Sweden's best summer music festivals for 2015
The Local Sweden - [email protected]
Published: 5 Jun, 2015 CET.
Updated: Fri 5 Jun 2015 09:21 CET
The clocks go forward this weekend and summer is on the horizon. With music festivals starting in the next few months, here are our top tips to make sure you don't miss snapping up tickets for Sweden's hottest acts.
1. Way Out West
Gothenburg's 'Way Out West' has attracted more than 20,000 people every year since it started in August 2007. With artists mainly from the rock, electronic and hip-hop genres, it is one of the hottest festivals in Sweden. The line-up this year includes alternative music stars such as Florence & The Machine joining forces with British singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding and homegrown pop artist Tove Lo. The queen of country music, Emmylou Harris, who was recently awarded Sweden's prestigious Polar Prize, will also be there.
When? August 13th-15th
One of the hangout spots at Gothenburg's Way Out West. Photo: TT
2. Summerburst
Celebrating its fifth-year anniversary, popular house and electronic music feast Summerburst will bring thousands of music fans to its two festival locations in Gothenburg and Stockholm. Stars performing at both festivals include Afrojack, Blasterjaxx and Sweden's world famous DJ wonder Avicii. These nights of light, music and fireworks are sure to give you a real burst of summer.
When? May 29th-30th (Gothenburg) and June 12th-13th (Stockholm)
Summerburst is one of the best things about the Swedish summer. Photo: TT
3. Bråvalla
This Norrköping festival is sure to tickle the excitement of the 1990s pop generation, with one of the headline acts being a former member of British boyband Take That - Robbie Williams, who will perform alongside Calvin Harris. With only two years since its creation, Bråvalla’s popularity has increased exponentially and it has sold more than 50.000 tickets every summer, making it the most visited music festival in Sweden’s history.
When? June 25th-27th
Rapper Kanye West performs at the Bråvalla festival last year. Photo: TT
In the south of Sweden, the small town of Ystad - of Kurt WallanderScandinavian crime series fame - is set to welcome many of the big names of the jazz world. The 100-year-old Ystad Theatre building will be filled for five days of saxophones, trumpets and clarinets, as well as jazz lovers from all around the globe. Tickets and the full line-up are expected to be published in late April, so keep an eye out for more details.
When? July 29th-August 2nd
Trumpeter Nicolas Gardel played the festival last year. Photo: Serge-Miclo/Ystad Jazz Festival
It may be surprising to think of sleek, clean and 'lagom' Sweden as the cradle of dark metal, but the genre enjoys a large fan base in the Nordic country and Getaway Rock Festival has been one of its biggest exponents. So if you're a fan, don't forget to visit Gävle on Sweden's east coast this August. Over three days, bands will mix sounds from 1970s classic rock to gothic dark metal. The festival will feature acts such as old-school rockers Status Quo and power metal bands Hammerfall and female quarted Crucified Barbara.
When? August 6th-8th
Status Quo are set to perform at the Getaway Rock Festival. Photo: Claudio Bresciani/SCANPIX
6. Peace & Love
This hugely popular event in the Swedish town of Borlänge in the picturesque region Dalarna was originally created in 1999 and stands out on the festival scene for donating all of its profits to humanitarian causes. With past performers including outspoken artists such as Bob Dylan and Rihanna, it is often used as an international platform to advocate for human rights and anti-racism movements. This year will include some of Sweden's most popular acts, such as rapper Timbuktu and country artist Jill Johnsson, and also the leader of Sweden's Feminist Initiative party, Gudrun Schyman, as the keynote speaker.
When? July 24th
Rihanna performing at Peace & Love back in 2012. Photo: Erik Mårtensson/SCANPIX
7. Gröna Lund
While not exactly a festival, Sweden's most famous amusement park puts on a whole set of gigs every year. Big names draw thousands of fans to the Stockholm park to enjoy a day of playful attractions - and great music. A huge variety of different artists for different crowds are expected to hit the stage this summer, from UK pop wonders Sam Smith and Olly Murs to Marilyn Manson. The park opens its doors on April 25th and its first concert will be by Swedish pop soul diva Veronica Maggio on May 7th.
When? Gigs will be organized throughout the summer. The full line-up can be found here.
Several hit acts are set to play Gröna Lund this summer. Photo: TT
8. Gay Pride
Stockholm’s famous Gay Pride festival at the end of July offers concerts every night by friends of the lesbian, gay, bi and trans gender (LGBT) community. The event, which is the biggest of its kind in Scandinavia, draws crowds from all around Europe in search of a week of great entertainment and party spirit in Sweden's capital. Previous artists have included Ola Salo, formerly of Swedish glam rock band The Ark, and disco stars Alcazar. The main attraction, however, tends to be the massive Pride Parade which is usually attended by hundreds of thousands of participants and visitors, including many famous Swedish faces.
When? July 27th-August 1st
Stockholm Gay Pride is the biggest of its kind in Scandinavia. Photo: TT
9. Music & Arts
World famous rockers Neil Young and Chrissie Hynde are just two of the acts performing at Stockholm Music & Arts this summer. But the festival aims to provide a high quality programme that not only wants to bring the big names, but also more esoteric and a wide spread of different artists to the scene.
When? August 1st-3rd
The Music & Arts festival at Skeppsholmen island in Stockholm. Photo: Christine Olsson/SCANPIX
10. Storsjöyran
Storsjöyran (refer to it only as 'Yran' if you want to seem like you're in the know) is one of Sweden's oldest festivals, tracing its lineage all the way back to 1963. After a long hiatus it was reborn in 1983 to much delight. It's held in the town centre of Östersund in northern Sweden and has welcomed millions of visitors since the start. More than 26,000 people watched Lady Gaga perform there in 2009. This year, some of the biggest names will be Sting - who we think requires no further introduction - and Swedish favourites Hello Saferide and Tove Styrke.
