Join us on a journey of discovery through the country where Fredrik Strage sends Erik Ekstrand and Ayan Jamal out to find new exciting destinations, with the help of Sweden's music treasure.
We visit the locations that grace some of the most iconic album covers and take in all the amazing things to see and do there. Welcome to Cover Sweden!
Album cover: Fricky - “Fricktion” and Yung Lean - “Lavender”
Erik ends the cover tour in Stockholm, where he, inspired by Fricky and Yung Lean, records his own music video. The capital shows itself from its best side, via all elements. The earth in the forest on Lovö, the water at Fjäderholmarna, the fire at the blacksmith's (!) and the air, yes, everywhere. We also get the feeling of a fifth inside the mind-bending Paradox museum. Even one of the elements of hip-hop - the art of graffiti - is displayed, fittingly when two hip-hop covers are sought out.
Tips in the section:
- Cover location: Lovön (map)
- Cover location: Vitabergsparken (map)
- Drottningholm
- Fjäderholmarna
- Paradox museum
- Snow-eating cultural quarter
Discover more at Visit Stockholm
Album cover: Bob Hund - “I'm pouring out my soul! Everything must go away!!!”
Ayan makes it to the top of Sweden and lands in Kiruna, a city that will soon be moving (!). The hunt for Bob Hund's cover spot goes via luxury tents, churches, reindeer lunches and actually a trip into space. But does the location where the cover was shot even exist? And wait now, Bob Hund sings in Scanian. How is this connected? Ayan searches for the answer and takes "finding a needle in a haystack" to a new level - "finding a Skåne in Kiruna".
Tips in the section:
- Cover Location: The Lost Lake at Luossavaara (map)
- Nutti Sámi Siida
- Esrange Space Center
- Mongolian yurt & arctic dome
- Kiruna church
Discover more at the Swedish Lapland Visitors Board
Album cover: Frida Hyvönen - "Women and children"
We knew that Västerbotten is bursting with culture, but that it seems to be one big cheese paradise was a pleasant surprise, to say the least. The search for Frida Hyvönen's echoing and still lake takes detours past cheese heaven, down-to-earth delicatessens, perhaps the world's largest guitar collection and perhaps the world's oldest record store. But, the question remains: why are all twins in Västerbotten?
Tips in the section:
- Cover location: Hamptjärnen (map)
- Västerbottenost visitor center, Burträsk
- Duå delicatessen, Umeå
- Burman's music, Umeå
- Guitars the Museum, Umeå
Discover more at Visit Umeå
Album cover: Tomas Ledin - “Höga Kusten”
Ayan Jamal meets Bosse (from the comedy group Örjan, Bosse å Mange) and goes in search of Ledin's cover image. Which of all majestic views could it be? The dynamic duo gets help from Höga kusten's own experts and takes the opportunity to take their own gorgeous cover photos along the way. There will be dress cycling, waffles at the top cabin and funk disco with Jerry. But what is it about Sergei the mammoth in heat that makes Bosse's blood run cold?
Tips in the section:
- Cover location: Sund (map)
- Skuleskogen National Park
- Slåttdalsskrevan
- Man memory
- Skuleberget's top cabin
- The outdoor village
Discover more at Höga Kusten
Cover: Monica Törnell - “Ingica”
Where is the mysterious, magical and fairy-tale lake on Monica's cover? Ayan climbs up Söderhamn's lookout tower and looks out over the valley. Is it at Lugnet as Pelle from Månses said? Or should she listen to splice cord finder Arne? Before the place is reached, Ayan has time to munch on the best carrot she has eaten in her entire life, prepared by one of Sweden's best chefs, and find a brooch at the biggest mega flea market she has seen in her entire life. That you!
Tips in the section:
- Cover location: Ear iron (map)
- Oscarsborg
- Skärså, Söderhamn archipelago
- Månse's design and restaurant
- Variant flea market
Discover more at Hälsingland
Album cover: Ghost - “Opus Eponymous”
BOO! A fearful Erik sets out on a ghost hunt in Östergötland. Does he share a room with a guest? What's hiding in the flower shop's basement? Why does the ball of yarn fall off the walls? And who is it that walks with creaking steps right behind him? In this section you will find the answers. And a lovely B&B, fancy flower arrangements, a colorful yarn shop and mighty Vadstena castle.
