2018 in Scandinavian music explained

The following is a list of notable events and releases that happened in Scandinavian music in 2018.
(Go to last year in Scandinavian music or next year in Scandinavian music.)

Events

January

• 12
  • Norwegian singer Sigrid is named winner of the BBC's "Sound of 2018" award.^[1]
  • The 22nd Folklandia Cruise starts in Helsinki, Finland, running until 13 January.^[2]
• 13 – Composer Paavo Heininen, considered by many to be Finland's most influential musician, celebrates his 80th birthday with a concert at the Järvenpää Hall, Helsinki.^[3]
• 19 – The 37th annual Djangofestival starts in Oslo, Norway, to run until 20 January.^[4]
• 28 – Jazz guitarist Gustav Lundgren and his trio perform a tribute to Django Reinhardt at Stockholm Concert Hall, featuring Aurélien Trigo and Antoine Boyer.^[5]
• 30 – Danish composer Hans Abrahamsen is awarded the Léonie Sonning Music Prize 2019.^[6]

February

• 10 – The 38th Dansk Melodi Grand Prix is won by "Higher Ground", performed by Rasmussen.^[7]
• 14 – Norwegian singer Sigrid wins Best New Artist at the NME Awards ceremony.^[8]
• 22 – It is announced that Agnes Obel has signed to Deutsche Grammophon, who will have a joint arrangement with Blue Note for North American releases.^[9]

March

• 3 – At Söngvakeppnin 2018, Ari Ólafsson is selected to represent Iceland in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest, with the song "Heim".^[10] After winning the context, Ólafsson is criticised on social media for crying on hearing the result.^[11]
• 7 – Fifteen-year-old cellist Birgitta Elisa Oftestad wins the Virtuos 2018 competition and is named Norway's representative at the Eurovision Young Musicians 2018 contest.^[12]
• 9 – Finnish band Nightwish begins a nine-month world tour titled , accompanying a new 2CD compilation called Decades.^[13]
• 10 – The final of Melodifestivalen 2018 takes place in Friends Arena, Stockholm, Sweden.^[14]
• 12 – The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, under Hannu Lintu, begins a week-long series of concerts in Germany.^[15]
• 25
  • Swedish House Mafia unexpectedly reunite for a performance at the 20th Anniversary of Ultra Music Festival in Miami, United States.^[16]
  • Greenlandic singer Nive Nielsen stars as "Lady Silence" in a new US horror series, The Terror, her first international TV role.^[17]

April

• 27 – ABBA announce that they have recorded some new songs, the first since 1983.^[18]

May

• 8 – In semi-final 1 of the Eurovision Song Contest 2018, Iceland's entry is eliminated, but Finland's Saara Aalto finishes 10th and makes it to the final.
• 10 – In semi-final 2 of the Eurovision Song Contest, Norway's entry finishes in first place, Sweden 2nd and Denmark 5th; all three countries make it to the final.
• 12 – In the Eurovision final, held in Lisbon, Sweden does best of the Scandinavian countries, finishing in 7th place.
• 23 - The Bergen International Festival opens in Bergen, Norway, running until 6 June. Guest performers include Meow Meow, Selene Muñoz and Helsinki Songs.^[19]

June

• 6 – The 26th Sweden Rock Festival opens in Norje, running until 9 June.^[20] The Quill are forced to withdraw the day before the festival begins, because lead singer Magnus Ekwall is recovering from emergency surgery.^[21]

July

• 3 – The organizers confirm that the Nobel Peace Prize Concert, normally held after the awards ceremony in Oslo, will not take place in 2018.^[22]
• 4 – The 19th Folk music festival of Siglufjordur opens in Siglufjordur, Iceland, running until 8 July.^[23]
• 5 – Gregory Porter guest stars at the 2018 Kongsberg Jazzfestival in Norway.^[24]
• 27 – The Uppsala Reggae Festival opens in Sweden, running until 28 July, headlined by Jimmy Cliff.^[25]

