Sunday Night Live in Stockholm

“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is” is a proverb, that most of us probably have heard more than once. However, it has also been said that the exception proves the rule, and this is most certainly the case with the 23-year-old Swedish blues singer Lisa Lystam and her Family Band.

In Stockholm, where every Friday in wintertime is a black one until the first snow finally comes, a little light in the dark is more than welcomed. The last Sunday of November was indeed lit by the rising star of the Swedish blues scene, Lisa Lystam, who with her Family Band threw a gig in beer restaurant Akkurat in central Stockholm. Opened in 1995 Restaurang Akkurat is known not only for its wide selection of beers but also for its live music nights, where you can spot both upcoming and well-known artists. With no entrance fee, Akkurat is definitely a place for everybody to check out — at least on Sunday evenings when the live events take place.

Located not more than a stone’s throw from one of the main public transport hubs of Stockholm City, metro station Slussen, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that one needs to arrive in time to get a seat in the bar. In addition to the bar, there is also a dedicated restaurant area, but since it is intended for the dining guests only it doesn’t really help the casual visitor. The stage is located near the bar counter and is easily visible from all directions, though being possibly slightly lower than usual (due to the relatively low ceiling) it can easily get hidden behind an enthusiastic crowd.

When the band starts playing the locale is already crowded, but even more people are streaming inside. It is easy to understand why. Lisa Lystam is called the best female blues singer in Sweden. Neither should one have a hard time figuring out where the title comes from, because from the very first song, she knows how to mesmerize her audience — and the spell she casts over the crowd lasts until the last chord has faded. Along with the vocalist’s amazingly strong and versatile voice the magic seems to lie in the joyful arrangements featuring not only some traditional elements of blues but also having a distinguishable touch of rock involved.

That in mind the gig, lasting approximately 90 minutes, hardly can be described as a traditional blues concert, which so often is associated with a bunch of old men with grey beards picking their basses. In fact, it is quite the opposite: while the traditional blues instruments like the harmonica and bass certainly are present, they are used in quite a unique way to create a modern musical mixture to be found somewhere between blues and rock.

Despite the musicians on the stage all being young the majority of the audience seems to be somewhere in their early 40s, while both younger and older people are still seen here and there. Anyhow, it’s impossible to tell if that is just due to the venue or perhaps to the overall blues genre, as it traditionally seems to be more appreciated among the elderly. All in all, it’s a shame that the youth in Sweden hasn’t really found their way to the blues venues yet as the talented band together with its dazzling vocalist offers a mighty live experience you really don’t want to miss.

In a nutshell:

Lisa Lystam Family Band

Lisa Lystam; vocals

Fredrik Karlsson; guitar

Matte Gustafsson; guitar

Mikael Fall; harmonica

Morgan Korsmoe; bass

Patrik Thelin; drums

The band released their debut album When Money’s Runnin’ Out in 2014 and according to their homepage is currently working on their second album release. You can find them on Facebook and at lisalystam.se.

Restaurang Akkurat: How to get there

Restaurang Akkurat is located in central Stockholm at Hornsgatan 18, less than a five minutes’ walk from one of the main public transport hubs of the city, metro station Slussen. They are open seven days a week and serve lunch from Monday to Friday. No entrance fee. For people 18 years and older. Check out their homepage at akkurat.se for more info, available

Text and photo’s: Jesse Juopperi, 19 years, Tornio, Finland/Stockholm, Sweden