The Sweden Rock festival showed a sacred bond between artists, organizers and visitors. It always takes a visionary to create something, and this year the blood and the heart pulsed rhythmically in a way that created magic between the rock band and the audience. So writes The Nordic Times' Mikael Rasmussen who visited this year's festival.
Published 16 July 2023
Photo: Mikael Rasmussen/The Nordic Times
Iron Maiden was undoubtedly the highlight of the festival, writes Arist Razz.
Sweden Rock Festival celebrates its golden anniversary this year and truly represents a sacred covenant between the organizers, artists, audience, volunteers, journalists, photographers, as well as bikers, food trucks of all kinds and the residents of Norje, Sölvesborg and the surrounding area.
Sweden Rock festival stage. Photo: Mikael Rasmussen/Artist Razz
Ingolf Persson is the visionary behind the success story that is Sweden Rock Festival, the largest hard rock festival in Scandinavia. It always takes a visionary to create something, so it is with all the fantastic bands, all the musical souls who compose songs and strong melodies that still captivate and make the pulse and blood flow rhythmically in the body, creating a magical feedback loop between rock band and audience.
Blue Öyster Cult. Photo: Mikael Rasmussen/Artist Razz
More than 90 bands performed at this year’s edition of Sweden Rock Festival, which also celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. The undisputed highlight was Iron Maiden with front man Bruce Dickinson! They show and offer the excited crowd energy, stage presence and true camaraderie both among themselves as band members and to the audience, giving them full value, response and gratitude for the mutual respect between audience and band.
Sweden Rock festival stage. Photo: Mikael Rasmussen/Artist Razz
There is an adrenaline rush just before the band enters the stage and the audience does not know what to do and even we photographers in the photo ditch feel the presence of the audience and the band and the whole place’s soul vibrates and is then released when everyone in the band Iron gives it their all with their fantastic setlist. Iron Maiden knows how to create majestic compositions, powerful chords, beautiful chord progressions and changes between acoustic, distorted guitars, beautiful vocal parts, just think of the songs Fear of the Dark, Alexander the Great and Wasted Years.
“Say hi”. Photo: Mikael Rasmussen/Artist Razz
Sweden Rock’s five stages during the four days of the festival delivered band after band of hard rock, metal, blues, rock and it is nice to see how nice the atmosphere becomes by varying the range of all these styles. It is also powerful to be a part of a band that has been creating fantastic songs for decades, songs that still touch you and make you feel good, especially when you think of the band that almost became a kind of opening act for Iron Maiden… Blue Öyster Cult. Strong melodies that are perfectly uplifting like Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll and Black Blade.
There was a great deal of excitement at the stage from the fans. Photo: Mikael Rasmussen/Artist Razz
It’s amazing that guys well into their 70s are still delivering rock at the highest level and touching hearts. There is really a series of renowned artists such as Def Leppard, Lita Ford, Heat, Sator, Europe, U.D.O. and others. There was also an extra nostalgia trip when we got to see and hear the remnants of ZZ-Top, now called Billy Gibbons and the BFGs. During such numbers, the audience rhythmically bobbed their heads, clapped their hands in time and stamped their feet in the sandy and dusty earth.
Bruce Dickinson performing. Photo: Mikael Rasmussen/Artist Razz
Many of the singers in each band expressed their gratitude for the organization of the festival, the presence of the audience, and how important music and culture are to be able to meet and socialize again now that the pandemic and the festival are over, for now. Some final thoughts for next year’s festival are the wish for a little warmer food in some of the food tents and maybe some symbols to make it a little easier to find your car in the middle of the night far out in the fields and a little better communication between organizers, artists and media, but all in all the Sweden Rock Festival is a fantastic organization that integrates, invites and respects.
Steve Harris on bass. Photo: Mikael Rasmussen/Artist Razz
See you next year with the expectation that all the senses will be stimulated and especially the ear canals will be kneaded by decibels. Thank you for a successful Sweden Rock Festival 2023. So the last question is: Do I take the bride? Yes! And if there are 30 more years, we look forward to a diamond wedding!
Mikael Rasmussen alias Artist Razz
Sweden Rock is a rock festival outside Sölvesborg in Blekinge. The festival offers music including classic rock, hard rock, metal and blues.
It is Scandinavia's largest rock festival and every year visitors come from around 50 countries.
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One of nature’s true wonders is the Icelandic volcano Snæfellsjökull. It is best known from Jules Verne’s novel “Journey to the Center of the Earth”, but even in modern times it is a very popular tourist destination.
