Here are the winners of this year's Rockbjörnen prize in all the Swedish categories:
Female artist: Amanda Jenssen
Male artist: Lars Winnerbäck
Newcomer: Amanda Jenssen
Album: Håkan Hellström - För sent för Edelweiss
Song: Ola Svensson - Feelgood
Live act: Håkan Hellström
Group: Takida
Myspace prize: Billie The Vision And The Dancers
Hopefully you read her analysis of Alphabeat's lyrics, but now it's time to check out Elisabeth Vincentelli's full report on the music of Swedish metal legends Bathory: https://www.emusic.com/features/spotlight/2009_200901-ug-bathory.html
Ronnie Sundin's upcoming CD on Fang Bomb will be called "Seven year silence". Expect an April release.
Totalt Jävla Mörker are back in the studio working on their next album.
MIC Norway profiles the up-and-coming postrock/chamber-pop artist Bellman: https://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2009012210373730842755
The Alexandria Quartet recorded a cover of the Pogo Pops song "Man inside my head" for an upcoming Bergen, Norway tribute comp and you can now hear it at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/thealexandriaquartet
There will be a new BWO album in early April called "Big science". Naturally, their Melodifestivalen entry "You're not alone" will be the first single.
Johan Heltne will begin recording his next album in March, the second part of his planned trilogy. This time he plans to keep the guestlist shorter and has so far recruited Andreas Runeson, Andreaz Hedén, Joel Wästberg and Andreas Eklöf as backing players.
Emmon's new album "Closet wanderings" has been confirmed for release on February 18 via Wonderland Records. There will be a record release party on February 28 at Storan in Göteborg together with Elegant Machinery and Mobile Homes.
Poet/musician Emil Jensen is the recipient of this year's Hoola Bandoola Bands pris, honoring the memory of renown Swedish artist Björn Afzelius.
Swedish hardcore act When We Fall is calling it quits, but will be making one last European tour in May. Read their final statement: https://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4667144&blogID=465498475
The reissue of Trojne 7" EP "Who gives a fuck anyway?", originally released way back in 1984, is now available from Swedish upstart label SMRT Records. Head to their website for details and samples: https://smrtrecords.se/
Jonna Lee's new album "This is Jonna Lee" has been confirmed for a February 25 release. The first single "My high" will be officially released on February 4.
Drummer Ebbe Frej (Epo-555, Lise Westzynthius, The Late Parade) has started a new label with his friend Mads Bøgh under the name Ha Ha Records. Their first release this coming summer will be the debut EP from Danish lo-fi singer/songwriter Jeremy Sparrow. Listen at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/jeremysparrow
Ida Maria has severed her major label ties and will be rereleasing her album "Fortress 'round my heart" on February 9 with new artwork, a new tracklist and three new songs.