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CULTURE

Swedish pop, photo art and Marilyn Monroe: What’s on in Sweden

Something for the weekend:Marilyn exhibition in Gothenburg, Lykke Li in Stockholm, Erwin Wurm in Malmö

Published: 15 February 2008 09:35 CET

STOCKHOLM

Concerts/Music:

Lykke Li

Having just released her debut album, including the impossibly catchy Little Bit, Sweden’s own Lykke Li stops off in the capital as part of her nationwide tour.

Price: 100 kronor

Age: 20

Location: Debaser, Karl Johans Torg 1

Time: Friday, February 15th, 10pm (doors open 8pm)

Phone: 08- 30 56 20

More information: www.debaser.nu

Kinski

One of Seattle’s best bands bring their brand of psychrock to Stockholm this weekend. According to NME, Kinki sound ”like Sabbath in a washing machine during a power surge”.

Price: 100 kronor (80 kronor- members)

Age: 20 (18-members)

Location: Debaser, Karls Johan Torg 1

Time: Saturday, February 16th, 10pm (doors opnen 8pm)

Phone: 08- 30 56 20

More information: www.debaser.nu

Stockholm New Music

The Swedish Wind Ensemble gathers 300 wind instruments in the same place for a concert performance this Saturday.

Location: Stockholm New Music

Time: Saturday, February 16th, 1pm and 3pm

Phone: 08- 407 16 00

More information: www.nordiskamuseet.se

Spy Bar

Don’t Blame the Youth will be at Spy Bar’s White Bar this Friday night playing a mix of the newest, hippest Swedish music.

Age: 23

Price: 160 kronor

Location: Spy Bar, Birger Jarlsgatan 20.

Time: Saturday, February 15th, 10pm-5am

More information: www.spybar.se.

Theatre/Entertainment:

London the Musical

This gritty musical might be written by a British team, but its world premiere is taking place in Swedish in Stockholm on February 1st. The musical depicts London in all its multicultural, urban, edgy glory. See Kathleen Harman’s preview.

Location: Filadelfiakyrkan, Rörstrandsgatan, Stockholm.

Time: Friday, February 15th, 7.30pm (premiere), Saturday February 16th, 3pm and 7.30pm

and continuing….

More information: www.londonthemusical.com.

Tickets: www.ticnet.se or 077 170 7070.

Una Noche Especial

Scala Theatre is hosting “una noche especial” this weekend with a fabulous flamenco show.

Location: Scala Theatre, Wallingatan 34.

Time: Sunday, February 17th, 6pm

More information: www.scalateatern.se (Swedish).

Galleries:

Super Car Fair MPH

The latest models from the best car manufacturers such as Ferrari, Maserati, and Bentley will be on show at the second Super Car Fair MPH this weekend.

Price: 120 kronor

Location: Factory, Nacka Strand, Augustendalstorget 6.

Times: Friday, February 15th, 12pm-6pm

Phone: 08- 601 22 00

More information: www.factory.se (Swedish).

Boys are Us

Maria Friberg is one of Sweden’s most established artists. Through her work she explores masculinity, group belonging, and social codes and conventions. On display are her photographs from the past ten years.

Location: Galleri 3, Kulturhuset, Sergels torg 3.

Times: Friday, February 15th, 11am-8pm Saturday/Sunday 11am-5pm

Phone: 08- 5083 1508

More information: www.kulturhuset.se (English).

Konstfack Showdown

Textile graduate students from the Univeristy of Arts, Crafts, and Design have their fashion concepts on display at Kulturhuset.

Price: Free.

Location: Kulturhuset, Galleri 3, Sergels torg.

Times: Friday/Saturday/Sunday 2pm-5pm

…and continuing until March 2nd.

Phone: 08- 508 31 508

More information: www.konstfack.se.

Films:

I’m Not There

Oscar-nominated director, Todd Haynes, is back with a film about the music icon, Bob Dylan. The film takes place during the 1960s and 70s and is influenced by his classic song “I’m Not There.” It is not your average biography.

Location: Biograf Sture, Birger Jarlsgatan 41a.

Times: Three showings daily

For the full timetable and more information, visit the website below

More information: www.biosture.se (English available).

CinemAfrica Film Festival

Scandinavia’s largest festival dedicated to African films. This year’s festival shows 24 films from 14 different lands. You also have the chance to talk to visiting directors, and attend seminars about tradition and modernity.

Location: Biograf Zita, biograf Klara in Kulturhuset, biograf Sture, and Etnografiska Museet.

