Live Music in Umeå

Umeå is a cornerstone of Europe's influential "Umeå hardcore" movement, a scene deeply rooted in DIY ethics, straight edge, and animal rights that gained prominence in the mid-1990s. This northern Swedish city has a significant lineage of impactful bands, from the extreme metal pioneers Meshuggah to the seminal hardcore act Refused. Beyond its hardcore legacy, Umeå's musical landscape is broad, encompassing jazz with the long-running Umeå Jazz Festival and pop with international artist Tove Styrke. Live music is regularly featured at venues like the Umeå Concert Hall, Norrlandsoperan, and the Umeå Folkets Hus, which hosts the legendary Umeå Jazzstudio. Larger events like the fifty-year-old Brännbollsyran festival and the Umeå Open showcase a wide array of European, American, and local talent across genres.