Icelandic folklore emphasizes the importance of visitors showing respect for the hidden people who live there, otherwise things could go very badly.
The Snæfellsnes peninsula in western Iceland is lined with glistening glaciers, waterfalls, and high cliffs. Small picturesque villages make up the population of the peninsula, which is often referred to locally as “Iceland in miniature”. Even from the murmuring urban buzz of Reykjavik, you can glimpse the glacier-covered volcano Snæfellsjökull. The peak measures 1,446 meters above sea level and is the central part of the national park that was established around the area in 2001. The national park has a dizzying and unusual variety of nature, including moss-covered lava fields and pebble beaches. The 700,000-year-old volcano is considered active, despite not having erupted for around 1,800 years.
To the center of the Earth
The place is perhaps best known in literature. In 1864, French author Jules Verne published his adventure novel “Journey to the Center of the Earth”, or “Voyage au centre de la Terre”. in which German professor Lidenbrock finds old Icelandic documents describing how to reach the center of the Earth. Together with his nephew Axel and their guide Hans, they travel to Snæfellsjökull, where the journey to the center of the Earth begins. The book is considered a classic and one of the most popular adventure books of all time.
Gatklettur. Photo: iStock/Irina Danilova
High peaks and deep caves
Unfortunately, there is no path to the center of the Earth in the volcano (as far as we know…). However, it is perfectly possible to hike to the top. It takes about eight hours there and back. In the fishing village of Hellnar, there is information about the hiking trail to the top and also a large number of other trails you can follow around the outstanding natural surroundings.
The combination of volcanic terrain, glacial influence, and proximity to the sea creates a unique ecosystem that is home to a variety of life forms. On the hiking trails, you may encounter seals, puffins, or mountain foxes. It is also not uncommon to see dolphins and killer whales in the sea. The volcanic climate is harsh, especially near the volcano, but it also demonstrates nature’s incredible ability to adapt. Closer to the volcano, mosses and lichens dominate, as they can withstand the cold. At lower altitudes, Arctic wildflowers grow, such as Icelandic thyme and blue sea lavender.
The area also has a number of beautiful waterfalls that set the tone for the landscape. One example is the Svöðufoss waterfall, located near the glacier. It is ten meters high and, thanks to the surrounding glaciers, has a rich water flow all year round.
At Djúpalónssandur, you enter a real lava landscape. There are various rock formations created by lava long ago. If you follow Nautastígur, the bull’s path, you will come to the odd rock Gatklettur, which has a large hole in it, and through the hole you can see the volcano in the background. The area also has a bunch of lagoons with fresh water, and if you go down to Black Lava Pearl Beach, you’ll see a bunch of smooth black stones. These are called Djúpalónsperlur, which means pearls from Djúpalón. The lava stones have been smoothed out by the sea.
Near the volcano is also the lava cave Vatnshellir. The 200-meter-long cave was formed about 8,000 years ago by an eruption. Inside, you can learn about Iceland’s geology and what kind of trolls lurk down there. At the deepest point, you can experience total darkness when the lights are turned off.
Among elves and trolls
Speaking of trolls, both Snæfellsnes and Snæfellsjökull are linked to many Icelandic folk tales. According to the saga of Bård Snæfellsas, in Icelandic Bárðar saga snæfellsáss, it was the half-giant Bárður Snæfellsás who founded the peninsula and gave it its name. He is described as being from a royal line of giants and trolls, but also half human.
Bárðar’s father, King Dumbar, was half titan and half giant, who kidnapped the human Mjöll to be his wife. In Norway in the year 900, Bárðar was born, the eldest of the siblings. He was a handsome man and was often told that he resembled his beautiful mother Mjöll. In Iceland, it is said that the most beautiful, whitest snow was named after his mother’s skin color – Mjöll. According to legend, the word “Mjöll” is still used to describe beautiful white snow falling in calm weather.