September

• 5 – The Copenhagen World Music Festival opens, running until 9 September.^[26]
• 6 – The Lahti Sibelius Festival opens, running until 9 September.^[27]

November

• 7 – The Iceland Airwaves music festival opens, running until 10 November. Guests include Blood_Orange, Cashmere Cat and Stella Donnelly.^[28]

December

• 6 – Icelandic Music Day is celebrated.^[29]

Albums released

January

Day	Album	Artist	Label	Notes	Ref.
5	Trident Wolf Eclipse		Century Media		^[30]
19	Contra La Indecisión	Bobo Stenson Trio (Anders Jormin, Jon Fält)	ECM	Produced by Manfred Eicher	^[31]
	Elvesang	Sigurd Hole	Elvesang		^[32]
	Lucus	Thomas Strønen & Time Is A Blind Guide	ECM		^[33]

February

Day	Album	Artist	Label	Notes	Ref.
2	Delights Of Decay	Batagraf	Jazzland	Produced by Jon Balke, Kåre Christoffer Vestrheim	^[34]
	Live at Victoria	Solveig Slettahjell	Jazzland	Produced by Solveig Slettahjell	^[35]
9	History	Emmelie de Forest	Cosmos	First album after two-year break from recording	^[36]
13	Heat	Knut Reiersrud Band	Jazzland		^[37]
23	Reformation Part 1		Armada Music		^[38]
	Pilgrim	Janne Mark with Arve Henriksen	ACT	Produced by Esben Eyermann and Janne Mark	^[39]

March

Day	Album	Artist	Label	Notes	Ref.
1	Takker	Thomas Helmig	Genlyd Grammofon		^[40]
2	Ravensburg	Mathias Eick	ECM	Produced by Manfred Eicher	^[41]
9	Decades		Nuclear Blast		^[42]
23	Returnings	Jakob Bro with Palle Mikkelborg, Thomas Morgan, and Jon Christensen	ECM	Produced by Manfred Eicher	^[43]
30	Geimvísindi	Hildur Vala Einarsdóttir		The singer's first album to contain original material	^[44]

April

Day	Album	Artist	Label	Notes	Ref.
6	Polarity	Hoff Ensemble - Jan Gunnar Hoff, Anders Jormin, Audun Kleive	2L	Produced by Morten Lindberg	^[45]
20	Barxeta II	Per Mathisen & Jan Gunnar Hoff feat. Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez	Losen	Produced by Jan Gunnar Hoff and Per Mathisen	^[46]
	Freedoms Trio II	Steinar Aadnekvam	Losen	Produced by Steinar Aadnekvam	^[47]
	Ultra			1 in Danish album chart	^[48]
27	Större		unknown		^[49]
	Ootsä nähny Nikkee		unknown		^[50]
	Wild Wild Wonderland	Saara Aalto	Warner

May

Day	Album	Artist	Label	Notes	Ref.
4	Sway	Tove Styrke	RCA Records		^[51]
18	A Suite of Poems	Ketil Bjørnstad, Anneli Drecker, poems by Lars Saabye Christensen	ECM		^[52]
25	Late Night Tales: Agnes Obel	Agnes Obel	Night Time Stories Ltd		^[53]

June

Day	Album	Artist	Label	Notes	Ref.
1	Ääripäät	Mikael Gabriel	Universal Music Group		^[54]
	Bertolt Brechts Svendborgdigte	Søren Huss	BaggårdTeatret		^[55]
8	So Sad So Sexy	Lykke Li	RCA	Executive producer Malay	^[56]
29	Sometimes the World Ain't Enough	The Night Flight Orchestra	Nuclear Blast		^[57]

August

Day	Album	Artist	Label	Notes	Ref.
24	‘re:member	Ólafur Arnalds	Mercury KX		^[59]
31	Helsinki Songs	Trygve Seim	ECM		^[60]
	The Other Side	Tord Gustavsen Trio	ECM		^[61]

