Beardfish are one of the most warm-hearted and inventive bands of the modern progressive rock revival — a Swedish group who wear their love of classic 1970s prog on their sleeve while sounding fresh, playful and entirely their own. Led by the prodigiously talented multi-instrumentalist Rikard Sjöblom, later of Big Big Train, they spent fifteen years making richly melodic, eclectic and often joyous music that won them a devoted following across the prog world.

The short version

Formed in Gävle, Sweden, in 2001, Beardfish play warm, 70s-rooted modern prog — eclectic, melodic and full of vintage organ, drawing openly on the likes of Gentle Giant, Yes and Frank Zappa. Across the albums in their catalogue, from the double “The Sane Day” (2005) to “+4626-Comfortzone” (2015), they built a reputation for inventive, big-hearted songwriting shot through with humour and emotion. They are among the most beloved bands of the 2000s prog scene.

Gävle: a love of seventies prog

Beardfish were formed in 2001 in the Swedish town of Gävle by singer and multi-instrumentalist Rikard Sjöblom and guitarist David Zackrisson. After a few early line-up changes, they settled into the four-piece that would last the rest of their career, and recorded a Swedish-language debut in 2003. It was their second album, the sprawling double set “The Sane Day” (2005), that caught wider attention, leading to a deal with the respected prog label InsideOut and a place among the leading lights of the modern progressive scene.

Warm, 70s-rooted prog

Beardfish’s music is a loving, living tribute to the golden age of progressive rock. Built on warm vintage keyboards, Hammond organ and Rikard Sjöblom’s versatile voice and multi-instrumental talents, their songs draw openly on heroes like Gentle Giant, Yes, Genesis, Camel and Frank Zappa — complex and ambitious, full of shifting time signatures and multi-part structures, yet always melodic and accessible. What sets them apart is their warmth and wit: a distinct sense of humour and a deep emotional honesty run through everything, making even their most intricate music feel human and inviting.

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From The Sane Day to Comfortzone

Beardfish’s run of albums shows a band growing ever more confident. The double album “The Sane Day” (2005) announced their talent, while the two-part “Sleeping in Traffic” (2007 and 2008) — home to epics like “Roulette” — won them international acclaim and admirers including Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy. “Destined Solitaire” (2009) and “Mammoth” (2011) deepened their sound, “The Void” (2012) took a darker turn, and “+4626-Comfortzone” (2015), named for their hometown’s dialling code, proved a fitting finale before the band split in 2016. Happily, they reunited in 2024.

Album by album

Seven albums of warm, eclectic, 70s-rooted modern prog. Tap any title for its guide.

The players

For most of their career, Beardfish were a tight-knit four-piece: singer, guitarist and keyboardist Rikard Sjöblom, the band’s principal songwriter and a remarkable multi-instrumentalist; guitarist David Zackrisson; bassist Robert Hansen; and drummer Magnus Östgren. The early years saw a few changes, with drummer Petter Diamant, bassist Gabriel Olsson and keyboardist Stefan Aronsson all passing through before that classic line-up locked in. After Beardfish disbanded in 2016, Sjöblom became a full member of Big Big Train and revived his solo project Gungfly, before the band joyfully reunited in 2024.

Where to start

Begin with “Sleeping in Traffic: Part One” (2007), often regarded as their finest hour and the album that made their name, packed with ambitious, melodic, 70s-flavoured prog. From there, the double “The Sane Day” (2005) overflows with ideas, while the darker, punchier “The Void” (2012) shows another side of the band. Three albums that capture one of modern prog’s most warm-hearted groups.

Why they still matter

Beardfish matter as one of the bands who proved that classic, 70s-rooted progressive rock could be made with fresh energy, real songcraft and genuine joy. Eschewing both empty nostalgia and cold technical display, they brought warmth, humour and heart to the genre, and gave it one of its most gifted talents in Rikard Sjöblom. For anyone who loves prog that is ambitious and inventive but never forgets to be fun, Beardfish are essential listening.

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