The following is a list of notable events and releases in Nordic music in 2024.
Events 5 January – Swedish band Grave announce that two long-term members, bass guitarist Tobias Cristiansson and guitarist Mika Lagrén, are leaving the band, with a result that 2024 live appearances are being put on hold. 16 January – Danish band Mercyful Fate announces that their US bassist Joey Vera is leaving, after several years filling in for the late Timi Hansen. 24 January – Turku Philharmonic Orchestra announces Helsinki-born John Storgårds as its new chief conductor, effective from the 2024–2025 season. 25 January – The Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern announces confirms the scheduled departure of Finland's Pietari Inkinen as its chief conductor at the close of the 2024–2025 season. 3 February – Norway's Melodi Grand Prix concludes, with progressive folk-rock band Gåte winning the right to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest, with their song "Ulveham". 26 February – Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen stars in the Metropolitan Opera's revival of La Forza del Destino. 27 February – Danish band Mnemic announce that they are reuniting for a series of performances to mark their 20th anniversary. 2 March At the 2024 final of Söngvakeppnin, "Við förum hærra" ("Scared of Heights"), sung by Hera Björk, is selected as Iceland's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. Erik Grönwall leaves US band Skid Row to prioritise his recovery from acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Ars Nova Copenhagen appoints Sofi Jeannin its first female chief conductor, starting immediately. 21 March &ndash All four members of ABBA are appointed Commander, First Class, of the Royal Order of Vasa, by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. 7–9 May – The 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is held in Malmö, Sweden. The highest-placed Scandinavian entry is Sweden, finishing 9th. Finland finishes 19th and Norway 25th. Iceland and Denmark are both eliminated at the semi-final stage. 22 May – Solution .45 announce that they are breaking up, blaming a lack of motivation. 15 May – Barbara Hannigan is announced as the next chief conductor and artistic director of The Iceland Symphony Orchestra; her contract begins in August 2026 for an initial three seasons. 12 June – The Malmö Symphony Orchestra announces that Martyn Brabbins will be its next chief conductor, effective with the 2025–2026 season. 12 July – The Pori Jazz Festival takes place in Finland. 18 August – Norwegian guitarist Galder announces that he is leaving Dimmu Borgir in order to concentrate on his own band, Old Man's Child. 9 October – The Danish String Quartet is awarded the 2025 Léonie Sonning Music Prize, the first ensemble to receive the prize in its history. 11–20 October – Stockholm Jazz Festival; stars include Bill Frisell, Julius Rodriguez, Sona Jobarteh, Gogo Penguin and The Headhunters. 7–9 November – The Iceland Airwaves music festival is held in Reykjavik and celebrates its 25th anniversary. 20 November – Iceland's Víkingur Ólafsson wins "Instrumentalist of the Year" at the 64th annual Musical America Artist of the Year awards. date unknown – Nightwish take a break from touring following the release of their tenth studio album.
Albums released January DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 8Trollfest 20 Years in the Wrong Lane 20th anniversary compilation album 16Ribspreader Reap Humanity Xtreem Music 26Blood Red Throne Nonagon Soulseller Records Dead by April The Affliction Accompanied by tour of FinlandMadder Mortem Old Eyes, New Heart Dark Essence Records Manticora Mycelium Mighty Music "Mystic concept album"
February DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 2Artillery Raw Live (At Copenhell) Mighty Music Live album 9Per Wiberg The Serpent's Here Despotz Records 16Crazy Lixx Two Shots at Glory Compilation albumIhsahn Ihsahn Candlelight Records Includes orchestral version 23Amaranthe The Catalyst Nuclear Blast Records Borknagar Fall Century Media Records Produced by Øystein Brun Hjerteslag Betonglandskap Fysisk Format
March DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 1Blind Channel Exit Emotions Century Media Kiuas Samooja: Pyhiinvaellus EP, recorded at Sonic Pump Studios 5Niklas Sundin Wattudragaren Inertial Music Debut solo album 15Necrophobic In the Twilight Grey Century Media Sonata Arctica Clear Cold Beyond Atomic Fire 22Hamferð Men Guðs hond er sterk Metal Blade Records Khold Du dømmes til Død Soulseller Records Sylvaine Eg Er Framand Season of Mist EP Unshine Karn of Burnings Rockshots Records 28The Quill Wheel of Illusion Metalville Records
April DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 5In Vain Solemn Indie Recordings Vinyl double albumKorpiklaani Rankarumpu Nuclear Blast 12Imminence The Black Produced by Henrik UddTýr Battle Ballads Metal Blade Records 19Loch Vostok Opus Ferox II – Mark of the Beast ViciSolum Productions Part 2 of Opus Ferox trilogyLauri Porra Matter & Time (Aineen ja ajan messu) Platoon 26Darkthrone It Beckons Us All Peaceville Records
May DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 3Gothminister Pandemonium II: The Battle of the Underworlds Afm Records 10Hov1 Jag önskar jag brydde mig mer EMI and Universal Anette Olzon Rapture Frontiers featuring Magnus Karlsson 17Pain I Am Nuclear Blast 24Astrid S Joyride Universal/Island Records Trail of Tears Winds of Disdain The Circle Music EP 31Candlemass Tritonus Nights Live album Marcus & Martinus Unforgettable Universal Music
June DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 7Aurora What Happened to the Heart?Decca RecordsStudio albumApocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol. 2 Bmg Rights Management GMBH Covers album; featuring Robert Trujillo Evergrey Theories of Emptiness Napalm Records Kristine Tjøgersen Between Trees Aurora Records With the Norwegian Radio Orchestra 14Teemu Keisteri No Rules! Megamix All Day Entertainment Oy EP 28Illdisposed In Chambers of Sonic Disgust Massacre Records featuring Ken Holst in place of Rasmus Henriksen Limbonic Art Opus Daemoniacal Kyrck Productions & Armour
July DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 4Nifelheim Unholy Death Darkness Shall Rise Productions Compilation album 12Amorphis Tales from the Thousand Lakes – Live at Tavastia Reigning Phoenix Music Live album 26Dream Evil Metal Gods Century Media Records
August DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 9HammerFall Avenge the Fallen Nuclear Blast Records 13th album 16Dark Tranquillity Endtime Signals Century Media Records 23Koldbrann Ingen Skånsel Dark Essence Records 30Leprous Melodies of Atonement InsideOutMusic Wintersun Time II/Time Package Nuclear Blast Compilation album
September DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 6Marduk Beast of Prey: Brutal Assault Live album from Brutal Assault Festival 2015 13Trelldom ...by the Shadows... Prophecy Productions Wolfbrigade Life Knife Death Metal Blade Records 19Lamin SkyLL Universal Music Denmark 20Eclipse Megalomanium II Frontiers Music Srl Nightwish Yesterwynde Nuclear Blast Records
October DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 1Timo Tolkki Classical Variations and Themes 2: Ultima Thule 41349 The Wolf and the King Season of Mist D-A-D Speed of Darkness AFM Records 18Astral Doors The End of It All Metalville Records Anniversary album Ensiferum Winter Storm Metal Blade Records Funeral Gospel of Bones Season of Mist Grand Magus Sunraven Nuclear Blast Records Beowulf-themed album Tungsten The Grand Inferno Reigning Phoenix Music 25Danilo Perez & Bohuslän Big Band Lumen Prophone Records
November DayArtistAlbumLabelNotes Ref. 1Brothers of Metal Fimbulvinter AFM Records Tribulation Sub Rosa in Æternum Century Media Records Vola Friend of a Phantom Mascot Records 8Sólstafir Hin Helga Kvöl In readiness for Nordic Descent Tour 2024 22Opeth The Last Will and Testament Reigning Phoenix Music 29Konkhra Sad Plight of Lucifer Hammerheart Records
Eurovision Song Contest Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024
Classical works Daniel Bjarnason – Fragile Hope Mats Larsson Gothe – Submarea Olli Mustonen – Sadunkertoja (flute concerto) Maja Ratkje – A Whisper, or a Prayer, or a Song Outi Tarkiainen – Mosaics for "A Fragile Hope"
Film and television music Musical films Spermageddon, with music by Christian Wibe
Film scores Hildur Guðnadóttir – Joker: Folie à Deux Uno Helmersson – Ibelin
Deaths 23 January – Anders Sandberg, 55, Swedish vocalist (Rednex) 27 January – Lillebjørn Nilsen, 73, Norwegian singer-songwriter and folk musician 5 February – Riikka Hakola, 61, Finnish operatic soprano 13 February – Jussi Raittinen, 80, Finnish musician and composer 25 February – Georg Riedel, 90, Czechoslovak-born Swedish jazz double bass player and composer 23 March – Ulf Georgsson, 61, Swedish songwriter 3 April – Kalevi Kiviniemi, 65, Finnish concert organist 6 April – Dutty Dior, 27, Norwegian rapper 21 April – Kaj Chydenius, 84, Finnish musician and composer 21 April – Ingrid Fuzjko Hemming, 91, Swedish classical pianist 25 April – Kaisa Korhonen, 82, Finnish theatre director, actor and singer 29 April – Dagne Groven Myhren, 83, Norwegian folk musician and writer 18 May – Palle Danielsson, 77, Swedish jazz double bassist 4 June – C.Gambino, 26, Swedish rapper 9 June – Alex Riel, 83, Danish jazz and rock drummerTrommeslager Alex Riel er sovet ind efter uhelbredelig sygdom 29 June – Martti Wallén, 75, Finnish operatic bass 16 July – Ulf Dageby, 80, Swedish rock musician, singer and songwriter 16 August – Tore Ylvisaker, 54, Norwegian keyboardist (Ulver) 21 August – Rolf Bækkelund, 99, Norwegian violinist and conductor 3 September – Göran Fristorp, 76, Swedish singer and songwriter 17 September – , 88, Finnish musician and politician 3 October – Terje Bjørklund, 79, Norwegian jazz pianist and composer 4 November – Johnny Madsen, 73, Danish musician and artist 18 November – Bjørn Müller, 64, Norwegian rock singer (Backstreet Girls). 26 November – , 61, Swedish jazz musician and composer 18 December – Heikki Silvennoinen, 70, Finnish musician, actor and comedian 19 December – Gaboro, 23, Swedish rapper 28 December – Lars Martin Myhre, 68, Norwegian composer, guitarist, and pianist
References