Times: February 7th-17th

For the full timetable and more information, visit the website below

More information: www.cinemafrica.se (English available).

Other:

Stockholm Tango Festival

The Swedish-Argentine Tango Society invites you to the seventh annual tango festival in Stockholm. Classes are offered to everyone from beginners to tango masters. The classes are all held by world-renowned tango dancers.

Location: Dieselverkstaden, Marcusplatsen 17, Sickla.

Time: Friday/Saturday/Sunday (check website for a specific timetable).

Phone: 08- 718 82 90

More information and tickets: www.tangonorte.com (English).

GOTHENBURG

Galleries:

Amalia Kenamets

Amalia Kenamet’s “work in progress” about religion through art is now on display

Location: Konstepidemin, Konstepidemins vägen 6.

Times: Friday, February 15th, 10am-4pm

…and continuing.

Phone: 031- 828 558

Filmklipp at Röhsska

Frozen Moments – an exhibition about design in film in collaboration with Gothenburg’s Film Festival.

Location: Röhsska museet, Vasagatan 37-39.

Times: Friday/Saturday/Sunday 12pm-5pm

…and continuing.

Phone: 031- 368 31 50

Films:

Samtidskonst

Röda Sten presents Magnus Bärtas’ film about Johnnie Walker, a Japanese, Jewish, homosexual man in Tokyo who finds it difficult to be accepted. A Stefan Römer documentary containing interviews with over 40 internationally recognized artists about the Concept Art of the 1960s is also playing.

Location: Röda Sten, Klippan vid Älvsborgsbron.

Times: Friday/Saturday/Sunday 12pm-5pm

…and continuing to Monday, March 2nd.

Phone: 031- 12 08 16

Concerts and clubs:

King Creosote

Kenny Anderson, aka King Creosote, has released about 25 albums since 1995. This and his talent for song writing have earned him a constant fan base and a name in the music industry. He will be performing six shows in Scandinavia this month, and this weekend he will be in Gothenburg.

Location: Woody West/Pusterviksbaren, Järntorgsgatan 12.

Times: Saturday, February 16th, 8pm

Phone: 031- 138760

Tickets: 077-170 70 70

Hanoi Rocks

Following the recent release of new album Street Poetry, Finland’s finest Hanoi Rocks return to Sweden almost three decades after they first burst out of Helsinki onto an unsuspecting public.

Location: Sticky Fingers, Kaserntorget 7.

Times: Friday, February 15th, 8pm

Phone: 031- 70 107 17

Theatre/Entertainment:

Marilyn Monroe- Person and Myth

This musical theatre exhibition paints a picture of one the most talked about women of the last century, Marilyn Monroe. With the help of known facts and some of her best known songs, her life is portrayed as it was: full of glamour and glitz but also anxiety, pills, and pain.

Location: GöteborgsOperan, Christina Nilssons gata .

Times: Saturday, February 16th

…and continuing.

Phone: 031- 10 80 00

Black Jack

Black Jack perform at Casino Cosmopol’s dance night this weekend and promise to bring you the classic casino atmosphere through their music. The dance begins right after dinner.

Price: 30 kronor entrance (350 kronor casino package).

Location: Casino Cosmopol, Packhusplatsen 7

Time: Friday, February 15th, 10pm-2.30am

Phone: 031- 333 55 00

En Natt i februari

En Natt I februari (One Night in February) is open to all- adults and children. The show tells the story of a young girl who cannot sleep and follows her thoughts through live music and playful dance.

Age: from 6 years

Location: Amandas Teater, Nordostpassagen 61B

Time: Friday, February 15th, 7pm

Saturday/Sunday 1pm

Phone and tickets: 0739- 370728

Other:

PULS

Go with the family or a group of friends to PULS and compete against them in handball, motocross, and much more.

Location: Universeum, Södra vägen 50.

Times: Friday/Saturday/Sunday 10am-6pm

Phone: 031- 335 64 50

MALMÖ

Galleries:

Hreinn Fridfinnsson

A new, retrospective exhibition by Icelandic artist Hreinn Fridfinnsson opens this Friday at Malmö Konsthall from 7-9pm.

Location: Malmö Konsthall, S.t Johannesgatan 7.

Times: Saturday/Sunday 11am-5pm

…and continuing until April 27th.

Phone: 040- 34 12 93

Erwin Wurm

For the past twenty years Erwin Wurm has created a series of “One Minute Sculptures,” in which he places his models in strange positions amongst everyday objects in order to question ideas about sculpture.

