The 6 Best Live Music Venues In Stockholm

Think ABBA was the culmination of Stockholm’s music scene? Think again. With all due respect to that monument of 1970s pop, the scene has reached new heights in recent years, thanks to an exciting influx of innovative Swedish artists like The Knife and The Hives. But there’s no good music scene without good venues, and, fortunately, Stockholm has them in spades. Here’s our selection of the best live music venues the city has to offer.

1. Pet Sounds Bar

Bar, Pub Grub, Cocktails, Wine, Beer

This bar, owned by the legendary Stockholm record store of the same name, is the best venue in Stockholm to discover new local bands, DJs, and participate in open mic nights. Its cellar was a legendary venue for indie rock in the 1980s and 1990s — it was the first Stockholm venue to book New Order — but now visitors can expect any genre, from folk to punk and Britpop, with lesser-known groups like Me & Mark, Poplöst, and The Specifics.

2. Södra Teatern

Restaurant, Swedish, French, Vegetarian

Located, as the name suggests, in hip Södermalm, Södra Teatern is the oldest theater in Stockholm, but it now focuses on music. In this unique setting dating back to 1850, concerts are held on the main stage, a beautiful lounge adorned with gold and green, or on one of the six smaller stages. There are also bars, restaurants, three outdoor terraces in the summer, and a beautiful view of the city. Renowned music groups and performers have put on gigs there, like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nick Cave, Coldplay, and James Blake.