Tips in the section:
- Cover location: Linköping Cathedral (map)
- Hilma Winblad's B&B
- The green of the bumblebee
- Stick boa
- Vadstena castle
Discover more at Visit Östergötland
Album cover: Millencolin - “Pennybridge Pioneers”
Fine dining and fine skateboarding in the shoemaking city of Örebro. Erik meets chefs, castle guides, people from the past and not least the guitarist in Millencolin, the band named after a skateboard trick. But is there anyone in Örebro who can handle this daring maneuver? We make our way down, down, down, down the hill down and find both a volunteer and the best dessert Erik has ever eaten.
Tips in the section:
- Cover location: Örebro Castle and the Mushroom (map)
- Wadkoping
- Örebro Castle
- Restaurant Gro
Discover more at Visit Örebro
Cover art: Panda da Panda feat. Joy M'Batha - "Mirror back" and The Family - "Malmö city"
The journey of discovery through record cover Sweden begins in the land of spettekakeland. What do viking sacrifice places and electropop have in common? And what do you find as a family when you visit Familjens Malmö? Erik Ekstrand rushes through Sweden's granary in search of the answers, holiday tips and cover locations.
Tips in the section:
- Cover location: Ale's stones on Österlen (map)
- Cover location: Simrishamnsgatan Malmö (map)
- Öregrund's playground
- Ribersborg cold bath house
- Adventures of Funny
- Baghdad falafel
Discover more at Tourism in Skåne and Malmö
Album cover: Håkan Hellström – "2 steps from paradise"
We fall further and experience Sweden's carefree front from Håkan Hellström's perspective. How does his very own "loser meal" taste at 7's street kitchen? How far do you see from the height of the cover? And is the picture a hoax?!
Tips in the section:
- Cover location Ramberget (map)
- 7's street kitchen on Vasagatan
- Andra Långgatan
- The masthead church
- Gullberg's quay
Discover more in Western Sweden and Gothenburg & Co
Album cover: Marie Fredriksson – "After the storm"
One of Sweden's most beloved voices takes us to a love-thirsty Halmstad and Tylösand. Erik finds two turtledoves showing and rating various romantic, and perhaps in some cases less romantic, gems near Sweden's most famous beach. There will be giant rocks, lunch at Nissan, white beaches, Italian coffee and rippling waterfalls. Uh, kiss me huh!
Tips in the section:
- Cover location Tylösand beach (map)
- The gigantic Slyngestone
- Hotel Mårtenson
- Restaurant Söderfamiljen
- Cortado Coffee Shop
- The Danish Falls nature reserve
Discover more at Visit Halland
Album cover: The Cardigans - "Emmerdale"
Erik is looking for holiday tips at Vätterns spets. From the ghostly Taberg mine to dialect mysteries and man's best friend on the album cover. The questions pile up. How on earth do you pronounce titanomagnetilivinite? And does Jönköping's kebab sauce really go with the Småland cheesecake? Get the answers, the tips and the cover location in the Jönköping section!
Tips in the section:
- Cover location Bråneryd/Huskvarna (map)
- Taberg mine and peak
- The city park
- Pizzeria Prima
- Äppledalen/ Graphite grey
- Bryggan Café
Discover more at Visit Smaland
Album cover: Sven-Ingvars - "Sven-ingvars in Frödingeland"
Cheers and welcome to beautiful Värmland. Now we're going to talk about luck, but not just any luck without culture. At least there is culture here, so there is enough for the whole nation. Will there be more Värmland culture than Sven-Ingvar's interpretations of Fröding? With wrestling hits like "Det var dans bort i vägen" and "Anita" in the headphones, we take ourselves from Nobel party tablecloths to challenging opera and artisanal bread in this beautiful part of the country. Here it's neither cloying nor funny, just good mash on the clod, for those who like that sort of thing.
Tips in the section:
- Cover location: at Brunskog church (map)
- Klässbol's linen weaving factory
- Wermland Opera
- Artisan bread
Discover more at Visit Värmland
Album cover: Avantgardet - “The rest of life”
We make a stop in Glasrikets Nybro to find Avantgardet's cover image and then move on towards Kalmar. The acclaimed live concerts of the avant-garde have been compared to naval battles. Could there be any connection to Kalmar castle, which was built to stop attacking pirates? Probably not, but this little guy is at least well worth a visit as well as the town's gastronomic leisure park, the county museum and the farm shop just outside.
