STOCKHOLM
Vox Pacis – The Voice of Peace
In a cynical world we need voices of hope. That is the message behind a magnificent musical adventure planned for Stockholm City Hall this weekend. More than 130 artists from around the world will join together in song to meet the “challenge to humanity.”
Vox Pacis is part of a global movement to enhance cultural and religious dialogue. It is also a chance for Stockholm residents and tourists alike to witness Tibetan throat singing, Chinese choirs, Sami joik, Sufi desert song and sacred dance without the discomfort of travel.
The event is accompanied by a week of fringe activities and the ticket price includes entry to the Nobel museum.
Price: 350 kronor/700 kronor for a family ticket
Location: The Blue Hall in Stockholm City Hall
Time: Friday August 22nd & Saturday August 23rd, 8.30pm
Tickets: www.ticnet.se
More information: www.voxpacis.com
Club Killers featuring Ane Brun, Asha Ali & Titiyo
Roots, ska, dub & reggae. These soulful beats with roots in 1950s Jamaica have perhaps never sounded better than this.
The 15-person house band led by Viktor Brobacke & Gustav Bendt (Moneybrother) will make a late autumn evening on Mosebacke’s panoramic terrace seem like a cold Red Stripe on a golden Caribbean beach.
What’s more they are joined this week by Titiyo, Asha Ali and the dulcet bluegrass tones of Norway’s Ane Brun.
Price: 200 kronor
Location: Mosebacke Terrace, Mosebacke torg
Time: Monday August 25th, 6pm
Tickets: Multi Kulti St.Paulsgatan 3, near Slussen
More information: www.mosebacke.se
Salong Giraff
For the third consecutive year Parkteatern in Vitabergsparken plays host to vaudeville theatre and Salong Giraff.
Salong Giraff will this year present a new selection of high and low brow acts scraped from the underbelly of Stockholm’s culture scene and introduced with the acid wit of its infernal anthroposophic compère Robert Fux.
Opera singers, temperamental circus princesses, Finnish strong women, accordion players, naturists and many more…Pack your picnic and get there early.
Price: Free of charge
Location: The Open Air Theatre (Friluftsteatern), Vitabergsparken
Times: Friday August 22nd
More information: www.orienteatern.se
GOTHENBURG
Gothenburg Dance and Theatre Festival
The Gothenburg Dance and Theatre Festival is Sweden’s international festival for contemporary dramatic art and is held every other year. Companies from across the globe come to Sweden’s second city to present dance, theatre, dance, new-circus and performance art.
Location: Venues across the city
Time: Friday August 15th – Saturday August 23rd
Tickets: www.ticnet.se
More information: www.festival.goteborg.se
Midnight Race
Join the sweaty masses pounding the late evening streets of central Gothenburg on Saturday night. No race has the atmosphere and joviality of the Midnight Race and at 10 kilometres is a reasonable prospect for most.
This very Swedish event started in Stockholm and been running since 1982. So dig out your running shoes and take this chance to lose some of that holiday paunch.
Price: 450 kronor
Location: City centre
Time: Saturday August 23rd, 10pm
More information: www.midnattsloppet.com
Volvo City Sailing
The highlight of the sailing race season comes to Sweden’s second city on Saturday. Gothenburg stakes a claim to be the country’s maritime capital and here the racing can be seen in the shadow of the magnificent Opera house.
Racing will take place close in to the quayside and is an event for the whole family.
Price: Free of charge
Location: Opera, Christina Nilssons Gata
Time: Saturday August 23rd
More Information: www.volvotech.se/citysailing
MALMÖ
Malmö Festival 2008
The festival reaches its climax on Friday with highlights including Etienne De Crécy (FR), a chance to witness the northern lights, Midnight Cowboy in the film tent, drop-in salsa, The Jayhawks’ Mark Olson (US), Bodies Without Organs and so, so much more…
Price: Free of charge
Location: Venues across the city
Time: Saturday August 15th – August 22nd
More Information: www.malmofestivalen.se
Eugene Chadbourne
Highly eclectic and unconventional Eugene Chadbourne from New York is an American, improviser, guitarist and banjoist. He started out playing rock and roll guitar but his most formative influence may be jazz.
Chadbourne has worked with Billy Bragg, Violent Femmes, Jello Biafra, Jim O’Rourke and numerous other artists across the musical genres. On Saturday he brings his blend of sound to Malmö’s Institutet.
Price: 40 kronor
Location: Institutet, Norra Vallgatan 28
Time: Sunday August 23rd, 7pm
More Information: http://institutet.sk-2.se/
Trumhinnorna
Something for young and old alike. Four percussionists join together for a lively, dynamic performance making use of everyday items and traditional musical instruments alike to produce a mix of Cuban, west African and world rhythms.
No time to sit still – dancing, jumping, singing, clapping and general revelry are the order of the day.
Price: 25 kronor for 3-years-old to the grave
Location: Lilla scen, Folkets Park
Time: Sunday August 24th, 2pm
More Information: www.kulturcentralen.nu