Viggo Bjerkhagen

Viggo Bjerkhagen is a young Swedish blues guitarist from the village of Sövde in Skåne who has quickly earned recognition for his passionate, deeply rooted approach to traditional blues. At just 19 years old, he has already made an impression on the international blues community through his commitment to the twelve-bar tradition and an understanding of the genre that transcends geography.

Finding the Blues

Bjerkhagen's journey into the blues began at age 14, when he stumbled upon B.B. King's legendary Live in Africa concert (Zaire, 1974) on YouTube. "I thought, 'wow, that's where I want to be,'" he recalls. Shortly after, he bought his first electric guitar — a Fender Stratocaster — and has since logged thousands of hours of practice. He has built several Stratocasters himself: "I've assembled them from parts myself — it's cheaper that way."

He graduated from the music gymnasium Rytmus in Malmö in 2025 and has continued to develop his craft relentlessly. "If I don't get to play for two days, I climb the walls," he says.

Pilgrimage to the American South

Bjerkhagen made a pilgrimage to the blues heartland in the United States, visiting B.B. King's grave in Indianola, Mississippi, and the B.B. King Museum. He also tracked down all three crossroads that claim to be the spot where Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil — "there are three intersections that are said to be the place, so just to be safe we visited all three," he says with a laugh. During the trip, he had the chance to play alongside former members of Muddy Waters' band.

Career & Projects

Bjerkhagen's dedication earned him a place at Little Steven's Band Camp during the 2024 Notodden Blues Festival, where fellow participants noted that his grasp of the blues rivaled that of musicians from the genre's heartland in Mississippi. He has since been active in multiple projects, including the international group Lost Charming Boys — a band of Swedish, Norwegian, and American musicians who recorded the single "One Tall Coffee" at the Notodden Blues Festival. He performs as a guitarist in Stellan Viking's Rhythm 'n' Blues Band and has contributed to the Swedish Bluespodden podcast, covering events such as the Åmål Blues Fest.

He has also performed at Sjöbo's Kulturfest on Gamla Torg, bringing his emotionally charged blues tones to a local audience. Beyond established venues, he frequents the Musikhörnan in Kirseberg outside Malmö — a recurring gathering point for blues musicians in Skåne.

Sound & Philosophy

After extensive searching, Bjerkhagen found his ideal amplifier: a vintage Fender Superverb. "It's not a sound you can get from modern amplifiers," he explains. His musical heroes include Jimi Hendrix, British guitarist Matt Schofield, B.B. King, and Stevie Ray Vaughan — all featured on the walls of his guitar room in Sövde.

"Few musicians want to be a straight copy," he says. "It's an eternal search for your own voice, while showing respect for those who came before." His ultimate goal is to make a living from the music, playing both solo and with a full band. "The feeling of standing on a stage and having the audience in your hand — there's no better feeling."