Statue of Bárður Snæfellsás. Photo: Theo Crazzolara/CC BY 2.0
Bárðar settled on the peninsula with his wife, his nine daughters, his half-brother Þorkell, and his two sons. According to legend, the nephews, named Rauðfeldr and Sölvi, and the daughters often played together, but one day things went wrong. Both nephews were playing with his daughter Helga when Rauðfeldr pushed her hard. She fell against an iceberg that was drifting toward the pack ice in the strong wind. Then she disappeared into the fog. When Bárðar heard about the incident, he rushed to his half-brother’s home and grabbed both nephews, who were eleven and twelve years old, by the arms. He then threw Rauðfeldr down a large ravine, killing the young boy. Then he threw Sölvi off a cliff, where the boy died when his skull was crushed. To this day, the ravine is called Rauðfeldsgjá and the cliff Sölvahamar. Þorkell now sought revenge on his brother and they fought. Bárðar broke his half-brother’s leg, who then decided to leave Snæfellsnes and the people for good. After this family tragedy, Bárðar disappeared into the Snæfellsjökull glacier and became the protector of the area. Even today, he is said to only come out to help people in need, for example against trolls and other creatures. What Bárðar did not know was that his daughter Helga had actually survived and ended up in Greenland, where she had her own adventures. She later returned to visit her father in the glacier.
Much of the peninsula is named after Bárðar, and the entire area is strongly linked to the tragic saga of his life. In the fishing village of Arnarstapi, there is a statue of the half-giant. If you visit the fishing village, we also recommend taking a look at the spectacular works of art on the coast, namely the basalt cliffs that were created entirely by the force of the sea. Basalt is a type of lava rock that is formed when lava cools.
There are also other creatures associated with the place. Like the rest of the Nordic countries, Iceland is strongly influenced by folklore, which is still an important part of the culture today. These creatures are strongly connected to nature and are often seen as its protectors. Many stories tell of how they can influence people who visit the place, both by protecting and warning them, but also by punishing those who do not show respect.
Giants and trolls are said to live around and inside the mountain. There are also said to be plenty of huldufolk, who are said to live alongside humans and are often described as elves. They are often called “the hidden people” because they are invisible to the ordinary human eye. They are said to resemble humans in appearance, but are more beautiful, taller, and slimmer. Huldufolk are described as superhuman but live completely normal lives in their own sphere, just like humans.
The red-colored, gigantic rock Söngklettur, which translates to “the singing stone”, at Djúpalónssandur is said to be the elves’ church. According to legend, this is where Bárður and his men first arrived, and it got its name because the cave seemed to respond to everything they said with an echo. As long as you remember to ask the elves for permission, it is perfectly fine to stay around and enter the cave. Respect is strongly emphasized in Icelandic folklore, where it is warned that things can go very badly if you do not show respect for the invisible.
Inside, there are numerous carvings, some over 500 years old. Many people have used the cave as shelter over the years and have carved small messages or their initials into the walls. However, it is forbidden to carve new messages.
Photo: Eric Kilby/CC BY-SA 2.0
One of the most powerful places
Some believe that the Earth is divided into seven major energy centers, or “chakra points”. In New Age circles, Snæfellsjökull is often described as the heart chakra, and for this reason, many spiritual practitioners and others are drawn to the volcano – to gather strength, promote healing, perform ceremonies, or simply meditate.
Stones like Djúpalónsperlur are common all along the coast and are often called “orkusteinar”, or power stones, which many people collect and take home with them. Some believe that they are protected and should not be taken from the site. For example, it is said that huldufolk live around Djúpalónssandur, as described above, and that the black stones found around the site should therefore not be taken. Some tell of how they took a stone home and were then struck by misfortune.
It is also common to take your own crystals with you and charge them around the volcano, as the energy is said to be extremely powerful.
Many visitors say they find it difficult to sleep on the peninsula. Some believe this may be due to the magnetic energy emanating from the volcano. The volcano is also said to have a power that makes people want to return there again.
Djúpalónsperlur. Photo: Tim Hodson/CC BY 2.0
Aliens visiting
Due to the powerful energies of the place, many have speculated that Snæfellsjökull is where aliens would visit if they came to Earth. At least hundreds of people were convinced of this during the winter of November 5, 1993, when people from all over the world traveled to the volcano to witness a visit from aliens, according to Reykjavik Grapevine. According to reports, telepathic individuals had been in contact with other planets and received this specific date and location in their minds. Five hundred people from different parts of the world were so convinced that they made their way there on this cold winter evening, but no aliens came to visit, at least as far as we know. In a spirit of goodwill, fireworks were set off as a symbol of intergalactic friendship. The question is, however, whether the bangs in the air really gave a particularly friendly impression…
Shipwrecks
When visiting the area around Djúpalónssandur, you can also see pieces of iron lying on the beach. These are from the British trawler Epine GY7, which sank on March 13, 1948. On that fateful night, a terrible snowstorm caused the ship to lose control and many fell overboard. Residents from nearby villages managed to pull a rope to the sunken ship and rescued five men. However, 14 of the men on board did not survive, and several of them are still lost at sea.
