Swedes are well-known for being crazy about the Eurovision Song Contest and the country’s selection method (the “Melodifestivalen”) lasts for 6 weeks (!) and consist of 4 heats, 1 semi-final and – finally! – the Grande Finale. All in all, 28 acts are reduced to 12 until, eventually, The Winner Takes It All. This year, heat #4 will be broadcasted live on Swedish TV on Saturday 25 February from Malmö Arena, with music lovers of all ages in the huge audience. But actually, that’s not your only possibility to experience the Melodifestivalen live here in Malmö!
How come? Well even if it is something completely extra to be in the audience during the TV show itself – the excitement! the atmosphere! the glam! – Friday’s live rehearsal is superb for those who want to be the first to check out the acts, and the matinee performance on Saturday is an unforgettable experience for families with children. Among the 7 artists competing in Malmö Arena this year is Loreen, with the song Tattoo – 11 years after she won the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku with the smash-hit Euphoria. This is where you secure your tickets.
Another of Malmö’s classic concert halls, this time in the very heart of town, is Palladium. A meeting place that presents a wide range of concerts and dance performances all year round under sparkling crystal chandeliers dating from the last century. International as well as local artists appear on its stage, and on March 4 Palladium welcomes the Portuguese world artist Salvador Sobral, who won the Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv in 2017 with the love song Amar pelos dois. Get ready for a soft, jazzy, melancholic, and completely heart-warming evening in his company!
Well, that’s only a sample of what’s up, of course. Check out Weekend Malmö and you will be pleasantly surprised, whether you prefer pop, jazz, opera, ukulele ensembles or something else entirely. Because just like you, Malmö loves music.