The death of the live scene in Stockholm's inner city is decreasing.

Last fall, P3 reported that every third live scene in Stockholm's inner city had disappeared over the past ten years, but now there has been a turnaround.

This year alone, a series of live music stages are opening their doors in the capital's inner city.

Including Göta Lejon, which changes owners and is rebuilt, the music venture The Node opens in the middle of Sergels torg, the restaurant Vassa Eggen further develops its newly started stage, Cirkus also opens a new live stage and the Kägelbanan on Södermalm makes a comeback.

In addition, the city of Stockholm's traffic office opens up to arrange small gigs on a floating bridge under the Liljeholm bridge, while Gasklocka 2 in Norra Djurgårdsstaden is being converted into, among other things, a live stage.

- This is a shift.

We have always had problems: the stages are getting fewer and fewer, neighbors complaining or bad finances - and then they have been closed down one by one.

It has happened almost invisibly, says Joppe Pihlgren, on Svensk Live, to SVT and continues:

- It's not a shrimp sandwich, but still a turnaround that goes in exactly the right direction.

State development is reassessed

According to Joppe Pihlgren, the break in trend does not only apply to Stockholm's inner city, but live scenes are increasing all over the country, and the reasons are several.

Partly a longing for live music after the pandemic, but also a reassessment of state development.

Especially in Stockholm, Joppe Pihlgren sees a shift in how politicians relate to the issue.

- What kind of city do we want?

How shall we meet?

How should we socialize?

Gaming venues then become a very natural place to be.

Despite the current crisis, it seems that people are excited to go out and have a good time.

Small scenes at risk

There is a risk with the live scene boom.

Especially the small new gaming venues can have a tough time if financial support is not on the agenda.

- If they don't get it, or if the Culture Council doesn't send them money, they risk going bankrupt, says Joppe Pihlgren and points out how important the small venues are for the entire Swedish music infrastructure:

- Some of the small artists on the small stages become big artists and can stand on the big stages.

Svensk Live's goal for 2023 is to create a sustainable infrastructure for the live scene in Sweden, which according to the interest organization is not at the forefront in comparison to other nearby countries.