The concert at Gärdehov arena only offers standing places, prompting some individuals to secure the best spots by arriving several hours early. All five of the first arrivals at the arena are from Sundsvall. This setup marks a different event compared to the Melodifestivalen previously held there, with the larger crowd raising logistical questions. According to SVT Mittnytt, Malva described the early arrival as a chance worth taking, while Henrik Edin noted that standing far forward improves both visibility and atmosphere.
Logistical challenges are a key concern, as there are only about 600 parking spaces around Gärdehov arena. To mitigate this, Sundsvalls kommun has added extra buses on line 5 that passes the arena, and organizers have arranged eight shuttle buses to take the audience back to town after the concert. Some fans avoided taking their own cars, with Malva Henriksson explaining to SVT Mittnytt that getting a ride was a luxury of being on home ground. Additionally, the bar at Gärdehov arena will remain open for a couple of hours after the concert ends, allowing visitors to leave at different times to ease congestion.
If you have the chance, I think you take it.
Local gas station owner Houtan Ebrahimi is concerned about a lack of parking spaces during the event. According to SVT Mittnytt, Houtan Ebrahimi described how people often park at gas stations without thinking, blocking pumps and entrances. He also recalled that the situation during Melodifestivalen was a big chaos with many safety aspects, and he has suggestions for improvements at future events at Gärdehov arena.
In other concert news, Valter Nilsson's concert at Bananpiren in Göteborg sold 12,000 tickets in two days. The 36-year-old artist was invited as a guest artist by Håkan Hellström at his concerts in Scandinavium last week, and he is often compared to Håkan Hellström.
You want to see well and because it becomes much better atmosphere when you stand far forward.
Other notable Swedish concert events include Hurula performing a sold-out concert at Kulturens hus in Luleå, where he sings about deep problems among youth and in cities, love and loss. Huggorm also performed a sold-out concert at Skylten in Linköping, with their new album 'En värdelös historia' being hailed as one of the best Swedish albums of the year so far.
ShitKid made a surprising return with a sold-out concert at Slaktkyrkan, despite announcing in 2020 that the band and music career were over. The only constant member is Åsa Söderqvist, and their musical style is loud, raw, and direct.
We got a ride. That's what's luxurious when you're on home ground.
Claire Rousay performed an experimental concert at Fasching in Stockholm, where her music is described as lived rather than composed. Originally from Canada and a citizen there, she has released a lot of music on Bandcamp and collaborated with other artists. Her concert was surprisingly accessible.
Niklas Hallman presented a two-hour artistic drama based on the Gospel of Mark at Elmiahallen, having memorized the entire text over one and a half years. He grew up in Kättilstorp in Jönköping and worked as a pastor for most of his adult life, but he is no longer employed by the church and now makes apple cider in Gränna.
People do not think when parking at a gas station, blocking pumps and entrances.
Internationally, Milagros Amud, a 20-year-old singer from Argentina, is on tour in Sweden with concerts in Tierp, Rasbokil, and Uppsala. She broke through in the TV competition 'La Voz Argentina' in 2025, reaching the final.
Veteran acts continue to thrive, with Weeping Willows having been active for over 30 years and releasing 13 albums, with frontman Magnus Carlsson leading the band. Meanwhile, Håkan Hellström is performing at Globen in Stockholm as part of his Sweden tour, where fans gathered early outside to secure front-row spots.
The situation during Melodifestivalen was a big chaos with many safety aspects.
Unknowns persist regarding the Håkan Hellström concert in Sundsvall, including how many of the over 10,000 attendees are from Sundsvall versus other locations, and whether any other logistical challenges beyond parking are anticipated. The specific suggestions from Houtan Ebrahimi for improving parking and safety at future events at Gärdehov arena also remain undisclosed.