself, where it has been running until the final performance in autumn 2018.
Now to the band’s most important member: the AUDIENCE.
Few other bands can boast such an active and engaged audience. They sing along and belt it out, dance and raise their glasses, laugh and cheer, and immerse themselves so completely in the lyrics and music that they sometimes merge into one huge, pulsating monster that takes over the whole venue and half the stage, much to the band’s delight.
This quartet continues to convince both seasoned concert-goers and new generations of fans of Joachim Nielsen and his music that rock is at its best in concert.
Full houses and thunderous cheers follow them wherever they play across the country, and the fact that the beer taps are running hot doesn’t seem to bother concert organisers in the slightest either.
