Nick Constantine caught up with Peter Lyktberg to get the latest from the Swedish sensations!

Who’s in the band and what are your roles?

The Barntwisters are:

​Evelina Sundström (Queen E) – Vocals

​Peter Lyktberg – Drums

​Stefan Källarson – Contrabass

​Andreas Carlsson-Vahlund – Guitar

​What’s your ‘origin story’? (How did you all meet / how did the band begin / have you been in any bands before…how did you get to where you are now)

It started when a piano player and a female singer contacted me (Peter) to see if I was interested in starting a rock ‘n’ roll/rockabilly band with them. We met in a small studio for the first time and played a couple of songs. The feeling was great, and I was happy to play in any band at that time. I found a guitar player and we started playing together under the name Dotty Mils and The Barntwisters. We did one gig with a temporary contrabass player, but after that show, the piano player lost interest. At the same time, I got in contact with Stefan and asked him if he was interested in joining. He was in another band at the time, but he joined us.

​We started rehearsing a few rock ‘n’ roll/rockabilly covers with female singers. Our singer didn’t want to sing covers with a male singer, sorry to say. Anyway, one weekend I was playing records at a wedding and there was an acoustic cover duo playing. At one point they played ”Highway to Hell,” and a tipsy young woman entered the stage and started singing. It blew me away. I remember thinking, “I have to ask her to join the band.” I did, and she joined as a backup singer. Soon she became the lead singer because Camilla lost interest.

​We took the name The Barntwisters because, even if Evelina is the face of the band (thank God!), we are a band. When Evelina joined, she had never been in a band before and had never stood on a real stage. With her in the band, there was no problem playing the songs we liked. The guitar player, Sven, left the band and we asked Mike Bonanza if he could join to help us out on guitar in the studio to record the band’s first record, Boom. We all felt Mike would fit in the band, both socially and as a really good guitar player. When we finished in the studio, Mike asked what would happen next. We said that we would love him to stay, but it was up to him. He gladly stayed. That is how the journey started; it is our ninth year this year and we will keep doing it.

​Which bands / artists are your biggest influences?

That’s a tricky one—there are so many—but I have to mention Johnny Burnette, Rhythm Shakers, and a lot of Wild Records bands. We have a mix of influences in the band like country, rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly, swing, rhythm and blues, punk, and don’t forget Dire Straits.

​Do you adapt your sound between shows/gigs/recordings?

We try not to. We want it to be The Barntwisters every time.

​How would you describe your sound?

It’s a blend of different styles. The foundation is ’50s rock ‘n’ roll, then we added some rockabilly, rhythm & blues, country, swing, boogie, ’60s pop, and punk. That became ’50s style rock ‘n’ roll with a twist—The Barntwisters way.

​What’s your favourite song to play live and why? 

Another hard one. I will pick three: “Evil,” “Really Mean,” and “Wild Train.”

​What’s been the highlight of your music career so far? (It could be a special show, winning an award, finishing an album….anything that’s been awesome)

For the band, I have to say our first gig outside Sweden. It was in London at the Boomerang Club at the Fiddler’s Elbow in Camden. Also, the making of the first record Boom and the gig at Viva Las Vegas.

Have you faced any difficulties or setbacks in your music career so far? How have you overcome them?

As a band, it was a really big setback when Mike left because he was such a big part of the sound and style The Barntwisters had. It’s not easy to find a guitar player who has the skill, style, and personality to fit in. We tried locally with no luck. Finally, we got a tip about a guitarist (Torsten Branth) in Uppsala who had the experience and skills. We contacted him and, lucky for us, he liked the material and was interested. The three-hour car ride from Uppsala once a week did not scare him. In January 2022, “Mr. T” joined the band. It was a new start for The Barntwisters.

​However, in September 2025, Mr. T announced that he was leaving, so we had to find a guitarist again because we had gigs booked. We contacted a very experienced and brilliant guitar player and musician, Andreas Carlsson-Vahlund (who lives in the same city as the rest of the band), to ask if he could fill in for the shows. He said yes (thank God). The two gigs went really well considering Andreas only had two rehearsals beforehand. I remember thinking it would be great to have him in the band because he was fitting in so well with the rest of us. When we were relaxing after the show, he just, out of the blue, asked if he could join. We just looked at him and smiled, and the words that came out were ”hell yes.”

​Now the band is complete and 100% local. Another thing we are grateful for is the return of Stefan on double bass in October 2024. Him leaving the band in 2022 was a bad decision, and we regret it. The Barntwisters today are more alive than ever; the atmosphere and feeling are back on track. We are having fun in “The Barntwister-bunker.” There is much going on. The Barntwisters have been hitting the stages for nine years now, and we’re going to keep doing it because being on stage and playing is something we can’t be without.

​What’s coming up in the future for you? 

We have gigs in Sweden, and we have Viva Las Vegas in April and the UK in July. There are more requests coming in for Sweden and Europe, and we must find time to record a new album.

​Is there anything in particular you’d like me to mention in this feature (A sponsorship, an upcoming album, a thank you, a fun fact….)

We would like to take the opportunity to thank our families for the support and for letting us do what we are doing. A big thank you to Rojo Jetting and Moisture AB for providing us with “The Barntwister Bunker.” And, of course, the people who come to the shows and buy records and merch. Also, thanks to all the venues and organizers of live music for booking the band.

​TELL ME ABOUT:

Your last album…what was the process there?

Our record Wild Train was really hard work because the preparation before going into the studio was a struggle. One reason was that Evelina and I used to have everything ready weeks before it was time to record. When we started recording, we usually only needed one take for the basic tracks. But since 50% of the band had a three-hour car ride from the rehearsal bunker and only came for production rehearsals, it was really hard to write new material. We only managed to write five songs. But the record Wild Train is a product of where the band was at the time, and it’s a rock ‘n’ roll record “The Barntwister way.”

​Favourite song of yours!

We all have different favorite songs, so I’ll just pick one. I think we all like “Lotta Lovin’” by Gene Vincent.

​Your craziest tour experience

The first trip outside Sweden to play at the Boomerang Club in London.

​Your dreams for the future! How would you describe them?

To keep doing what we are doing.

​Is there anyone you’d love to share a stage with, living or dead? Why?

As a band, it would be great to share a stage with The Rhythm Shakers.

​Did you always know what kind of music you wanted to make, or did it come to you gradually?

Pretty much. But when we start to play self-penned songs, it all falls into place.

​Are your lyrics in character or based on your life?

Sometimes.

​Was there a song or moment that made you fall in love with rockabilly?

I think we all have different answers to that, but for me, it was when I heard “Rockabilly Boogie” for the first time around ’77-’78. Johnny Burnette and Dorsey Burnette are still my favorite artists.

​Is there anything else you’d like to tell me?

We are really looking forward to coming to the UK for two shows in July. We wish it were easier to play in the UK. Thank you for having The Barntwisters in Rip It Up Magazine. Keep rocking, everybody!

Nick Constantine

Buy music from the Barntwisters here