Photo & © Maria Nehro
With short notice, it turned out that Helen would be involved in a concert at the newly opened Palace, located on Riddarholmen in Stockholm yesterday, on October 8. A place where children and young people can pursue their own creativity in film, literature, music and performing arts.
At first I was a little stressed out, wondering desperately how I would manage to accommodate even this in weekend’s plans, outside of everything else. But when I thought about it, I realized that it would be just fine!
Said and done, at three o’clock yesterday afternoon, I met Kristina at The Palace, and soon after I met Simon. I also had the opportunity to say hello to Hjördis for the first time, though I heard her name before. She carried a totally adorable little boy in her arms, who behaved incredibly nice during the concert.
Concert venue was small, and there were not many seats. We sat in the front row. I was immediately struck by a bad conscience because this was a place dedicated to the younger generations, and here we sat, obscuring the view in the front row! But that feeling soon disappeared, when I discovered that most of those who filled the rows of seats behind us were adults, not children.
A bunch of young guys sound checked on the small stage. We wondered in our own mind whether this really was the house band, and what on earth Helen would perform with them!? It didn´t look like they could accompany her in Euforia, but hardly in children’s songs either. Kristina inquired, and learned that it wasn´t the house band we saw, but Sixten & the Cupcakes, one of The Palace’s youth bands. Mystery thickened. What kind of program would it be..?
The participants were introduced, and the house band and Helen entered the stage. Helen was wearing black tights, grey and black striped tight knit dress, where a proper tummy now appeared, black jacket and black scarf wrapped around her neck. Then she let us listen to:
Cowboy talk (with initial recitation)
Come Give Me Love
Inatt är hela staden vår (duet with Moa Holmsten)
The program was unexpected and a bit odd, which just made it even more exciting! After Helen left the scene the concert continued with a few original songs by Moa Holmsten, a young girl I hadn´t had the opportunity to become acquainted with before, the house band and Sixten & the Cupcakes. In the last song as the house band performed a very young drummer boy from the house was involved.
Afterwards, we had the opportunity to talk a few with Helen, and then we left, very pleased with our experience, although this time was quite short!