Håkan Hellström at Ullevi: Why the magic still lingers today
There are artists, and then there’s Håkan Hellström. Gothenburg's pride, the people's poet, and the man who can make the very foundations of Ullevi shake. Even as the years roll on, his songs remain as time capsules for generations of Swedes. No one else can quite bare their soul on stage like he does, while simultaneously making 70,000 people feel the exact same thing.
The night that became legend – 7 June 2014
For those who were there – and for those who wish they had been – the memory of Håkan Hellström at Ullevi on 7 June 2014 still burns bright. It wasn't just a concert; it was a collective heartbeat. When he walked out onto that stage, sporting his signature hat and that look that's both shy and completely commanding, you just knew something magical was about to go down. He truly ripped his heart out that night, and the crowd gave it right back with the same energy.
The songs we know by heart – "Känn ingen sorg för mig Göteborg," "Det kommer aldrig va över för mig," and of course "Hela huset" – echoed around the arena in one massive, unending singalong. It was a reminder of why Håkan Hellström is more than just an artist; he's an institution.
Three moments from Ullevi that are forever etched in memory
- When he sang "En vän med en bil" and the whole stadium bounced. The ground swayed, people were crying and laughing all at once.
- A guest appearance by none other than Sylvia Vrethammar. A surreal and wonderful duet that only Håkan could pull off.
- The encores that just kept coming. He'd leave the stage, come back, leave again – no one wanted to go home.
What's happened since then?
Since that June night back in 2014, Håkan has kept on surprising us. He's dropped albums, sold out Ullevi again (in 2017 and 2022) and proven he's constantly evolving. But the big question on everyone's mind is: can he ever top 2014? Some gigs are so perfectly pitched they almost become a burden, but Håkan doesn't seem fussed. He just does what he's always done – gets up on stage and gives it his absolute all, whether it's for 50 people in a small dive bar in Majorna or 70,000 at the national stadium.
One of the country's most respected music critics once described a Håkan show as a "raw spectacle," one that gives the audience a real insight into his unique talent. It's not about perfection; it's about authenticity. And that's precisely why Håkan Hellström is still so relevant. In an age of auto-tune and heavily choreographed pop acts, he stands there with his guitar and his gravelly voice, reminding us that music can actually mean something.
The future? It's already here
Rumours are swirling about new songs, maybe a tour next year. But honestly, it almost doesn't matter. Because no matter what Håkan Hellström does next, one thing's for sure: when he steps onto that stage again, we'll be there. And we'll be singing along to every single bloody song, from the first note to the last. Because Håkan isn't just an artist. Håkan is Sweden.