Bjørn Riis is among Norway’s most acclaimed and prolific artists in the progressive rock genre. As a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, he’s transitioned from learning his trade in obscure cover bands to having worldwide success both as a forming member of Airbag and as a solo artist.
On May the 29th, Karisma Records will release his first ever live release called Lifandi. The first taste of the mini-album is the song “Gone” taken from his latest album, which is released today. It can be heard here:
Lifandi is a four-track live mini-album recorded during a short European tour in the autumn of 2025. Closely connected to Fimbulvinter, the release includes live versions of the title track and the album’s lead single, “Gone,” alongside powerful renditions of fan favourites “Getaway” and “Where Are You Now,” both originally featured on the 2017 album Forever Comes to an End.
Bjørn comments:
I love performing my solo material. The shows are all about the songs and the music—bare-boned, high-energy, and a lot of fun. On this tour, I played with some incredibly talented musicians, and many of the songs and arrangements took on a new life. I wanted to capture that feeling and create a little souvenir of the experience to share with everyone.
Lifandi—meaning “alive” in Norse—is a tribute to the classic live albums of the 1970s that Bjørn grew up with. The release is dedicated to Ace Frehley, who passed away on the very day this show was recorded. It was an emotional evening, and the album stands as Bjørn’s heartfelt tribute to one of his greatest musical influences.
Lifandi features Bjørn Riis on vocals and guitar, Simen Valldal Johannessen on keyboards, Arild Brøter on drums, and Øystein Sootholtet on bass. The album is mixed and mastered by Vegard Kleftås Sleipnes.
Tracklisting for Lifandi is as follows:
- Gone
- Getaway
- Where are You Now?
- Fimbulvinter
Lifandi will be available on CD, Digital and limited edition Black & Purple Marble Vinyl LP formats, and can now be pre-ordered at:
For nearly two decades, Airbag and Bjørn has headlined sold-out shows, shared the stage with some of the biggest bands and artists in the genre, including Marillion, Yes, Saga, Neil Morse and Riverside and performed at some of the biggest festivals, including Night of the Prog and Cruise to the Edge.
Bjørn’s life in music started in the early 80s when he discovered Kiss, Black Sabbath and Whitesnake. This soon led to Bjørn picking up the guitar spending hours figuring out classic riffs and exploring weird sounds. Later, Pink Floyd and Porcupine Tree was crucial in Bjørn’s formative years as a songwriter.
“Music is a work of passion for me. It’s always there and something I can’t live without. I’m lucky to be able to create music, play instruments, play for other people and work with so many talented artists.” – Bjørn
After firmly establishing Airbag as a force to reconned with, Bjørn went deep into his own musical roots and recorded his first solo album, Lullabies in a Car Crash, in 2014. The album was a huge success, both commercially and personally, and it gained Bjørn the confidence and inspiration to venture out on a steadily growing solo career.
As a solo artist, Bjørn’s music is multi layered taking inspiration from different genres and styles. The bands he grew up with are ever present, but his unique sound also has references to late 60s singer/songwriters, americana, electronica and film music.
You’ll be able to see BJØRN RIIS live both with Airbag and solo in 2026/2027, and more dates will be announced:
AIRBAG:
22.05 – Das Rind, Russelsheim (D)
23.05 – Chez Paulette, Nancy (F)
24.05 – 013, Tilburg (NL)
27.06 – Morvala Festival, Cornwall (UK)
05.11 – Terminal Kultury Goclaw, Warsaw (PL)
06.11 – Zaklete Rewiry, Wroclaw (PL)07.11 – Hype Park, Krakow (PL)
BJØRN RIIS:
22.01.27 – Cacaofabriek, Helmond (NL)
23.01.27 – DeBoerdrij, Zoetermeer (NL)
More information about BJØRN RIIS can be found on the webpage at