October

Day	Album	Artist	Label	Notes	Ref.
5	Bay Of Rainbows	Jakob Bro, Thomas Morgan, and Joey Baron	ECM Records		^[62]
12	Sorgir	Skálmöld	Napalm Records		^[63]
19	Forever Neverland	MØ	Columbia Records		^[64]
26	Christmas With My Friends VI	Nils Landgren	ACT	Produced by Nils Landgren with Johan Norberg	^[65]
	My Soul Kitchen	Ida Sand	ACT	Produced by Nils Landgren and Siggi Loch	^[66]
	Honey	Robyn	Konichiwa Records		^[67]

November

Day	Album	Artist	Label	Notes	Ref.
13	Deep Snow	Simon Lynge	Atlantic Music		^[68]
16	The Pursuit of Vikings: 25 Years in the Eye of the Storm	Amon Amarth		Live album	^[69]
23	The Ghost Ward Diaries	Electric Boys	Mighty Music	Produced by David Castillo	^[70]

December

Day	Album	Artist	Label	Notes	Ref.
13	Plays Metallica by Four Cellos – A Live Performance	Apocalyptica		Live album - 2CD+1DVD digipak	^[71]
14	Let's Boogie! Live from Telia Parken	Volbeat	Republic Records	Live album	^[72]

Film and television scores

Films

• On Her Shoulders (United States), music by Patrick Jonsson^[73]
• Ravens (Sweden), music by Peter von Poehl^[74]

Television

• Trapped (Iceland), music by Jóhann Jóhannsson with Hildur Gudnadóttir and Rutger Hoedemaekers^[75]

Eurovision Song Contest

• Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018
• Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018
• Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018
• Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018
• Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018

