JEERK is a rhythm performance group from Sweden, which was formed in 2002. The founding members were Niklas Karlsson, Johan Regnell, Bo-Erik Eriksson, Michael Jansson and Johan Eriksson. The group's name was formed by using the first initial from the founding member's surname; i.e., Jansson, Eriksson, Eriksson, Regnell, Karlsson. After two months, Thomas Bergstig joined JEERK. Each member has attended either the Ballet Academy or the Performing Arts School in Gothenburg.
JEERK writes and produces all of their material, e.g.: music, choreography, scripts, videos and graphics. JEERK is administered through two corporations: Greenhouse Production AB (Sweden) and DDFS Entertainment, Inc (USA).
JEERK specializes in visual music. They perform varied styles of dance, primarily tap dancing. The group features rhythms made by converting ordinary items (i.e., lunch boxes, hockey sticks, trash cans) into percussion instruments. The members of JEERK are all multi-instrumentalists and incorporate original songs within their performances.
Members Niklas "Nikke" Karlsson (2002–present) -- Originally from Kungälv Johan "Reggie" Regnell (2002–present) -- Originally from Linköping Bo-Erik "BoBo" Eriksson (2002–present) -- Originally from Norrtälje Michael Jansson (2002–2005) -- Originally from Trollhättan Johan "Xet" Eriksson (2002–present) -- Originally from Örebro Thomas "Tymac" Bergstig (2002–present) -- Originally from Stockholm Fredrik Lexfors (2005–2006) -- Originally from Vinslöv Kristian Lindin (2012–present) --Originally from Örebro Mikael Johansson (2012–present) --Originally from Skattungbyn
Performance history JEERK's first show was at Pusterviksteatern, Gothenburg, in 2002 with the group's first showcase in Skene, the same year. JEERK has performed in many venues, including: stage shows, as guest entertainers on television programs, at special events, festivals, as well as several product launches. JEERK has choreographed several numbers for guest performers at Sweden's Onstage Event, and to promote new products for companies. Lindab is one of JEERK’s most devout partners and provided the group with ventilation pipes for drums. Whenever Lindab quests to conquer a new market, JEERK helps out with their special talent for loud sound. JEERK has also composed rhythmic pieces of music for German CLAAS and Swedish SKF. The song Emergency was originally written for a commercial for the diaper brand Huggies. Huggies Commercial Feat. Emergency
The JEERK Show tour with the National Swedish Touring Theatre, was JEERK's first full-length show which toured almost 40 cities around Sweden. JEERKs second full-length show, Overload sold out for four nights in a row during December 2004.
JEERK’s TV-breakthrough was Sweden’s most popular TV-show, ”Allsång på Skansen”, in 2003, with millions of viewers every summer. In 2004, they appeared as special guests on Lill-Babs i 50 år, a television show celebrating the career of the Swedish singer and actress Lill-Babs.
In 2006, JEERK performed in the opening ceremony of the European Athletics Championship in Göteborg, an event which had "a total audience of 340 million over the seven days of the championships." Irish singer Ronan Keating, famous for his rendition of When You Say Nothing at All, also performed during the Ceremony.
In the same year, JEERK appeared as guest performers at the Swedish Eurovision Song Contest, with approximately 3,645,000 viewers.
In 2007, the group performed on Let's Dance, Sweden's version of Dancing with the Stars, which had a viewership of over two million people. Best Seller
In 2008, the group performed on the Romanian show Dansez pentru tine which means “Dancing for you” in an episode where the contestants as well as the guest artists performed for a cause. JEERK, in this particular case, performed for a girl who was not able to pay for her dance school.
In 2009, the group had their first US performance at the theme park Silver Dollar City, performing several shorter shows per day. After a successful 10-week run at the theme park, JEERK returned to the US in 2010 to perform for two years at the Hughes Brother's Theatre in Branson, MO. Following the second year's performances, JEERK began to pursue a European and US tour.
Album release In May, 2012, JEERK released their first full-length album, FAMOUS. FAMOUS consists of nine tracks, composed and written by members of the group.
Showography JEERK's CV Online
Show 2004 The JEERK Show tour with the National Swedish Touring Theatre 2004 Overload Grand stage, Gothenburg Opera 2006 Rock´n´Rhythm Show Trädgår´n, Gothenburg 2006 JEERK Christmas Show Rörstrands Industries, Linköping 2007 JEERKmania Sweden tour 2007 The Best of JEERK Storan, Gothenburg and Nalen, Stockholm 2009 Theme Park Special Silver Dollar City, Branson, Missouri 2010 The JEERK Show 2010 Hughes Brothers Theatre, Branson, Missouri JEERK won “Best Show Award”. Branson Critic Awards 2011 The JEERK Show 2011 Hughes Brothers Theatre, Branson, Missouri 2012 The JEERK Show 2012 Andy Williams Moon River Theatre, Branson, Missouri 2012 The JEERK Show Dominican Republic tour 2013 The JEERK Show 2013 RFD-TV The Theatre, Branson, Missouri 2013 The JEERK Show Wisconsin State Fair, West Allis, Wisconsin
TV 2003 Allsång på Skansen, SVT2 2004 Bingolotto, Performers, TV4 2006 European Athletics Championships opening ceremony, Eurosport 2006 Eurovision Song Contest, Guest performers, Scandinavium, SVT1 2007 Let’s Dance, Guest performers, TV4 2007 Bingolotto, Performers, TV4 2008 Dansez Pentru Tine, Guest performers, ProTV, Romania
Event 2002 Opening ceremony of Casino Cosmopol, Gothenburg 2004 Carnegie Art Award, Honoring Nina Roos 2006 Opening ceremony of Kanyon Shopping Center, Istanbul 2007 SKF 100th anniversary, feat. Neil Armstrong, Gothenburg 2007 Lindab, product launch, Frankfurt 2008 Lindab, product launch, Basel 2008 Lindab, product launch, Milan 2007 CLAAS, product launch Sweden, Mantorp 2008 Opening ceremony of Bâneasa Shopping Center, Bucharest 2011 Bilsport Awards, Stockholm 2012 Volvo Product Launch, Gothenburg, Stockholm 2012 Pacific Life Conference, Huntington Beach 2013 Guldkärnan, Helsingborg 2014 Still/Moving UCMO, Warrensburg
Other 2005 Onstage, Svenska Mässan, Gothenburg and Älvsjömässan, Stockholm 2008 Danish-German Children's Theatre Festival, Flensburg & Haderslev 2008 Onstage, Scandinavium, Gothenburg and The Globe, Stockholm
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