Foto: Anne-Marie Forker
Last night’s show at Unity Arena was part of Håkan Hellström’s first indoor tour in a decade. From the opening chords the crowd was hooked. Dressed in a vest top with a bloodied heart on his chest and supported by a 12-piece band, Hellström dived into a well-crafted setlist that mixed new material like “Pappa, Säg Ja!” and “Svindlande höjder” (from 2025’s “Svensk Rost” album) with beloved sing-alongs such as “Kom igen Lena!” and the ever-emotive “Känn ingen sorg för mig Göteborg.” This blend kept the momentum high for the full two hours plus — a testament to both the breadth of his catalogue and his ability to make even deep cuts feel essential.Hellström adapted his usually larger-than-life persona to the more confined Unity Arena stage very well. After massive summer shows on outdoor stadiums, with multiple records set at Ullevi in Gothenburg, this indoor tour stop brought a sense of closeness without sacrificing spectacle. The lighting and staging were simple - bright lights, a video screen and a catwalk - letting the songwriting and crowd interaction take centre stage — and that strategy paid off. Every sing-a-long was transformed into communal chorus, especially on the feel-good anthems and the heartfelt ballads. This made even the newer songs feel like well-known classics.
Physically, Hellström was running around, up and down on his knees, covering every inch of the stage. His vocals, characteristically raw and heartfelt, and at times sounding like Robert Smith of The Cure, might not be technically perfect on every note, but that’s part of Hellström’s charm. The genuineness of his delivery turned imperfections into strengths and proved why he remains one of Scandinavia’s most beloved live performers: not by polished perfection, but by authenticity and connection. Whether you came for the sing-along hits or the tender new songs, last night was proof that this chapter of Hellström’s career — stripped down from outdoor stadiums to arena intimacy — has its own, undeniable magic.