Deaths

• 1 January - Teddy Edelmann, Danish singer, 76^[76]
• 18 January – Javiera Muñoz, Swedish singer, 40^[77]
• 29 January – Asmund Bjørken, Norwegian jazz musician, 84^[78]
• 4 February – Leif Rygg, Norwegian folk musician, 77^[79]
• 5 February – Ove Stokstad, Norwegian artist and jazz musician, 78 ^[80]
• 9 February – Jóhann Jóhannsson, Icelandic film composer, 48^[81]
• 3 March – Kenneth Gärdestad, pop songwriter, 69
• 5 March – Kjerstin Dellert, Swedish opera singer, 92
• 9 March – Ole H. Bremnes, Norwegian folk singer and poet, 87^[82]
• 25 March – Jerry Williams, Swedish singer, 75^[83]
• 31 March – Frode Viken, guitarist and songwriter, D.D.E., 63
• 3 April – Lill-Babs, Swedish singer ("En tuff brud i lyxförpackning"), 80^[84]
• 20 April – Avicii (Tim Bergling), Swedish musician, DJ and record producer, 28^[85]
• 11 May –Mikhail Alperin, Ukrainian-born jazz pianist, member of the Moscow Art Trio, professor at the Norwegian Academy of Music, 61
• 26 June – Bo Nilsson, Swedish composer, 81^[86]
• 5 July – Bjørn Lie-Hansen, opera singer, 81^[87]
• 9 July – Stefan Demert, Swedish musician, 78^[88]
• 16 August – Benny Andersen, Danish writer and pianist, 88^[89]
• 21 August – Stefán Karl Stefánsson, Icelandic actor and singer (b. 1975). ^[90]
• 9 September – Frank Andersson, Swedish entertainer and wrestler, 62 (complications during heart surgery)^[91]
• 23 September – Berth Idoff, Swedish musician (Berth Idoffs), 77^[92]
• 30 September – Kim Larsen, Danish rock musician (Gasolin'), 72 (prostate cancer)^[93]
• 29 November – Erik Lindmark, vocalist and guitarist of Deeds of Flesh, 46 (sclerosis)^[94]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Sigrid: Norwegian pop star wins BBC Sound of 2018. Mark Savage. 12 January 2019. BBC Music. 19 March 2019.
2. Web site: Folklandia Cruise Helsinki - Tallinn 12 January 2018 - 13 January 2018 . Festivals.fi . 2017-10-23.
3. News: 80-vuotias suomalaismestari koulutti maailmankuulut säveltäjät ja soittaa nyt tervehdyksen HS:n lukijoille . Helsingin Sanomat . Vesa Sirén . 2018-01-13 . 2018-07-09.
4. Web site: Djangofestival Fredag . DetSkjerIOslo.no . 2017-10-19.
5. Web site: An evening of Django Reinhardt . Konserthuset.se . 2018-03-08.
6. Hans Abrahamsen to receive the Léonie Sonning Music Prize 2019 . Léonie Sonning Music Foundation . 30 January 2018 . 2018-02-10.
7. News: Watch: Denmark picks song for Viking-themed raid on Eurovision Song Contest. 24 February 2018. The Local Denmark. 12 February 2018.
8. Web site: Lorde, Kasabian, and Dua Lipa lead VO5 NME Awards 2018 nominations. 4 February 2018. NME.
9. News: Deutsche Grammophon signs Agnes Obel. 22 February 2018. Completemusicupdate.com. 23 August 2018.
10. Web site: Iceland: Ari Ólafsson wins Söngvakeppnin 2018 and will fly to Lisbon!. ESC Today. 4 March 2018.
11. Web site: Iceland: Ari Ólafsson Receives Nasty Social Media Backlash For Crying on Live TV. Wiwibloggs. 18 March 2018.
12. Web site: Norway: Birgitta Elisa Oftestad Wins Virtuos 2018. 8 April 2018. 8 May 2018.
13. Web site: Nightwish To Launch Nine-Month 'Decades: World Tour' Next March In North America . Blabbermouth . June 9, 2017 . June 9, 2017 .
14. Web site: Melodifestivalen 2018 . LiveNation.se . 2017-10-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171021164413/https://www.livenation.se/artist/melodifestivalen-2018-tickets . 2017-10-21 . dead .
15. Web site: Konzert: Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra mit Hannu Lintu und Sol Gabetta. Suomen Suurlähetstö. 18 January 2018.
16. Web site: Swedish House Mafia reunite at Ultra Music Festival for first performance in five years. 26 March 2018. Alex Young. Consequences of Sound. 20 April 2018.
17. News: Grønlandsk sanger-skuespiller får stor rolle i Ridley Scotts nye serie over for britiske stornavne. Niki. Vraast-Thomsen. Soundvenue. September 20, 2017. September 21, 2017.
18. Web site: ABBA announce first new songs for 35 years. The Guardian. Alex Needham. 27 April 2018. 23 May 2018.
