Press photo: All Things Live Sweden
The corona restrictions caused that several of Helen’s appearances also went digital in 2021, including the national day celebrations in Sollentuna on June 6.
On April 24, Helen participated in a guerrilla concert in front of the parliament building in connection with the launch of the global initiative Climate Live.
On May 23, Thunder in My Heart premiered, a new original series on Viaplay in eight episodes. Helen plays the role of Annika; mother of the main character Sigrid. Amy Deasismont is the creator and screenwriter.
During the summer, Helen made some live appearances, including Lotta at Liseberg.
On September 9, she participated in the Baltic Sea Fund’s award ceremony 2021 on Åland and on September 15, she participated in a tribute concert to healthcare staff at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.
On November 7, Helen finally went on tour with her album En ny tid (A New Time) which was released in September 2020. The same month she released the single Julen kan hjälpa (Christmas Can Help) together with Anna Stadling and in December they had time to do a couple of Christmas concerts together.
On Christmas Day 2021, the film Tills solen går upp (Till sun rises) premiered. The main roles were played, in addition to Helen, by Mikael Persbrandt, Vanna Rosenberg and Peter Dalle. Helen and Mikael Persbrandt portrayted the married couple Peder and Lena. The movie was directed by Peter Dalle, who also wrote the script. The movie was shown on Swedish Television in the spring of 2023.
On January 29, 2022, the musical Next to Normal had a revival on Uppsala City Theatre’s main stage, with Helen in the role of mother Diana. It was played there until March 26.
During the year, Helen also gave several concerts, including together with the musician Rickard Nilsson, a collaboration that will continue in 2023. In May, she appeared in Spring fanfare at the Wasa Theater in Finland together with Anna-Maria Hallgarn. She also did some gigs together with Martin Östergren and Jojje Wadenius and took part in a support concert for Ukraine under the auspices of the Salvation Army.
On October 28, Helen and Anna Stadling released the Christmas album Snö & marshaller (Snow and marshals) and in the following months an extensive Christmas tour was carried out around the country. From the reviews:
“The duo’s interpretation of “In the pale winter night” wraps the heart in lamb’s wool. The whole last hour is actually lovely, if we’re being honest. Overall, this is an excellent evening. It manages to both break with traditions and cherish them”.
Göteborgsposten
“Helen Sjöholm and Anna Stadling are hard hit among Christmas concerts in Gävle”.
Arbetarbladet
“Beautifully performed Christmas carols with a measure of pain”.
Barometern
“Helen Sjöholm and Anna Stadling have made an album that reflects Christmas as complex and contradictory as it is”.
Dagens Industri
On January 15, 2023, Helen was one of the artists at the Fadime Gala at Berns Salonger in Stockholm and on January 23, she appeared at the Golden Beetle Gala together with Anna Stadling and Albin Lee Meldau, in a tribute to Sven-Bertil Taube.
Among the many events during the spring can be mentioned the The National Theatre’s performance Nassim and Music for Life; a tribute concert for pianist and composer Stefan Nilsson. At the beginning of the summer, she gave three concerts together with Jojje Wadenius and Martin Östergren.
In fall 2023–spring 2024, Helen plays in the musical Änglagård (House of Angels) at the Oscar Theater in Stockholm and in December 2023 there were three more Christmas concerts together with Anna Stadling and Snow and marshals.
