The only Hives you want to get

What is it with Sweden and popular music? There is so much going on and so much happening that it’s spilling out left right and centre. Not only does aussie talent like Sarah Blasko choose to go to Stockholm to record albums, just to work with some of the best producers around. Swedish musicians are going places, all over the place. Even to Australia, en masse!

In the last couple of years we’ve had the chance to see some great Swedish bands, like:

Junip, featuring the super-talented Jose Gonzalez, who not only can strum that guitar and sing in tune, he’s pretty easy on the eye and we would all love to have his babies.


Shout Out Louds, Swedish pop perfect, channelling a bit of the Cure mixed with lighthearted easy listening, but with charm and appeal. The buttered popcorn of pop tunes.


Wildbirds and Peacedrums, husband and wife duo with a highly unique sound. Music that keeps on giving, play it again, and again.



Lykke Li, with a name like that, there must be a future. Lykke Li has been the darling of Australian music radio for a while, her latest album even being Album of the Week at fbi radio earlier this year.


And last but not least, the Hives! Never have white shoes looked so funky, and there is something about a drummer in a suit. Very civilised. Coming to our shores in July to let the groove loose at Splendor in the Grass and at the Horden Pavilion, so get there if you can.

Aim for the Stars and Land in the Tropfest

Swedes are not the only ones to have an affectionate relationship with Sweden and recognise a certain amusing aspect of homo swedus. Local Sydney filmmakers have caught the Nordic vibe and created a little black and white short film all about the quirky Swede. Check out this Tropfest finalist called Den Sista Galaxonaut, directed by Alexander George and Tyrone Lindqvist. This film follows an extremely competent and successful guy called Sven Larsson who was the first man on the moon (at least according to George and Lindqvist). Though not a winner of 2011 Tropfest, it is definitely the winner in my books. Any guy called Sven is a winner, simple as that.

No time like ‘filmtajm’

Swedish movies in the eyes of the rest of the world, and including many of our own Swedish species, cannot appreciate, or imagine, Swedish film beyond the Bergman hurdle. With the greatest respect, as I do agree that Mr Ingmar Bergman without doubt was one of the all time best filmmakers, however, we collectively need to acknowledge that there are other Swedish filmmakers worth their celluloid. In a time when you have to stand out in the crowd, Swedish films may not grab the non-speaking audience that easily. It requires an effort and a willingness to seek out something different. The current exception to this sweeping statement is ‘The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo’. Still, but without the best-selling book trilogy, who knows how many moviegoers would have taken their chances on this movie.

So let’s start this movie promotion mini-bonanza at the Sydney Film Festival. The Swedish contribution this year is two short films. ‘Incident by a Bank’ by Ruben Östlund, picked up the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film festival 2010. It will be a little golden nugget of a short film. The second movie is ‘Tusselago’ by Jonas Odell, a lighthearted number where ‘The ex-girlfriend of a West German terrorist, Norbert Krocher, tells her story.’ As I written before, Swedes are jolly people!

So let’s move on to comedy then, shall we. Why not treat yourself to something that I almost guarantee is different to most things you’ve ever seen. This particular thing is called ‘You, the Living’ by Roy Andersson. You either love it or hate it. Further in the comedy cupboard, it is hard to pass on the classic film ‘Four Shades of Brown’ directed by Thomas Alfredson. Judging by the titles I can anticipate a stampede towards arthouse movie rental places such as Dr What in Bondi Junction to find these rare treasures. Otherwise your best chances might be online.

Finally, to go back in history, I would love to see a re-release of a Swedish thriller classic called ‘The Man on the Roof’ by Bo Widerberg from 1976. A true thriller gem that still stands out to this day, many moons later. These little suggestions are only scraping the surface, just a little spot of movies to wet your appetites, but these wintry days are perfect for some movie watching, at home or in the cinema, and be brave, stray away from the big H movies, you might even stumbled upon something unpredictable!