19. Web site: 2018 Festivities. Bergen International Festival. 22 February 2018.
20. Web site: Sweden Rock Festival 6-7-8-9 juni 2018 . . 2017-10-23.
21. Web site: The Quill ställer in sin spelning på Sweden Rock Festival – Ersättare klara. 5 June 2018. Effie Trikili. rocknytt. 19 June 2018.
22. Nobel Peace Prize Concert Under Review, Won't Happen In 2018. 4 July 2018. Billboard. 6 December 2018.
23. Web site: The Folk Music Festival of Siglufjordur . FolkMusik.is . 2017-10-21.
24. Web site: Gregory Porter. Kongsberg Jazzfestival. 28 June 2018.
25. Web site: Uppsala Reggae Festival 2018. Uppsala Reggae Festival. 31 May 2018.
26. Web site: The Copenhagen World Music Fesatival . CphWorld.dk . 2017-10-22.
27. Web site: Lahti Sibelius Festival 6 September 2018 - 9 September 2018 . Festivals.fi . 2017-10-23.
28. Web site: Iceland Airwaves 2018. tix.is. 12 July 2018.
29. Web site: Icelandic Music Day - Icons Through Time. 6 December 2018. 12 February 2019.
30. Web site: Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista. Sverigetopplistan. 13 January 2018.
31. Web site: Bobo Stenson Trio - Contra La Indecisión . . 2018-02-28.
32. Web site: Sigurd Hole – Elvesang . . 2018-04-12.
33. Web site: Thomas Strønen: Lucus . JPC.de . 2017-12-21.
34. Web site: Batagraf – Delights Of Decay . . 2018-02-28.
35. Web site: Solveig Slettahjell – Live At Victoria . . 2018-02-28.
36. Web site: Denmark: Emmelie de Forest returns with new album History. 11 February 2018 . ESC Today . 13 December 2020.
37. Web site: Knut Reiersrud Band – Heat . . 2018-02-28.
38. Web site: Reformation Part 1 album from Armada Music on Beatport . . 4 March 2018.
39. Web site: Janne Mark: Pilgrim - CD . . 2018-02-28.
40. Web site: Takker - Thomas Helmig . imusic . 2018-04-20.
41. Web site: Mathias Eick - Ravensburg . . 2018-02-01.
42. Web site: Nightwish To Launch Nine-Month 'Decades: World Tour' Next March In North America . Blabbermouth . June 9, 2017 . January 5, 2018.
43. Web site: Jakob Bro - Returnings . . 2018-02-28.
44. Web site: Hildur Vala and Jón are expecting a baby: "Adventures are still happening" . 23 February 2021. Mannlif. 21 June 2021.
45. Web site: POLARITY — an acoustic jazz project . Musical reviews . 2l.no . 2018-04-10.
46. Web site: Barxeta II - Per Mathisen & Jan Gunnar Hoff featuring Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez . Musical reviews . . 2018-02-28.
47. Web site: Freedoms Trio II - Steinar Aadnekvam . Musical reviews . . 2018-02-28.
48. Web site: Album Top-40 Uge 17, 2018. Hitlisten. 2 May 2018.
49. Web site: Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista. Sverigetopplistan. 4 May 2018. Click on "Veckans albumlista".
50. Web site: Ootsä nähny Nikkee. genius.com. 12 July 2018.
51. Tove Styrke Talks New Album 'Sway,' Touring With Lorde and Katy Perry: 'Oh My God, Is This Real Life?'. Billboard. Gab. Ginsberg. 4 May 2018. 16 November 2018.
52. Web site: Suite of Poems — Ketil Bjørnstad . . 2018-11-07.
53. Web site: Agnes Obel . Late Night Tales . 15 January 2019.
54. Web site: Hätinen . Jukka . Mikael Gabriel vastasi jäätävällä kommentilla Slim Millin riidanhaastoon . June 2018 . Rumba . 1 June 2018.
55. Web site: Søren Huss – Bertolt Brechts Svendborgdigte. Discogs . 16 March 2019.
56. Web site: Lykke Li shares two new singles from so sad so sexy. The Fader. Maicki. Salvatore. 19 April 2018. 19 April 2018.
57. Web site: Sometimes The World Ain't Enough. Nuclear Blast. 4 April 2019.
58. Web site: TARJA – Act II Live Album And Video To Be Released In July; Details Revealed. Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. May 25, 2018. May 25, 2018.
59. Web site: Ólafur Arnalds Announces New Album 'Re:Member' With Gorgeous Video For New Single 'Unfold' Ft Sohn. diymag.com . 12 July 2018.
60. Web site: Helsinki Songs — Trygve Seim . . 2018-11-07.
61. Web site: The Other Side — Tord Gustavsen Trio . . 2018-11-07.
