Björn & Benny musical coming to the US

The Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus-penned musical "Kristina från Duvemåla" will get an English translation and the new version will premiere at Carnegie Hall in NYC this coming September.

Stockholm Pride selects Marit Bergman for anthem

Aftonbladet reports that Marit Bergman will have the honor of composing this year's theme for Stockholm Pride: https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/musik/article5184739.ab (in Swedish)

Esbjörn Hazelius to release solo debut in June

Bonnier Amigo will release Swedish folk artist Esbjörn Hazelius' debut solo album "Blunda och du ska få se" on June 3. Hear a couple tracks at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/esbjornhazelius
Esbjörn is probably best known for being a member of Sofia Karlsson's backing band. If you like her music (as you should), you'll probably like this too.

More Bear Quartet studio reports

Day 7 in the studio with The Bear Quartet: https://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=42904576&blogId=490083933

Ström presents: 'Musiken vi hatar'

Håkan Lidbo and the folks behind Swedish Radio electronic music program Ström have put together a collection of new music for national mourning, sent music into space and now they've gathered a crew of some of Sweden's finest electronic artists to cover the music they hate. Instead of paraphrasing, let's cut + paste:

In 2009, the radio show Ström gave an assignment to Swedish artists that make electronic music.; to make an interpretation of a song that they really do not like, sometimes even hate. The purpose was some sort of musical regression therapy. By making a cover of a song they dislike and make it into their own, the artists could get in touch with their musical origin, the place in their soul where the creativitiy is coming from. And by doing so, get a deeper understanding of themselves as humans - and as artists. The influential songs are easy to point out, and easy to cover, but the hated ones can be shameful and hard to confront. Sometimes those can partly explain why the artist sound the way he or she does.

The result: "Musiken vi hatar", due out June 10. Tracklist:

01. Fever Ray - Here Before (Vashti Bunyan)
02. Roos - Polly (Nirvana)
03. Andreas Tilliander - Dub that she wants/All That She Wants (Ace Of Base)
04. Familjen - Mine Øyne De Ska Se (Lis Sørensen)
05. Little Jinder - Femme Fatale (Velvet Underground)
06. Cilihili & DaBook - Orinoco Flow (Enya)
07. Ebb - Trash (Suede)
08. Trig - Ice Ice Baby (Vanilla Ice)
09. Lisa Nordström - LIke To Get To Know You Well (Howard Jones)
10. Håkan Lidbo - Born In The USA (Bruce Springsteen)
11. Alf Tumble - Klubbland (Håkan Hellström)
12. Vaerelsen - Diska!/Washing Up (Tomas Andersson)
13. Den Finska Nikotintanten - 122 Hours Of Fear (The Screamers)
14. Roll the Dice - Motorcycle Emptiness (Manic Street Preachers)

See the comments area for a track-by-track breakdown of why each artist chose the song they did.

The Soundtrack of Our Lives Sunday communion service

The Soundtrack of Our Lives' latest album "Communion" will receive a UK release on August 24 so they're building up to the event by giving away a new single on the third Sunday of every month until the big day. Read more and download the first track "Ra 88" at the band's website: https://www.tsool.net/

Agro Jive to release LP on P.Trash

P.Trash Records will be releasing the debut LP from Agro Jive, the new band of Kasper Maarbjerg from No Hope for the Kids. Hear some demo tunes at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/agrojive

Release the Bats! closing their mailorder

Swedish indie/experimental label Release the Bats! are closing up their mailorder and throwing a huge sale: https://www.releasethebats.com/rtb.html
Can't say I blame 'em -- I'm in pretty much the same situation myself with my own mailorder. People keep releasing great music, but there's just not as many people buying. Or at least, not from me/us. Ever-climbing shipping fees don't help either.

Major labels attempt to gag The Pirate Bay

More developments in The Pirate Bay case as the labels move to gag the defendents: https://www.thelocal.se/19544/20090519/

Dupont signs to Progress Productions

Progress Productions has announced the signing of Swedish EBM duo Dupont and will be releasing their new album "Entering the ice age" on August 19. Samples and more details at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/dupontsweden

Lo-Fi-Fnk has a new website

Lo-Fi-Fnk let their old domain expire, but they set up a new website: https://www.lfforganization.com/

New web presence for Samtidigt Som

Swedish indiepop act Samtidigt Som has a new website and blog: https://www.samtidigtsom.se/

Are Mokkelbost (Single Unit, Killl) to NYC

Norwegian experimental/electronic/multimedia artist Are Mokkelbost (Single Unit, Killl, ARM) has relocated to NYC to work with the ICSP Program and will be working on various commissions and write music. He'll also be giving a talk on May 19 as part of ISCP's Salon Series and will have an exhibition of poster art at Scandinavia House starting on May 28 -- head to his site to learn more: https://www.b-o-r-g.org/

Norway won Eurovision

Old news to anyone who cares, but just in case: Alexander Rybak won Eurovision for Norway. Read more: https://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2009051623530622948958

New Aqua single, greatest hits collection

The upcoming Aqua greatest hits collection, imaginatively titled "Aqua greatest hits", will contain three new tracks including the single "Back to the 80's". Said single will be released on May 25 with the album following on June 15.