The remains of the trawler have since remained on the beach as a memorial and are protected, which means that they cannot be moved or touched.
The Canadian porn conglomerate Aylo, which owns pornographic sites such as Pornhub, RedTube, and YouPorn, has blocked access to its platforms in France.
The decision is a protest against a new French law that requires porn sites to implement age verification to protect minors from inappropriate and harmful content.
The so-called SREN law was passed in 2023 and gives sites until Saturday to implement a functioning age verification system. If the requirements are not met, the French media authority Arcom can decide to block access and impose fines.
Aylo announced that access to its platforms in France will be blocked starting today, Wednesday, and at the same time condemns the French government’s efforts.
“I can confirm that Aylo has made the difficult decision to suspend access to its user-uploaded platforms (Pornhub, YouPorn, RedTube) in France. We will be using our platforms to directly address the French public”, commented a spokesperson for Pornhub.
Rabbi and lawyer Solomon Friedman claims he wants to make the porn industry more “ethical”. Photo: facsimile/Valuetainment/X
“Au revoir”
– It’s a matter of putting our values first, and that means communicating directly with the French people to tell them what their government is refusing to tell them, claimed Rabbi Solomon Friedman, partner at Ethical Capital Partners, which owns Aylo, in a brief press release on Tuesday.
He rejected the law, describing it as “ineffective”, “dangerous”, and “potentially privacy-infringing”, and referred to a message that Aylo’s platforms will display to French users starting Wednesday.
However, France’s Minister for Gender Equality, Aurore Bergé, took the porn giant’s complaints very lightly, responding to the announcement by writing “au revoir” (thank you and goodbye) on X, adding that “There will be less violent, degrading and humiliating content accessible to minors in France”.
“If Aylo would rather leave France than apply our laws, they are free to do so”, commented Clara Chappaz, France’s deputy minister for artificial intelligence and digital technology.
Protéger les mineurs, c’est notre engagement, notre responsabilité.
Pornhub, YouPorn et Redtube refusent de se conformer à notre cadre légal et décident de partir. Tant mieux !
Il y aura moins de contenus violents, dégradants, humiliants accessibles aux mineurs en France.
At the same time, EU regulators announced last week that they are investigating four major porn sites, including Pornhub, for suspected violations of EU rules on digital content. The rules require, among other things, that children be protected from pornographic material through effective age verification systems.
The European Commission also states that it has initiated formal proceedings against Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX, and XVideos under the EU’s Digital Services Act.
Aylo has stated that it is aware of the investigation and claims that it is “fully committed” to ensuring the safety of children online.
Pornhub has been the subject of widespread criticism for several years. The site has been accused of allowing videos to be uploaded without sufficient checks on the age, identity or consent of the participants. Several people have testified that videos showing sexual abuse of them, sometimes when they were minors, were posted without their knowledge.
An investigation by The New York Times in 2020 found that the site hosted material that could be classified as child pornography. In the wake of the revelations, payment giants Visa and Mastercard chose to temporarily stop transactions to the platform. Pornhub has since introduced some changes, including restricting uploads to verified accounts and deleting millions of videos.
Much of the criticism remains, however, as many believe Pornhub still lacks sufficient transparency into how material is uploaded and distributed on the platform. In particular, critics point out that there are still no clear systems in place to ensure that all content is consensual and that minors do not appear in the material.
Art as power: The Milan family’s vision to change the world
Elli and her family not only run one of the world's largest online art schools – they have started a whole movement. The Nordic Times visited her at Milan Art Gallery in Florida.
In Florida, an artistic family has created something that goes far beyond traditional art education. The Milan family not only runs one of the world’s largest online art schools – they have started a whole movement.
It all started with a love that blossomed in high school. Elli and John Milan met as teenagers and continued their art studies together at the Savannah College of Art and Design. After graduating, they sold their work in galleries for over a decade, building up both their technique and their understanding of the forces at work in the art market.
But in 2010, Elli felt a strong inner calling. Together with John, she founded the Milan Art Institute – not just to teach painting techniques, but to spread a vision of art as hope, beauty and social renewal.
From studio to global platform
What began as physical workshops in Georgia and Arizona has grown into a digital platform that reaches artists in 119 countries. Over 44,000 students have taken the institute’s courses, from basic techniques to the comprehensive ‘Mastery Programme’ – a twelve-month course that combines artistic development with business skills.