62. Web site: Bay Of Rainbows — Jakob Bro, Thomas Morgan, Joey Baron . . 2018-11-07.
63. Web site: Skálmöld – 'Sorgir' (2018). folk metal.nl. 8 October 2018. 28 September 2019.
64. Web site: MØ Announces New Album, Shares New Song with Diplo: Listen. Pitchfork. Wicks. Amanda. 12 July 2018. 12 July 2018.
65. Web site: Nils Landgren: Christmas With My Friends VI - Vinyl (incl. mp3 Download Code) . . 2018-11-07.
66. Web site: Ida Sand: My Soul Kitchen - CD . . 2018-11-07.
67. Web site: Robyn Announces New Album Honey. Pitchfork. Minsker. Evan. Blais-Billie. Braudie. 19 September 2018. 19 September 2018.
68. Web site: Deep Snow - update. Simon Lynge & the Martial Hearts . 16 March 2019.
69. Web site: AMON AMARTH Reveal Details For New Documentary And Live Album; Video Trailer Streaming. Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. September 21, 2018. September 21, 2018.
70. Web site: ELECTRIC BOYS To Release 'The Ghost Ward Diaries' Album In November. Blabbermouth.net. August 27, 2018. August 27, 2018.
71. Web site: APOCALYPTICA To Release 'Apocalyptica Plays Metallica by Four Cellos – A Live Performance' In December. Blabbermouth.net. November 16, 2018. November 16, 2018.
72. Web site: Watch VOLBEAT Perform New Song 'The Everlasting' From 'Let's Boogie! Live From Telia Parken'. Blabbermouth.net. November 20, 2018. November 20, 2018.
73. Web site: Sundance 2023 Composer Spotlight: Patrick Jonsson. ASCAP. 22 March 2023.
74. Web site: Glädjetårar efter Sameblods succé. Leo. Pettersson. Aftonbladet. January 22, 2018. January 22, 2018. sv.
75. Web site: 'Trapped' score wins Eddan Award. JohannJohannsson.com. 11 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180212083453/http://www.johannjohannsson.com/27899-2/. 12 February 2018. dead.
76. http://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2018-01-01-teddy-edelmann-er-doed Teddy Edelmann er død
77. http://chilenskariksforbundet.se/noticias/la-federacion-nacional-chilena-de-suecia-te-informa-32/ La Federación Nacional Chilena de Suecia te informa
78. https://www.nrk.no/trondelag/jazzmusiker-asmund-bjorken-er-dod-1.13890294 Jazzmusiker Asmund Bjørken er død
79. News: Ein bauta er borte . Nils . Kvamsdal . . no . 8 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180209113402/http://www.avisa-hordaland.no/kultur/ein-bauta-er-borte-1.2244925 . 9 February 2018 . dead .
80. Encyclopedia: Ove Stokstad. Store norske leksikon. no. 23 February 2018.
81. https://deadline.com/2018/02/johann-johannsson-dies-obituary-the-theory-of-everything-composer-1202284591/ Jóhann Jóhannsson Dies: ‘The Theory Of Everything’ Composer Was 48
82. News: Ole Hagbart Bremnes er død . Thomas . Talseth . . no . 2018-03-12 . 2018-03-21 .
83. http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?artikel=6918621&programid=478 Rocklegenden Jerry Williams är död
84. https://www.svt.se/kultur/musik/lill-babs-ar-dod Lill-Babs är död
85. News: Avicii Dies at 28. 20 April 2018. Variety. 20 April 2018. en-US.
86. News: Kompositören Bo Nilsson död . Sveriges Television . 2018-06-26 . 2018-07-09.
87. News: Bjørn Lie-Hansen . Aftenposten . 36 . 5 July 2018 . Evju . Helge . no.
88. https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=87&artikel=6996437 Trubaduren Stefan Demert har gått bort
89. https://politiken.dk/kultur/art6664988/Forfatteren-Benny-Andersen-er-d%C3%B8d Forfatteren Benny Andersen er død
90. https://www.frettabladid.is/frettir/stefan-karl-stefansson-er-latinn Stefán Karl Stefánsson er látinn
91. https://www.expressen.se/noje/frank-andersson-ar-dod/ Frank Andersson är död
92. https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/a/3jbw4L/dansbandsmusikern-berth-idoff-ar-dod Dansbandsmusikern Berth Idoff är död
93. https://www.svt.se/kultur/danska-artisten-kim-larsen-ar-dod Danska artisten Kim Larsen är död
94. Web site: Unique Leader Records Founder / Deeds of Flesh Guitarist Erik Lindmark Has Passed Away. MetalSucks. November 29, 2018. November 29, 2018.