Mikael Bäckman

Om mig

Mikael has been performing and recording with his harmonica since the early 90’s. In 1995 he joined blues-band Ramblin’ Minds and has been with them ever since, releasing six albums and touring all over Sweden as well as Finland and Norway.

In 2008, Mikael and Ika Weinz formed John Henry, a Country / Americana-band that has released four albums and performed numerous concerts in Sweden, Finland, Norway, France, and Switzerland. John Henry was also a part of MS-Blows!, a collection of various harmonica players (Kim Wilson, Charlie McCoy, Mickey Raphael, Joe Filisko among others) helping a cause and a friend. John Henry was the only European act on the album.

Mikael defended his PhD thesis External link. in 2024. He also has masters degrees in Music Pedagogy External link. (2006) and Musical Performance External link. (2017).

Mikael has been teaching the harmonica since the early 2000’s and among his former students are Joel Andersson of JA Harmonicas and Mikael Fall, World Champion in Trossingen 2013.

In 2017 Mikael was one of sixteen presenters at the World Harmonica Festival in Trossingen, Germay.

In 2020 & 2023, Mikael was one of the featured performers at the annual SPAH (the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica) convention in the USA.

Mikael has published articles in the International Country Music Journal External link. (2022), Music & Practice External link. (vol 10), and contributed a chapter in Teaching Music Performance in Higher Music Education External link. (2024).

Awards:

2004 Norrbottens Akademiens Music Award

2006 Nordea Award

2009 Winner, Swedish Championship of Country Music w/ John Henry

2010 Piteå Municipal Culture Award, w/ John Henry

2012 Winner, Swedish Championship of Country Music w/ John Henry

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/07qOtgwTkCHlzYgx6P8Goh?si=c6d722dc6d71499e External link.

Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/@johnhenryofsweden/videos External link.

Website:

http://www.johnhenry.nu External link.

http://harpatwork.com External link.