By Neil Durham
WHEN?: 7pm UK time 17 February 2024
WHERE?: Vida Arena, Växjö WHERE DO I WATCH?: SVT Play
This heat boasts 4 MF debutants alongside the much-anticipated returns of 2 familiar names including Opeia who won 2023’s Eurovision as a co-writer of Loreen’s Tattoo.
By Neil Durham
WHEN?: 7pm UK time 10 February 2024
WHERE?: Scandinavium, Gothenberg WHERE DO I WATCH?: SVT Play
This week’s half a dozen new entries include 4 by artists who are making their Melodifestivalen debuts.
By Neil Durham
WHEN?: 7pm UK time 3 February 2024
WHERE?: Malmö Arena, Malmö WHERE DO I WATCH?: SVT Play
Last year Sweden won Eurovision for a 7th time equalling Ireland’s record and this 1st heat is from the venue where the Eurovision Song Contest final itself will take place on Saturday 11 May 2024.
WORTH A LOOK?: ****
It’s 5 months since Lorine Zineb Nora Talhaoui, better known as Loreen, won Eurovision for the 2nd time, becoming the 1st woman to achieve the feat.
WORTH A LOOK?: *****
The potential of a Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden in 2024 – the 50th anniversary of ABBA’s Waterloo win – rests on the shoulders of 2012 victor Loreen.
By Aline Mahrud
WHEN? 7pm UK time Saturday 11 March 2023
WHERE? Avicii Arena, Stockholm
WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play
2024 will be the 50th anniversary of ABBA‘s Eurovision win and we would imagine Sweden would be quite keen to host – and therefore win in 2023.
This venue’s promenade performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Julius Caesar have been amongst some of the best theatre we’ve ever immersed ourselves in and so this similar new production of a musical which is 1 of our favourites offers a great deal to look forward to. Not least with a cast including Marisha Wallace (Oklahoma!, Young Vic) and Daniel Mays (The Caretaker, Old Vic). Runs 3 March, opens 14 March through 2 September 2023. Tickets Review
By Aline Mahrud
WHEN? 7pm UK time Saturday 25 February 2023
WHERE? Malmö, Malmö Arena
WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play
Each act performing last in this season of Melodifestivalen has won their heat or progressed to Andra Chansen and we think 2012 Eurovision Song Contest winner Loreen is likely to be in the euphoric former camp.
By Aline Mahrud
WHEN?: 7pm UK time Saturday 18 February 2023
WHERE?: Sparbanken Lidköping Arena, Lidköping
WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play
Last week’s Heat 2 saw a ratcheting up of quality, a surprise non-qualifier and a Heat 3 performer co-writing the winning song.
By Aline Mahrud
WHEN? 7pm UK time Saturday 11 February 2023
WHERE? Saab Arena, Linköping
WHERE DO I WATCH? SVT Play
We were surprised by the 1st qualifier in last week’s opening heat and think the quality, and therefore the competition, is much tougher here.