Price: 49 kronor (Children – 10 kronor)

Location: Malmö Konstmuseum, Slottsholmen, Malmöhusvägen.

Times: Sunday, February 17th, 12pm-4pm

Phone: 040- 344437

Concerts and Clubs:

Entombed

One of the world’s best death metal bands is performing at Malmö’s Debaser. They have 20 years of experience in metal and rock and roll music, but with their latest record they return to their old metal stlye.

Age: 20

Price: 80 kronor (Free before 10pm)

Location: Debaser, Norra Parkgatan 2.

Time: Friday, February 15th, 7.30pm

More information: www.debaser.se (Swedish).

Phone: 040- 23 98 80

Jill Johnson

Directly after releasing her new CD, one of Sweden’s most successful artists, Jill Johnson, is on tour and will be performing her mix of country and pop music in Malmö this weekend.

Price: 450 kronor

Location: Malmö Konserthus.

Time: Friday, February 15th, 7.30pm

More information: www.livenation.se (Swedish).

Phone: 040- 665 01 00

Tickets: 077- 170 70 70

Theatre/Entertainment

Temporary Guest in your Life

One of Sweden’s most famous comedians, Jonas Gardell, is back again with a much awaited one-man performance!

Price: 370 kronor

Location: Malmö Konserthus,.

Times: Saturday, February 16th, 5pm

Phone: 040- 665 01 00

Tickets: 077- 170 70 70

Other

Let’s Go

Let’s Go amusement park is always full of activities. Why not take the family bowling or for a few rounds of “adventure” golf this weekend? Or pick three out of the five activities offered and do battle in a two-hour competition.

This Friday there is also a live band performing.

Price: 60 kronor after 9pm

Location: Let’s Go, Krossverksgatan 3.

Times: Friday, February 16th, 4pm-1am

Saturday, February 17th, 11am-1am

Sunday, February 18th, 11am-6pm

Phone: 040- 440 000

More information: Let’s Go Swedish.

Ice Skating in Folkets Park

You can ice skate outdoors all winter this year at Malmö Folkets Park. Ice skates (sizes 27-45) are available to rent 4pm-7pm on weekdays and 10am-5pm at weekends. Rental costs: 30 kronor/half hour.

For group skate rental at other times, contact Föreningen Ponnygården Arken at 0705 – 17 65 05.

Location: Folkets Park, Amiralsgatan 35.

Times: November 24th to March 2nd 10am-7pm

UPPSALA

Winter Sauna at Fyrishov

Warm up in Fyrishov’s large, wood-fuelled sauna, then give the body a refreshing shock in the adjacent ice pool. A 25C warm pool is available for the faint-hearted.

Location: Idrottsgatan 2, Uppsala

Open until the end of February.

More information: www.fyrishov.se

READER INSIGHTS

‘Benny is always very kind’: Foreigners’ top encounters with Swedish celebrities

We asked The Local's readers to tell us of a time they met a Swedish celebrity. Here are their best stories.

Published: 16 April 2024 11:10 CEST
Updated: 16 April 2024 14:27 CEST
'Benny is always very kind': Foreigners' top encounters with Swedish celebrities

Some readers shared stories of encounters with Swedes who are also global stars, such as Abba or the King and Queen of Sweden, others spoke of meeting national celebrities who had helped them get to know their new home country.

Anne Foo from Malaysia is a fan of the Sällskapsresan movies by Lasse Åberg, who plays the kind but hapless Stig Helmer.

“It was one of the first Swedish films I watched when I first moved to Sweden that I could understand without needing to be fluent. It helped me understand the Swedish psyche and their humour and Swedish people in general,” she said.

Multi-talented artist Åberg is also known for his sketches of Mickey Mouse, as well as Trazan & Banarne, one of Sweden’s most famous children’s shows, and his band Electric Banana Band. Anne met him when she visited his museum, Åbergs Museum, outside of Stockholm.

“We were not expecting to see him there but we kind of heard he pops by the museum often to help out. We bought tickets for the guided tour and lucky us the guide fell sick (sorry guide!) and Lasse, who happened to pop by just then, took over and gave us a personal guided tour of his museum. He is just as he was as Stig Helmer. Has a down-to-earth humour, very intelligent and humble.”

Another reader, Doug, met Swedish singer Lisa Nilsson when she was performing the lead role in the musical Next to Normal at Stockholm’s Stadsteater, a performance she got rave reviews for.

“I have loved Lisa Nilsson for years, ever since Himlen runt hörnet was required listening in my Swedish class,” he wrote on The Local’s Facebook page.

