This year’s Stockholm Culture Festival puts the spotlight on the UK and offers all forms of culture from music to contemporary circus to dance – all for free. We’ve put together some of our top picks from the programme day-by-day.
Tuesday 11th August
The opening day’s must-see act is the Tensta Gospel Choir, who are bringing along the amazing vocal powerhouse Kristin Amparo and the soulful rising star Sabina Ddumba. They can be seen at the Skeppsbron stage 18.30 – 22.00.
In Kungsträdgården the We Are STHLM youth festival ends the first night at 21.50 with an exclusive gig by AronChupa – you know the guy behind I’m an Albatraoz… Expect the young and the young-at-heart to dance the night away.
Wednesday 12th August
This evening the GAT stage at Gustav Adolfs Torg offers Northern Soul fronted by Magnus Carlsson, as well as Manchester magic with music from Joy Division and New Order with founding member Peter Hook and The Light.
At Skeppsbron you can enjoy some Swedish makeovers of Elvis tunes by Fröken Elvis at 19.30.
In Kungsträdgården the whole evening is devoted to the Rockbjörnen music award show, including performances by Måns Zelmerlöw, Molly Sandén, Eric Saade and Elliphant, among others. The show time is 20.00-23.00.
Thursday 13th August
On Thursday you could catch the Cleva Crew, one of Finland’s most successful and original street dance companies at Sergels Torg, either at 16.00 or at 20.00.
The GAT stage offers Ethiopian music and dance by Ethiostar, as well as North-African influences mixed with some soul and funk à la Mahmoud Ahmed & Alemayehu Eshete & Badume’s Band.
Friday 14th August
During Friday head on to Sergels Torg and catch the nine members strong British Gandini Jugglers, who put on a show with 80 apples and four porcelain sets. They are on at 15.00 and 20.00.
On Friday evening at 20.00 the GAT stage offers a jazz party of great proportions with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra joined by several vocalists, including Dee Dee Bridgewater and George Fame.
At 22.30 at Skeppsbron you can catch the Ibibio Sound Machine from London, mixing African funk and disco with some electro and post-punk for an interesting sound.
Saturday 15th August
Saturday’s highlight is Sweden’s feminist pop princess Zara Larsson at Kungsträdgården at 22.20. After her you can continue in party mode with Panetoz.
If that’s not your scene, the Royal Swedish Opera moves out to Gustav Adolfs Torg at 20.00. And at Skeppsbron you can catch the British-Indian folk singer Deepa Nair Rasiya at 19.30.
If you’re in the city earlier in the day, be sure to head to Sergels Torg at 13.00 to see and hear Caroline af Ugglas with the Kör för alla choir.
And you shouldn’t miss the Dominoes – a total of 7000 gigantic dominoes are placed around town, and they will fall one by one making their way around town – starting at 15.00 from Klara kyrka, moving past Culture House, Gallerian, Kungsträdgården, Berzelii Park, the Opera and ending up at the Strömmen.
Sunday 16th August
Not much else left of the festival for the Sunday but the world’s longest book market, which celebtrates it’s 25th year.
BONUS – Every day of the festival
Play Me, I’m Yours brings out around 15 decorated pianos around the festival area for anybody to play. So here’s your chance to show your talents to the festival-going public. The whole thing is as international art project by British artist Luke Jerram.