Tips in the section:
- Cover location: Torget i Nybro (map)
- Kalmar Castle
- The county museum in Kalmar
- Postgatan
- Wirbladh's farm shop
Discover more at Visit Småland
Album cover: Pugh Rogefeldt - “Marathon”
The rock hero Pugh has been living on Gotland for a long time. And here you can not only photograph album covers, but also tuck into smoked flounder, salmon fins and 150 different kinds of vegetables. Preferably on handmade stoneware. Super local, super unique and super beautiful. Did we say super?
Tips in the section:
- Cover location: Limestone house in Lokrume (map)
- Thord Karlsson's studio
- Rone Smissarve - Vegetables and berries
- Sysne fish shop
Discover more at Region Gotland
Album cover: Merit Hemmingson - “Huvva!”
If you close your eyes and listen to Merit's psychedelic folk tunes, it's like traveling through the magnificent nature of Jämtland Härjedalen. If you think your imagination isn't enough, you can get here on your own and browse among tasting menus, cardamom buns and Lofsdalen's various adventures. The bear is sleeping... Or?
Tips in the section:
- Cover location: Thieves' lodge in Hotagen (map)
- The jazz kitchen
- Lofsdalen
- Freya's bakery
Discover more at Adventure Sweden
Album cover: Strip Music - “Sugar and lime”
Not even the goth icon in the band remembers which meadow the cover is photographed on, so we searched all over Södermanland. Were any of the meadows outside Eskilstuna correct? Maybe maybe not. But one thing is for sure, we found great ice cream, inspiring art and a cozy museum.
Tips in the section:
- Cover location: a completely ordinary meadow
- Best ice cream
- Eskilstuna Art Museum
- The Rademacher forges
Discover more at Visit Sörmland
Cover: Vilma Flood - “Moodswinger”
We start with a forest shower in Gäddeholm's cultural reserve where Bergslagsbluesen's Vilma Flood traveled to take her cover photo. Cultural reserve, what is it? No spoilers here, but it's amazingly beautiful. Then our relaxing journey continues and we sip on the region's outstanding coffee, must, cider and spa selection (don't drink the bath water now). We feel our inner power bank charging and feel no blues at all.
Tips in the section:
- Cover location: Gäddeholm cultural reserve (map)
- Björklund's coffee roastery
- Köping's must and cider
- Steam Hotel
Discover more at Västmanland
Album cover: Kinetics - “Empty Lanes”
We climb Staglaberget and look out over Växjö's skyline. There in town are not only the roots of Kinetic's shimmering indie pop, but many other Småland gems. Suggested schedule: Wake up in a uniquely designed hotel room, get inspired and educated at the country's oldest county museum, indulge your taste and hearing senses in a pop culture paradise and then fall asleep satisfied in the same uniquely designed hotel room. Clear.
Tips in the section:
- Cover location: Staglaberget Hotell (map)
- PM & Friends
- Café de Luxe
- Småland Museum
Discover more at Visit Småland
Album Cover: Rubin Barulho – “Uppsala”
In Robin Barulho's "Uppsala" his hometown is raised to the sky, so it is perfectly fitting that the cover shows this learned city from above. And of course Uppsala is fantastic! In the section, you will not only get tips on what you can eat, see and do in the city, but also where you can go on an exciting social trip a little outside.
Tips in the section:
- Cover location Central Uppsala (map)
- Bathe in Fyrisån
- Botanical Garden
- Drinks and food
- Åberg's museum
Discover more at Destination Uppsala
Album cover: V - “Led Into Exile”
The next stop on our album cover journey is Nås Finnmark, which inspired the doom metal band V. But in the hooks, there is not much that reminds of the pitch black tones. It's lovely views, crispy waffles, shack romance and a spa. Not to mention Rättvik's endless bridge. If this is what doomsday looks like, then maybe it's not so dangerous.
Tips in the section:
- Cover location Nås finnmark (map)
- Smidgården in Fryksås
- Nils Olsson's valley horses
- Rättvik's bridge
Discover more at Visit Dalarna
Album cover: Jan Lundgren Trio - "Svenska landscape"
The West Coast and Stockholm archipelago are not the only ones in the country. Follow along to Blekinge's coast and the soothing coppers on Jan Lundgren's album cover. Here there are countless beautiful islands and bathing spots, fantastic hotels and, not least, a mighty fortress from the great power era (for all MÖPs* out there).
*Militarily Overinterested Person
Tips in the section:
- Cover location Blekinge archipelago (map)
- Aspen
- Queen's Castle
- Boråkra B&B
- Saltösand's bathing area
Discover more at Visit Blekinge