“After the performance I waited by the stage door to see if I could meet her. Many people came out, but not her – until finally she exited, alone. I approached her and she was not just gracious – she seemed genuinely excited to meet an American fan. We stood (in the rain, no less) and spoke for a while. I came away feeling that my adoration was well-placed: talented, beautiful, and so down to earth. A wonderful entertainer and an extraordinary human being.”

Some readers also shared pictures of themselves running into a Swedish celebrity.

Benjamin Dyke met football coach Sven-Göran Eriksson in Torsby, where Eriksson grew up, at the opening ceremony of the Svennis Cup, a youth football competition held every year in his honour.

Eriksson, more known by his nickname Svennis in Sweden, during his long career coached teams such as Lazio in Italy and brought England, as coach, to the quarter-finals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. Earlier this year he disclosed he had been diagnosed with fatal pancreatic cancer.

Dyke’s encounter with Eriksson happened a few years ago, and he walked up to the Swede to thank him for his time as England manager and the two chatted for a while about that.

“He asked where I came from in England and I answered that all my family come from Liverpool. His eyes lit up (I now know he supported Liverpool all his life, as did his dad) but when I explained that I was an Everton fan (the other Liverpool team…) he quickly shut down the conversation and walked away,” said Dyke.

Sven-Göran Eriksson, left, and Benjamin Dyke in 2018. Photo: Private

Readers also shared their stories on The Local’s Facebook page. Lindelwa posted a picture of her chance meeting with Swedish Melodifestivalen winner John Lundvik at Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport, although she revealed they did not share a flight.

Lundvik represented Sweden in the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Too Late for Love (and co-wrote the UK’s entry, Bigger than Us, the same year), with which he came in fifth.

Lindelwa and John Lundvik. Photo: Private

Gerard met Abba legend Benny Andersson outside his studio in Stockholm.

“I had never seen Benny’s studio so I went to take a look with the ferry from Djurgården to Skeppsholmen. I was told that Benny was in so I waited for a little while and he came out to meet a few fans,” he said, revealing that it was in fact not the first time he ran into Andersson, a composer also known for co-writing hit musicals such as Chess and Kristina from Duvemåla.

“He’s always very kind and patient. I had met him before, last time in 2010 in London for the concert of Kristina at the Royal Albert Hall. Next stop will be May 27th, the second anniversary of Abba Voyage in London where Benny and Björn will do a Q&A before the show.”

Gerard and Benny Andersson back in 2010. Photo: Private

Several other readers also said they had met members of Abba.

“I was a child visiting my relatives in Sweden the year Voulez-Vous was released. My aunt took me to NK [Stockholm mall] to buy the LP. On our way back to her apartment, she spotted Frida on Hamngatan. My aunt was amazing at celeb-spotting, and she was usually very discreet, but in this case she insisted I go up and say hello! Frida was happy to autograph the album for a young fan; it’s still one of my prized possessions today,” said Sue Trowbridge.

Of course, it’s not always easy to recognise celebrities. You might spot a familiar face but not be able to place it, as happened to Linda on two separate occasions when she ran into a Swedish acting star and a member of the Nobel Prize-awarding Swedish Academy.

“I accidentally stared at Pernilla August in a local food shop. She looked familiar but I couldn’t recognise her. She stared back and I suddenly came to my senses and looked another way. Embarrassed. I’ve also stared at Horace Engdahl,” she said.

In The Local’s original survey call-out, we also included a story from Australian reader Jake Farrugia, who was on his lunch break in NK when he spotted a familiar face, Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria. He walked up to her to ask for a selfie.

“She was very nice and we shared some small talk which truly made me feel like we were on the same level and that she had a strong sense of humanity, as I stood there, butchering her native language with my ‘work in progress’ level of Swedish. I can see why the Swedish people have a deep love and respect for her,” Farrugia said.

“It’s a very un-Swedish thing to do, that’s why I think it’s so fun! All of my encounters with celebrities in Sweden have been very positive so far. It’s all in the approach, you have to be respectful and be OK with others not wanting to give you their time of day, since we all have days where we are feeling less social and those can easily be interpreted as a part of our character, but they rarely are a fair representation.

“If I were to be a celebrity, Sweden would be the place to best blend in. It seems like celebrities can live a somewhat normal life as the construct of ‘celebrity’ isn’t viewed as a thing people go hysteric for as is the case in many other countries.”

The Local’s reader Jake Farrugia snapped this selfie with Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria. Photo: Private
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