Dagbladet 110129
By: BJÖRN BRÅNFELT
Photo: SOFIE WIKLUND
Helen Sjöholm’s 2011 begins with opening night in her old home town Sundsvall. Last night there was a rehearsal in Tonhallen before the two (!) sold-out concerts this evening.
– It feels great to start here, she told Dagbladet.
2010 was a busy year for Helen Sjöholm. She recorded the album “Euforia – Helen Sjöholm sings Billy Joel,” she played “Aniara” at Stockholm’s City Theatre and starred as one of the main characters in the film “Simon and the oaks” which premieres this fall.
This year will be calmer
2011 will be a calm year.
– I’m doing this tour in the spring and I’m going on tour with BAO in the summer. Then I will be off work as much as possible, says Helen Sjöholm.
Dagbladet met her in the dressing room backstage in Tonhallen before the dress rehearsal with the band last night. This evening she begins her first tour in Sweden for six years with two (!) sold-out concerts.
– I have many relatives and friends in town, Helen Sjöholm says, laughing.
Is it special to have the premiere in Sundsvall?
– Yes, it is. But it feels great. I wanted the premiere to be held in Sundsvall.
Nervous?
– Yes. I’m always nervous before a performance, even when I play five times a week.
After today’s double premiere a big tour is planned in Sweden (25 concerts) where an extra concert is added in Sundsvall on April 12. The tour is based on the latest album by Billy Joel songs, but there are also a lot more.
Something from “Kristina from Duvemala”? BAO-hits?
– Well, probably not. But there are some other things, maybe something out of “Aniara” and “Gabriella’s Song”.
“Fan-tas-tic band”
If you ask her about the band – Martin Östergren, piano, Jojje Wadenius, guitar, Gunnar Nordén, guitar, André Ferrari, drums, Fredrik Jonsson, Bass, Hanna Helgegren, violin, Johanna Tafvelin, violin, Asa Stove Paulsson, viola and Anna S . Wallgren, cello – she is ecstatic:
– The band? Totally fan-tas-tic! says Helen Sjöholm. – It feels so luxurious that we could bring the string quartet on the tour that we wanted so much. Super luxury.
Anything else going on?
– We are about to record an album with Benny Andersson’s orchestra, BAO. We will tour this summer. – It’s the only thing I have planned after the spring tour, Helen Sjöholm says.
Maybe something for the Street party?
– No, BAO’s a dance band. We are going to Örnsköldsvik and Järvsö, says Helen Sjöholm.
You will come back to Sundsvall?
– Yes, I’m here several times a year anyway.