What's on in Sweden: December 12 - 18

What's on in Sweden: December 12th - 18th. Lucia and Lykke Li in Stockholm; Harlem Gospel and Streetdance in Gothenburg; world class jazz in Malmö

• What's On in Sweden: September 3rd - 9th (2 Sep 10)
• What's on in Sweden: May 1 - 7 (29 Apr 09)
• What's on in Sweden: January 23 - 29 (22 Jan 09)

STOCKHOLM

Lykke Li

No longer Sweden's hottest upcoming pop prodigy, retro-chic indie-pop darling Lykke Li is now firmly established on the Swedish and European music scene.

Her debut album Little Bit, released earlier this year was met with seemingly endless critical praise. The year accelerated for Lykke with a US tour and album release in all corners of the globe.

Lykke Li is no pop idol product however, and she is firmly in charge of her destiny. Her music style is broad and is placed by some among the categories occupied by Alicia Keys, Vanessa Paradis and CocoRosie.

Full houses across the globe mean tickets at a small venue like Kägelbanan will be hard to come by - time to call in the favours or get flirting with the bouncers.

Price: 230 kronor
Time: Friday December 12th, 8.30pm
Location: Kägelbanan, Södra Teatern, Mosebacke Torg 3
Tickets: Lykke Li Tickets
More information: Södra Teatern

Sankta Lucia

Emma Johansson of Örkeljunga has been named as this year's Swedish Lucia.

The festival of Lucia (St. Lucy) will be celebrated officially for the first time in eight years. The age old tradition is to be resurrected in all its pomp and choir with help of some of Sweden's largest charitable foundations.

On Saturday Sweden's Lucia will move in procession from Skansen, along Kungsgatan via Sergels torg to the official festivities in Kungsträdgården.

Entertainment in “Kungsan” will begin with Kulturama at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm before the Lucia singsong begins at 5pm.

Why does Sweden celebrate the Italian St. Lucia with pomp and ceremony? – few Swedes seem to really know.

Price: Free of charge
Time: Saturday December 13th, 5pm
Location: Kungsträdgården
More information: Lucia in Kungsträdgården

Skansen – Christmas Market

Skansen has been arranging a Christmas market since 1903 and with two weekends left to Yuletide take the chance to visit the pride of Djurgården and stock up on goodies.

For many Stockholmers a visit to the Christmas Market at Skansen is the traditional start of the festive season. You can find everything from handicrafts, confectionery, delicacies such as reindeer meat, mustards and cheeses, and many other gift items. All in the magical surroundings of Skansen's grounds with Stockholm's inner harbour as a backdrop.

There is also of course music, dancing and mulled wine with a hunt for Santa topping off the Christmas experience.

Price: 75 kronor (35 kronor for the children)
Time: Saturday - Sunday December 13th – 14th, 20th-21st, 10am – 4pm
Location: Skansen
More information: Christmas at Skansen

Cirkus Cirkör – Inside Out

Inside Out is a circus show about something as simple as life. The new large scale production is the second part in a circus trilogy which began with 99% Unknown, which premiered in 2004.

Inside out follows three characters, each trapped in their own definition of safety and success. One terrified of failure, one seized by logic and a third doing his best to be hard. Their worlds are turned up side down in a tremendous journey upon meeting a circus company of ugly, monstrous and odd, but also magical, funny, warm and elegant characters.

The show features seven circus artists along with the live rock band Irya’s Playground featuring lead singer Irya Gmeyner (previously with the group URGA) at the helm.

Price: 350 kronor (discounts for those under 26)
Time: Wednesday December 9th – 20th. Tues-Fri 7pm, Sat. at 3pm
Location: Dansens Hus, Barnhusgatan 12-14
More Information: Cirkus Cirkör

GOTHENBURG

Angels in Harlem Gospel Choir

Angels in Harlem Gospel Choir, one of the United States' most prominent gospel choirs, regularly tour the globe and come to Gothenburg on Wednesday and Thursday.

The choir was formed in 1986 and is immensely popular wherever they perform. In recent years their audience has included the likes of Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela, Elton John and Paul McCartney and they have worked with Diana Ross, Jimmy Cliff, Lyle Lovett and Bono among many others.

Price: 310 kronor
Time: Wednesday December 17th & Thursday December 18th, 7pm
Location: Storan, Kungsparken 1
Tickets:Tickster
More information: Storan

Exile [Anatomic Motion]

Hiphop, breaking, B-boy, house and modern dance meet in this street style nomansland performance at the Pustervik Theatre.

Exile is a newly produced Streetdance performance from the international group Anatomic Motion and presents a meeting between four people and their search for a way to live together without losing touch with their backgrounds or individual integrity.

The group features New Yorker Shannon Mabra, Danish dancer Anna Eileen Jeppesen and Mari Raudsepp and Kwok-Sun Yuen from Sweden.

Price: 140 kronor
Time: Wednesday December 17th, 7pm; Thursday December 18th 10.30am & 7pm; Saturday December 20th, 7pm
Location: Pustervik Theatre, Järntorgsgatan 12
Tickets:Ticnet
More Information: Pustervik Theatre

Lucia – the coronation

Gothenburg's Lucia will be crowned at Liseberg on Friday evening with choir song and a programme of guest artists.

Time: Friday December 12th, 6pm
Location: Stora Scenen, Liseberg
More Information: Liseberg

MALMÖ

The Five Corners Quintet

Finland's answer to the post-modern jazz scene and proof that even in the 2000s one can dance to the genre known as jazz.

With a pure modern sound while displaying a keen knowledge of their musical heritage, The Five Corners Quintet are as hip as they are true to their forebears. No machines, no samplers, no Djs...just pure and simple world class jazz.

Price: 120 kronor
Location: Babel, Spångatan 38
Time: Friday December 12th, 7pm
Tickets: Kulturcentralen
More Information: The Five Corners Quintet

Electrohype 2008

Electrohype 2008 is the fifth biennial for computer based and technological art and runs at Malmö Konsthall until January 25th 2009.

The exhibition will give an updated picture of the scene for newly created electronic art by presenting 14 works by 10 international artists.

The featured artists are: Doug Back, Canada; Ralf Baecker, Germany; Kerstin Ergenzinger, Germany; Serina Erfjord, Norway; Jessica Field, Canada; Voldemars Johansons, Latvia; Diane Morin, Canada; Kristoffer Myskja, Norway; Erik Olofsen, Netherlands and Bill Vorn, Canada.

Price: Free of charge
Time: Until January 25th, 11am-5pm
Location: Malmö Konsthall, S:t Johannesgatan 7
More Information: Status Quo