John Milan, known for his ‘More is More’ philosophy that defies the ideals of minimalism, teaches everything from expressive brushwork to painting on motorcycles and furniture. His surrealist style is characterised by strong colours and humorous elements that demonstrate the boundlessness of art.
Elli works with abstract realism and collage techniques, where layers of oil and acrylic create works that almost glow from within. Her organic forms move between the figurative and the abstract, imbued with a spirituality that makes the viewer dream away.
‘What I really want people to take away when they see my artwork is that they feel like they’re in another world,’ says Elli Milan. ‘I want people to feel empowered and feel that anything is possible and that dreams are worth dreaming.’
The family is now based in Sarasota, Florida, where they run both the Milan Art Studio and the Milan Art Gallery – physical meeting places that complement their digital teaching.
A whole generation of artists
What makes the Milan Art Institute unique is that it really is a family business. All four children – Dimitra, Dafni, Dalia and Constantino – grew up in the studio and became prominent artists themselves.
Dimitra made her breakthrough at the age of 15 with her first solo exhibition and had sold over a million dollars’ worth of art before she turned 16. Her surrealist works featuring animals, flowers and strong female figures are inspired by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, Greek mythology and Marc Chagall, among others.
‘I hope that people see beauty when they see my artwork. I hope they see themselves,’ says Dimitra. ‘I want the paintings to be like a door to a new world, a paradise where there are no obstacles, only beauty, hope, adventure, self-confidence and, of course, love.’
Sister Dafni began selling professionally at the age of 13 and works with powerful mixed media pieces that explore freedom and authenticity. Dalia focuses on female strength through bold compositions, while youngest son Constantino combines classical techniques with spirituality in his oil paintings and goldsmith work.
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Success spanning continents
The institute’s influence is clearly visible in the success of its alumni. Ritika Vicari exhibits at international galleries in Dubai. Bojana Jovanović won first prize in a Mastery Contest and subsequently established herself professionally in both the United States and Europe. Casey Wakefield grew from a shop assistant to a full-time artist, while Stephanie Linden now runs her own studio in California.
What began as a family dream has become a global movement. Through podcasts, articles and thousands of video-recorded lessons, the Milan Art Institute reaches artists on every continent. Their message is simple but powerful: art can change both the creator and the viewer.
Malin and Eli Milan. Photo: The Nordic Times
At a time when many are questioning the role of art in society, the Milan family offers an answer that is as practical as it is poetic. Art is not just decoration or expression – it is a force that can transform the world, one person at a time.
For the Milan family, it’s not just about teaching techniques. It’s about inspiring dreams, transforming pain into creativity and ushering in a new era of artistic renewal. A vision that, judging by their global reach, is beginning to become a reality.
Archaeologists in Norway have uncovered the grave of a woman buried alongside a dog in a Viking-era boat burial. The woman is believed to have been a person of importance, as boat graves were a sign of high status during the Viking Age.
Norwegian hobbyists Stig Rune Johannessen and Nils Arne Solvold were out with their metal detectors about two years ago in a field in southeastern Norway when they discovered two oval brooches – common during the Viking Age – along with bone fragments. When archaeologists later examined the site, they dated the brooches to between 900 and 950 AD. Excavation of the grave began last week, confirming it to be a Viking boat burial.
Although the boat was poorly preserved, archaeologists determined it had been about 5.4 meters long. In the center of the boat were the remains of a woman, and at her feet lay the skeleton of a dog.
– Whether it was a pet or served a practical function, we’re not entirely sure yet. But one can imagine that it was an animal of significance to her in life, Anja Roth Niemi, researcher and head of the department of administrative archaeology at the Arctic University Museum of Norway, told the Norwegian state broadcaster NRK.
The woman was buried with a number of grave goods: an iron sickle, a slate whetstone, a possible bronze earring, two disc-shaped beads that may be amber, and what appears to be a weaving sword made from whale bone.
A Unique Find
The grave was just 30 centimeters below the surface, near a garage. It was a so-called flat-ground grave, meaning it lacked a burial mound, which was more typical in Viking times. These types of graves are particularly valuable to researchers because they are often undisturbed.
– Flat-ground graves are quite exciting because they often escape notice, as they’re not visible on the surface, Niemi explained.
The next step is to analyze the remains to learn more about the woman’s life, her health, and the society she lived in. Researchers also hope to identify the breed of dog buried with her and determine how it died. However, archaeologists are fairly confident that the woman belonged to the upper ranks of society.
– Being buried in a boat alone suggests she was a special person. And the grave goods indicate she held fairly high status – at least locally, and possibly regionally, Niemi said.
