Norrköping review in Folkbladet / Salem in Svensktoppen

There's a very positive review of Salem's Saturday night show in Norrköping, in today's Folkbladet: http://www.folkbladet.se/kulturnoje/artikel.aspx?articleid=5557165

Reviewer Mikael Mjörnberg writes that "the sum is greater than the parts...(Salem) tripping excitedly on stage together with the conductor Hans Ek, and then they spend, the next more than two hours devoted to filling in any gaps and they lift the music a dimension higher. Responsive and challenging....Salem Al Fakir's pop music and the hefty orchestra is simply an equation that goes very well together."

The reviewer did not feel that it worked as well for special guest September: "she did a good job, there's no question about that, but her voice and character does not melt together with the Symphony Orchestra...the feeling is that she sings to the accompaniment of the orchestra rather than becoming part of it."

The reviewer goes on to say: "(Salem) stands for the really spectacular and it creates a whole in a completely different way when he pulls the strings. That his songs make themselves great with the orchestra should be clear by now, but some are obviously better than others...Salem sings beautifully and Hans Ek has made excellent arrangements for most of the songs."

"Hans Ek bounces like an excited football fan on the conductor's podium. He manages to sneak in some Ennio Morricone in the show and in the middle of the second act there's even an incomparable orchestral version of the old theme music to "Das Boot" (as the majority of humanity, of course, rather know as techno hit by German U96 with the same name from 1991...it is very heavy in comparison to Salem's otherwise pretty neat song material, but it's very good. That said, Salem Al Fakir and symphony orchestra fill in each other's gaps. The boundaries between the orchestra and gathering rock concert blur and then the sum is naturally greater than the parts".

In other news, "Split My Personality" is the highest new entry in this week's "Svensktoppen" on SR P4. A little interview snippet on http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2023&artikel=4366360 :"...my girlfriend complains right now because we never listen to any music any longer, as I'll soon get started writing new music. But I have just become a dog owner, a small puppy named Otis, so the plan is that I'm going to start working when he sleeps!". Of course Otis probably isn't so small anymore!!

Salem's MySpace Glasgow gig mystery???

Late last night I found out some information which briefly sent me into a state of extreme happiness and euphoria. On Salem's MySpace page, www.myspace.com/salem, it says that he will be playing a live show in Glasgow on 17th February.

For a brief moment, it felt like all my dreams had come true - Salem Al Fakir, playing in Scotland, in my local, favourite, city. At last.

However, I don't think this is true. For there are also a couple of other bands out there who are also called Salem - I mentioned this in a previous post in 2009 http://planetsalem.blogspot.com/2009/08/whats-in-name.html and I think it may be one of them. When scrolling down Salem Al Fakir's MySpace page and you reach the Music (Albums) section, there are a couple by one of the other Salems, but when you go to the Music (Playlist) section, you find 'our' Salem. So there is a problem with the MySpace page.

Also , when checking other websites which also mention the gig, they just mention that Salem is appearing, rather than Salem Al Fakir. So, for all these reasons, I don't think he will be coming to Glasgow this time. (But I wish he would!!)

Am I right or wrong? Can anyone tell me if 'our' Salem is coming to Glasgow or not?

Klubb Molto gig this Saturday...

Don't forget that Salem will be playing Klubb Molto at Södertälje Stadshus this coming Saturday. Damien Adore is the support act.

More info at http://moltolive.nu/salem-al-fakir/

There are still tickets available, so if you haven't got your tickets yet then you can book them at https://secure.tickster.com/(S(bs3leu55bztllp55bvogbgj1))/sv-SE/FKYZEVMNWP223UN/Shop/Products.aspx

Found some good news tonight (via www.twitter.com/klubbmolto) that Saturday night's show will be recorded for future transmission on P3 Live. I'll bring more information about that when it becomes available.

Salem returns to Dalhalla next summer!

Yes, here, finally, is the big news that I promised :)) Thanks to Vera at Blixten for the press release.

Actually, it's good news and bad news. First the bad news - Salem will only play one concert next summer :(

Now the good news - that concert will be at Dalhalla! Yes, Salem will return to Dalhalla on Friday 5th August 2011, where he will perform once again with the Gävle Symfoniorkester under the direction of Hans Ek.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, 3rd December and will be available at http://www.dalhalla.se/.

Press release in full:

Salem Al Fakir comes to Dalhalla, the weekend after Malena Ernman, Friday August 5. Salem was as a child at a concert at Dalhalla as a child and was fascinated by the magical environment. Last summer he had a chance to perform a concert there, and the result was a real hit, "Powerful, Salem Al Fakir!" wrote Dala-Demokraten and Dalarnas Tidningar was equally enthusiastic: "a fantastic evening – when he was called up again for the fourth time, was the success a reality."

"In the summer, I was out on a record long tour and played throughout Sweden. It was great fun, but when I came home and everything calmed down there was one concert I was extra happy when I was thinking back to – Dalhalla. It is a wonderful scene, but above all because it is incredibly inspiring and a pleasure to play with a Symphony Orchestra. Therefore, I have decided that next summer I will only do a single concert, and it will be at Dalhalla, "says Salem Al Fakir.

Just like last year, Salem and his band will play together with Gävle Symphony Orchestra and conductor Hans Ek.

Salem Al Fakir has released three acclaimed albums and won four Grammis. Latest gold selling album "Ignore This" was released in the spring. Salem, who began playing the violin at four years old, plays all the instruments himself on his CDs and has in recent years made several high-profile appearances with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra in Berwaldhallen in Stockholm. He has also played with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Malmö Opera Orchestra and in spring 2011 he will appear with the Jönköpings Sinfonietta and Norrköping Symphony Orchestra.

Vara Konserthus - 18th March!

New concert announced today!!

Salem will play a show at Vara Konserthus on Friday 18th March 2011.

Tickets go on sale on Monday 6th December at 13:00. Info at http://www.ticnet.se/Salem+Al+Fakir-biljetter/event/VRK0318

Norrköping tickets now available!

Exciting news!! You can now book tickets for the Norrköping show on 5th March 2011. This will be another orchestral collaboration, this time with the Norrköpings Symfoniorkester, under the direction of Hans Ek.

More information at http://www.ticnet.se/checkout/event.php?eventId=DEE0305

Jönköping in January 2011....

Found this! According to the Jönköpings Konserthus official website, Salem will be appearing there with the Jönköpings Sinfonietta next January. Tickets don't appear to be on sale yet though, but once I get more information I'll let you all know.

Check out the evenemangskalender for 5th and 6th January 2011....
http://www.programbolaget.se/evenemangskalender.html
also this http://www.programbolaget.se/evenemangskalender.html?news=7583

I previously posted about another 2011 show in Norrköping but in case you missed it: http://planetsalem.blogspot.com/2010/06/uppsala-and-norrkoping.html

Maybe more shows to come? Does anyone have any more info??

Uppsala and Norrköping...

An extra date has been added at Katalin, Uppsala on Thursday 2nd September because the show on 4th September has now sold out. More info at http://www.katalin.com/program.html and booking info at Ticnet: http://www.ticnet.se/checkout/event.php?eventId=KAU0902

According to Ticnet, http://www.ticnet.se/checkout/event.php?eventId=DEE0305 Salem will be playing the De Geerhallen in Norrköping on 5th March next year. Yes, 2011!! Tickets aren't on sale yet, but will go on sale at Ticnet on 30th August.

EDIT 27.07.2010: the Norrköping concert will be another orchestral collaboration, this time with the Norrköpings Symfoniorkester, and of course you can't have a Salem orchestra show without the world's best conductor - Hans Ek!