When? July 31st-August 1st
Tove Styrke is one of the headline acts at Storsjöyran. Photo: Sören Andersson/SCANPIX
Comments
See Also
1. Way Out West
When? August 13th-15th
One of the hangout spots at Gothenburg's Way Out West. Photo: TT
2. Summerburst
Celebrating its fifth-year anniversary, popular house and electronic music feast Summerburst will bring thousands of music fans to its two festival locations in Gothenburg and Stockholm. Stars performing at both festivals include Afrojack, Blasterjaxx and Sweden's world famous DJ wonder Avicii. These nights of light, music and fireworks are sure to give you a real burst of summer.
When? May 29th-30th (Gothenburg) and June 12th-13th (Stockholm)
Summerburst is one of the best things about the Swedish summer. Photo: TT
3. Bråvalla
This Norrköping festival is sure to tickle the excitement of the 1990s pop generation, with one of the headline acts being a former member of British boyband Take That - Robbie Williams, who will perform alongside Calvin Harris. With only two years since its creation, Bråvalla’s popularity has increased exponentially and it has sold more than 50.000 tickets every summer, making it the most visited music festival in Sweden’s history.
When? June 25th-27th
Rapper Kanye West performs at the Bråvalla festival last year. Photo: TT
In the south of Sweden, the small town of Ystad - of Kurt WallanderScandinavian crime series fame - is set to welcome many of the big names of the jazz world. The 100-year-old Ystad Theatre building will be filled for five days of saxophones, trumpets and clarinets, as well as jazz lovers from all around the globe. Tickets and the full line-up are expected to be published in late April, so keep an eye out for more details.
When? July 29th-August 2nd
Trumpeter Nicolas Gardel played the festival last year. Photo: Serge-Miclo/Ystad Jazz Festival
It may be surprising to think of sleek, clean and 'lagom' Sweden as the cradle of dark metal, but the genre enjoys a large fan base in the Nordic country and Getaway Rock Festival has been one of its biggest exponents. So if you're a fan, don't forget to visit Gävle on Sweden's east coast this August. Over three days, bands will mix sounds from 1970s classic rock to gothic dark metal. The festival will feature acts such as old-school rockers Status Quo and power metal bands Hammerfall and female quarted Crucified Barbara.
When? August 6th-8th
Status Quo are set to perform at the Getaway Rock Festival. Photo: Claudio Bresciani/SCANPIX
6. Peace & Love
This hugely popular event in the Swedish town of Borlänge in the picturesque region Dalarna was originally created in 1999 and stands out on the festival scene for donating all of its profits to humanitarian causes. With past performers including outspoken artists such as Bob Dylan and Rihanna, it is often used as an international platform to advocate for human rights and anti-racism movements. This year will include some of Sweden's most popular acts, such as rapper Timbuktu and country artist Jill Johnsson, and also the leader of Sweden's Feminist Initiative party, Gudrun Schyman, as the keynote speaker.
When? July 24th
Rihanna performing at Peace & Love back in 2012. Photo: Erik Mårtensson/SCANPIX
7. Gröna Lund
While not exactly a festival, Sweden's most famous amusement park puts on a whole set of gigs every year. Big names draw thousands of fans to the Stockholm park to enjoy a day of playful attractions - and great music. A huge variety of different artists for different crowds are expected to hit the stage this summer, from UK pop wonders Sam Smith and Olly Murs to Marilyn Manson. The park opens its doors on April 25th and its first concert will be by Swedish pop soul diva Veronica Maggio on May 7th.
When? Gigs will be organized throughout the summer. The full line-up can be found here.
Several hit acts are set to play Gröna Lund this summer. Photo: TT
8. Gay Pride
Stockholm’s famous Gay Pride festival at the end of July offers concerts every night by friends of the lesbian, gay, bi and trans gender (LGBT) community. The event, which is the biggest of its kind in Scandinavia, draws crowds from all around Europe in search of a week of great entertainment and party spirit in Sweden's capital. Previous artists have included Ola Salo, formerly of Swedish glam rock band The Ark, and disco stars Alcazar. The main attraction, however, tends to be the massive Pride Parade which is usually attended by hundreds of thousands of participants and visitors, including many famous Swedish faces.
When? July 27th-August 1st
Stockholm Gay Pride is the biggest of its kind in Scandinavia. Photo: TT
9. Music & Arts
World famous rockers Neil Young and Chrissie Hynde are just two of the acts performing at Stockholm Music & Arts this summer. But the festival aims to provide a high quality programme that not only wants to bring the big names, but also more esoteric and a wide spread of different artists to the scene.
When? August 1st-3rd
The Music & Arts festival at Skeppsholmen island in Stockholm. Photo: Christine Olsson/SCANPIX
10. Storsjöyran
Storsjöyran (refer to it only as 'Yran' if you want to seem like you're in the know) is one of Sweden's oldest festivals, tracing its lineage all the way back to 1963. After a long hiatus it was reborn in 1983 to much delight. It's held in the town centre of Östersund in northern Sweden and has welcomed millions of visitors since the start. More than 26,000 people watched Lady Gaga perform there in 2009. This year, some of the biggest names will be Sting - who we think requires no further introduction - and Swedish favourites Hello Saferide and Tove Styrke.
When? July 31st-August 1st
Tove Styrke is one of the headline acts at Storsjöyran. Photo: Sören Andersson/SCANPIX
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.