Jazz Music
Fasching
Close to Stockholm Central Station is the jazz club Fasching, which started in 1977 and is one of Europe's oldest clubs. Uniquely enough, it is owned by the jazz musicians themselves through the Association of Swedish Jazz Musicians (Föreningen Sveriges Jazzmusiker, FSJ) and many in the audience as members.
Today, Fasching is one of Scandinavia's largest organisers of jazz concerts with unknown talents, big stars, newcomers, and legends. Every year, 250–300 concerts and about a hundred club nights are held here. Legendary clubs such as Blacknuss and the long-lived Club Soul mean that Fasching is also a part of Stockholm's modern entertainment history. In the same premises, there is a restaurant and bar. Some evenings, there is live music in the foyer bar with free admission.
For ten days in October each year, the Stockholm Jazz Festival takes place with Fasching as a hub for the activities, both organisationally and as one of the festival's main stages.
Musikaliska kvarteret (the Musical Quarter)
Musikaliska Kvarteret rents Sweden's first concert hall, owned by the Statens fastighetsverk (the National Property Board of Sweden, SFV). It was King Oscar II who decided that Kungliga Musikaliska Akademien (the Royal Swedish Academy of Music) needed an own building. This Academy started already in 1771. The architect Johan Fredrik Åbom was responsible for its design and it was inaugurated in 1877. He also designed Berns salonger and Södra Teatern (“Some restaurants” and “Pop & Rock Music”). The first 26 Nobel Prize ceremonies were held on the main stage.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Music held the highest music education in Sweden here until the end of the 1960s. For example, the world-famous singers Jussi Björling and Birgit Nilsson did their studies in the building. During 1960- and 70s, the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra used it for rehearsals until Berwaldhallen was finished (“Classical Music”).
Since 2022, Musikaliska Kvarteret has been operating through a cluster of stages, restaurants, bars, and event spaces. A wide range of concerts are held with classical music, pop music, clubs, contemporary art music, folk and world music as well as jazz.
Nalen
Nalen (originally Nationalpalatset or National Palace) is located in central Stockholm. The house is from 1888, financed by the fellowship Enighet och Vänskap (Unity and Friendship) for its activities. The following year, the National Restaurant & Café moved into the premises, the name of which would soon be used for the house. The former athlete Gustaf "Topsy" Lindblom took over what had become a dance hall in 1934 and he developed it into a dance palace especially known for its jazz music. It was the place where "everything händer (twisted word in Swedish – both happens and hands) and a lot of fötter (feet)".
The house is primarily associated with the golden years of Swedish jazz until the mid-1960s when the pop music was on the rise. In 1967, Lee King's band was the last to perform before Nalen closed. After that, a demolition of the house was planned, but it was still allowed to stand. It was then sold to the Pentecostal church the same year.
In 1998, Nalen was renovated with its original charm preserved and reopened as an entertainment venue. It is now run by SAMI – the Swedish Artists' and Musicians' Interest organisation – with concerts, conferences, and an in-house restaurant. The Great Hall is used for larger concerts.
Stampen
The couple Gun and Sten Holmquist started several music clubs during 1960s. In 1968, they transformed a former pawnshop located in the Old Town into a jazzclub. Its name became “Stampen” after the stamps clients would receive per regular maintenance payments, for items they had deposited at the pawn shop as collateral. Thus, ”Stamp” was a slang term for pawn shop. From Gun’s gadget and antiques dealer shop on David Bagares gata (street), the couple used odd things such as the big kick in the ceiling and stuffed animals for decoration.
When the Beatles wave hit and most jazz clubs switched into rock and pop venues, Stampen remained a temple for jazz legends. Still, the ambition by the owners is to continue to book professional musicians and give their guests the best possible music experience six days a week, all year round. The span of the music is from traditional jazz to modern blues or soul r&b.
With two floors, two stages, and two crowded bars, it is worth a visit – if you’re interested in music. No table reservations, drop-in only. No pre-sale tickets unless specified in event info.