Despite of his young age Conor Oberst is by far one of the most productive musicians with his solo career and several bands. I totally adore his talent, lyrics and music. I got to see two Bright Eyes concerts in Sweden in 2011 and instantly booked tickets to his solo gig in Filadelfia Church in Stockholm in January.
Bright Eyes Debaser Medis Stockholm Feb 2011
Bright Eyes WTAI Gothenburg June 2011
A good seat really makes a difference! I sat some 5 meters away from the stage so that I could really enjoy the performance full.
And it was such a wonderful concert: Setlist - absolute top gigs I have ever been!
One of the curiosities with Conor is his collaboration with Swedish band First Aid Kit, whom I also like a lot. Therefore it is often the sister duo visits Conor on stage and he also visited their latest record on song King Of The World.
Johanna and Klara Söderberg with Conor in Stockholm Feb 2011
While in Stockholm it is a perfect opportunity to enjoy the town...
... and catch lots of other events, like Ola Salo's Swedish version of musical Jesus Christ Superstar in Göta Lejon. As being a big Ola fan I had already seen the musical when it was first performed in Malmö in 2009, but then I sat quite far away. This time we got the seats in very front and that really gave added value to the performance!
My favourite Stockholm museum Fotografiska had amazing and partly also a bit disturbing David LaChapelle exhibition. One could wish that we get this kind of high profile exhibitions also to Helsinki.
I also went to independent movie theatreZita see the award-winning movie Eat Sleep Die, which has yet not arrived to Finland. Touching story about immigrants and job situation when "you do not have a change, take it". The film comes to the new Season Film Festival in Helsinki in April.
Learnings from the trip: always aim for a good seat!
Coldplay is one of my favourite bands and I love their music, especially the early albums. When the first album Parachutes was released in 2000 it included so many amazing songs that you could not miss this band, especially after the album reached no.1 in U.K.
Following album A Rush of Blood To The Head was even bigger success with great singles such as Clocks and The Scientist. After these two albums there were huge expections for the third one, which the band ensured being even better. X&Y came out in 2005 and was also a huge success. These first three are my favourites and I am not that fond of the two latest albums Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends and Mylo Xyloto.
Coldplay is also a great live band with positive and giving style. And it is such a shame that they have yet not played live in Finland.
Coldplay Stockholm 2012
However, they visit quite often in Sweden and I have been lucky to see them live 4 times now.
Coldplay Stockholm 2012
First time was 2008 at Globen in Stockholm, then the following year at Stockholm Stadion, last year at Where The Action Is festival in Gothenburg and this year again at Stockholm Stadion.
Coldplay Göteborg 2011
They always have massive light show with fireworks (outdoor gigs) and lots of properties such as balloons and confetti. That is impressive, but I think that their music and intensive performance would carry through without all the extras.
Coldplay Göteborg 2011
Coldplay Stockholm 2012
Chris Martin's vocals are beautiful and suit Coldplay songs perfectly.
Coldplay Stockholm 2012
I just enjoy their live gigs so much that would love to see them live again - and this time hopefully in Finland.
When tickets for Coldplay concert in Stockholm on 30th August were released last December I immediately decided to attend. Coldplay is one of my favourite bands and their live shows are always amazing. And this was a good opportunity to make a short visit to Stockholm.
Coldplay Stockholm Stadion 30.8.2012
There are few places I always tend to visit while in Stockholm: department stores PUB with interior stores R.O.O.M and Systrarna Voltaire as well as Åhlens with lots of Swedish clothes brands such as Odd Molly, Hope and Twist&Tango.
R.O.O.M.
Systrarna Voltaire
Designtorget has lots interesting and clever small items and it is always easy to spend some time going through the stuff there.
Designtorget
Bengansrecord store I usually visit in order to check the latest album releases or just enjoying to leaf through albums.
Bengans
Book stores and the best newspaper and magazine store Press Stop at Götgatan are too tempting for me...
Magazines from Press Stop
And when it is time for a break there are many nice coffee houses such as Vete-Katten and of course Wagamama for lunch.
Wagamama
Vete-Katten
This time the main reason for the trip was magnificent Coldplay concert at Stockholm Stadion and I also got to see Lady Gaga's Born This Way Ball at Ericsson Globe Arena the next day.
Coldplay
Lady Gaga
There are so many great gigs and exhibitions (such as David LaChapelle at Fotografiska) coming to Stockholm later this year so it is about time to start planning the next trip!
As I am not a huge fan of festivals, these urban city festivals suit me well. My favourite in Helsinki isFlow Festival with interesting artist lineup, stylish decoration, well-funtioning arrangements and easy access.
Flow 2012
My first ever Flow experience was few hours at the festival back in 2008. It was pouring rain and I saw only Astrid Swan,who is one of my favourite Finnish artists and little bit of Sebastien Tellier, but that was it.
Astrid Swan 2008
Sebastien Tellier 2008
Other Flow years have succeeded better both for the weather and amount of artists I have managed to see.
Flow 2010
In 2010 Flow lineup was just amazing: The xx, Junip, Robyn, MIA, Girls, The Drums, Beach House and Broken Bells.
Robyn 2010
Robyn 2010
The xx 2010
Last year's hightlights for me were Janelle Monáe and First Aid Kit as Lykke Li unfortunately cancelled in the last minute.
First Aid Kit 2011
Janelle Monáe 2011
Flow has great great selection of artists when combining bookings with Way Out Westin Gothenburg and Øya Festivalen in Oslo.
WOW in Gothenburg
But for some reason we do not always get all the same artists to Helsinki, like in 2009 when Arctic Monkeys were in playing in Sweden, but did not come to Finland. Well, that was good enough reason for me to travel to Gothenburg instead.
Arctic Monkeys at Way Out West 2009
Besides my favourite Arctic Monkeys I saw several great acts such as Lily Allen, Antony and The Johnsons, Glasvegas, Beirut, Jenny Wilson, Timo Räisänen and discovered a new one Florence And The Machine, whom I absolute adore and have seen 2 other times afterwards.
Lily Allen 2009
Antony and The Johnsons 2009
Jenny Wilson 2009
Florence 2009
Glasvegas 2009
But my first ever WOW was 2008 and the second year in the whole festivals history already with marvellous lineup: my first ever The National gig, Grinderman, Franz Ferdinad and it was then I first discovered brilliant Joan As Police Woman.
Nick Cave 2008
Joan2008
And of course there are so many good local artists playing in Swedish festivals, like in 2008 Way Out West had José González, Frida Hyvönen, Håkan Hellström and Broder Daniel.
Håkan Hellström 2008
Other Swedish Festivals I have been to were 2011 Where The Action Is with Coldplay, Bright Eyes, The Ark, Brandon Flowers and Glasvegas in Gothenburg
Coldplay 2011
Bright Eyes 2011
Ola Salo 2011
And later the same year Popaganda with Arcade Fire, Midlake, The Cults, Junip, Jenny Wilson, Säkert! and Lykke Li in Stockholm.
Arcade Fire 2011
Midlake 2011
Lykke Li 2011
What a great area to have a music festival by the outside swimming pool Erikdalsbadet.
Popaganda in Stockholm 2011
And now this year we had yet another fantastic new festival in Helsinki Garden Party. Although Charlotte Gainsbough cancelled the overall impression of the festival and its arrangements was very positive. And of course Regina Spektor was wonderful.
Garden Party Helsinki 2012
Hope that there will be new Garden Party next year!
And the artist I would love to see on next year's Helsinki city festivals in Bat For Lashes!
