The following is a list of notable events and releases that happened in Nordic music in 2020.
Events January 1 January – The 2020 season of Denmark's X Factor competition is launched. 16 January – The Royal Swedish Opera appoints Alan Gilbert as its next music director; his tenure will begin in spring 2021. 28 January – Mia Winter Wallace announces that she has left Abbath. 30 January – The Léonie Sonning Music Prize is awarded to Unsuk Chin.
February 9 February – Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir becomes the first woman for twenty years, and only the fourth of all time, to win the Academy Award for Best Original Score, which is awarded for her score for Joker. 29 February – The Söngvakeppnin final, held in Reykjavik, is won by Gagnamagnið with the song "Think About Things". The winners do not go on to represent Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest because of the COVID-19 pandemic that causes the whole contest to be cancelled.
March 7 March The Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2020 is held in Copenhagen, hosted by Hella Joof and Rasmus Bjerg, but without a live audience as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark Aksel Kankaanranta wins the Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu and is selected as Finland's representative in the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest (later cancelled), with the song "Looking Back". 16 March – Alexi Laiho and Daniel Freyberg announce the formation of a new heavy metal supergroup, Bodom After Midnight, also including drummer Waltteri Vayrynen and bassist Mitja Toivonen. 22 March – Guitarist Niklas Sundin announces that he is leaving Swedish metal band Dark Tranquillity. 30 March – Finnish band Dark the Suns announce they are re-forming by releasing a preview of their new single.
April 23 April – Norwegian singer Sigrid is among those participating in the recording of a charity single, "Times Like These", by the "Live Lounge Allstars". The single goes to no 1 in the UK charts and does well in other European and North American charts.
May 14 May – The final of Sveriges 12:a, a one-off music competition in the Eurovision format, is broadcast in Sweden by Sveriges Television. The winner is Icelandic band Daði og Gagnamagnið, performing "Think About Things" in English, which had been intended as Iceland's entry for the cancelled Eurovision Song Contest. 16 May – In a special vote, BBC viewers select ABBA's 1974 Eurovision-winning song, "Waterloo", as the best Eurovision song of all time. 29 May – John Lundvik wins Swedish TV's Let's Dance 2020 series.
July 30 July – DJ Carl Cox releases a remix of "Farmacia (Homage To Frankfurt)", a 2019 collaboration by Jez Phunk and Denmark's Kenneth Bager.
September 4 September – Finnish conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali's first recording with the Philharmonia Orchestra is released: Swan Lake, a year before he takes up his appointment as the orchestra's Principal Conductor. 22 September – Sweden's Idol contestant Caspar Camitz tests positive for COVID-19 and has to drop out of the first performance. Three days later another contestant, Herman Silow, also tests positive, and the following day so does Indra Elg. 30 September – Despite rumours that Sveriges Television have asked him to return, it is confirmed that David Sundin will not be a host at the 2021 Melodifestivalen.
December December 4 – The Idol 2020 final in Sweden was won by Nadja Holm. It was held at the studios in Spånga for the first time since 2006, because of the COVID restrictions. December 19 – The final of the 2020 series of Finnish TV series Vain elämää is scheduled to take place.
Albums released January DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref.2ManifestAmarantheNuclear BlastFirst album to feature Nils Molin 10Cell-0ApocalypticaSilver Lining Music First album after a 4-year break17Contemporary Concertos by Pesson, Abrahamsen & StrasnoyAlexandre TharaudEratoIncludes Left, Alone by Hans AbrahamsenTo Fathom the Master’s Grand DesignHorned Almighty 31KillectionLordiAFM Records
February DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref.7Valittu kansa Antti TuiskuWarner Music FinlandTuisku's sixth number-one album14Telemark (EP)IhsahnCandlelight First of two companion five-song EPs SplidKvelertakRise Records Recorded with Kurt Ballou at Godcity Studio 21No Absolution Lost Society Co-written with Joonas ParkkonenMyopia Agnes Obel Strange Harvest Limited 28The Great Conspiracy Nils Patrik Johansson MetalvilleConcept album about the unsolved murder of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme
March DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref.6Violent PopBlind ChannelRanka KustannusThe band define their musical style as "violent pop" 13Feeding the MachineWolfCentury Media Records 20FolkesangeMyrkurRelapse Records Gothica Fennica, Vol. 1Ville Valo EP - First solo release
April DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref.3The Dark DelightDynazty First single from album was released in January10Human. :II: Nature.NightwishNuclear BlastFirst album to feature Kai Hahto as an official band member 17Global WarningTurmion KätilötNuclear Blast Í miðjum kjarnorkuvetriJóiPé & KróliNuclear Blast 24 City Burials Katatonia
May DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref.7KAJ 10 (Live)KAJ Live album8Leaves of YesteryearGreen CarnationSeason Of Mist The band's first new album for 14 yearsCereclothNaglfarCentury Media Black MetalWitchcraftNuclear BlastAcoustic album29Lamenting of the InnocentSorcererMetal BladeFeaturing guests Johan Langquist and Svante Henryson
June DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref.12We Are the NightMagnus Karlsson's Free FallFrontiers Music Srl Third album26From a Dying EmberFalconerMetal Blade Records Ninth and final studio album Call for WinterDaniel HerskedalEdition Records
July DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref.3All That She Wants: The Classic Collection Ace of Base Edsel (Demon Music Group) Commemorative box set10Thalassic Ensiferum Metal Blade Records Featuring new vocalist Pekka Montin17Grim Dark SarahNapalm Records
August DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref. 7 Hunter Gatherer AvatareOne Music 28 Panther Pain of SalvationInsideOut Music Produced by Daniel Gildenlöw & Daniel Bergstrand Flowers of Evil Ulver House of Mythology Mixed by Martin Glover and Michael Rendall
September DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref. 4 Swan Lake Santtu-Matias Rouvali and the Philharmonia Orchestra Signum Records The Philharmonia's first recording with Rouvali as conductor. Recorded in 2019. 18 Vredesvävd Finntroll Century Media Records
October DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref. 2DanceTingvall TrioSkip Records Manifest AmarantheNuclear BlastWith guest appearances by Noora Louhimo, Perttu Kivilaakso, Elias Holmlid and Heidi Shepherd Utgard EnslavedNuclear Blast 9 Dawn of the Damned Necrophobic Century Media Video directed by Magnus Göthlund 16 Bluu Afroo Pierre Dørge & New Jungle Orchestra SteepleChase 23I svunnen tidRalph Lundsten Live! Against the WorldHammerFall Live album The Last Viking Leaves' Eyes AFM Records Produced by Alexander Krull at Mastersound Studio. 30 Under a Godless Veil DraconianNapalm Records Formed by Mistakes Small Time Giants
November DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref. 6 Endless Twilight of Codependent Love Sólstafir Season of Mist 20 Moment Dark Tranquillity Nuclear Blast First album featuring guitarists Christopher Amott and Johan Reinholdz (replacing Niklas Sundin) 27 Edder & Bile Cadaver Nuclear Blast First full-length album for 16 years
December DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref. 4 Necromancy Persuader Frontiers Music First album without Fredrik Hedström; includes their first single in six years A Whisp of the Atlantic (EP) Soilwork Nuclear Blast
Eurovision Song Contest Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020
Classical works Hildur Guðnadóttir – Illimani Anders Hillborg – Through Lost Landscapes Marcus Paus – Children of Ginko (opera) Bent Sørensen – Enchantress (5 intermezzi for orchestra)
Film and television scores Lasse Enerson – Cold Courage Marcus Paus - Mortal
Deaths 3 January – Bo Winberg, 80, Swedish guitarist (The Spotnicks)Gitarrlegendaren Bo Winberg död 26 January – Santtu Lonka, 41, Finnish former drummer of To/Die/For 6 February – Ola Magnell, 74, Swedish singer and guitarist 9 February – Margareta Hallin, 88, Swedish opera singer, composer and actress 18 February – Jon Christensen, 76, Norwegian jazz drummer 27 February – Jahn Teigen, 70, Norwegian singer internationally known for his performance in the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest 3 March – Alf Cranner, 83, Norwegian folk singer 28 March – Kerstin Behrendtz, 69, radio presenter and music director (COVID-19) 14 April – Kerstin Meyer, 92, Swedish mezzo-soprano. 3 May – Bob Lander, 78, Swedish rock musician (The Spotnicks)Sångaren Bob Lander i The Spotnicks död 5 May – Kjell Karlsen, 88, Norwegian composer and bandleader.Orkesterleder Kjell Karlsen er død 20 May – Malin Gjörup, 56, Swedish operatic mezzo-soprano and actress (cerebral haemorrhage)Swedish Mezzo & Manager Malin Gjörup Dies, Aged 56 21 May – Berith Bohm, 87, Swedish opera singer 7 June – Edith Thallaug, 90, Norwegian mezzo-soprano and actressOperasångaren Edith Thallaug-Benczy är död 3 June – Helge Rykkja, 76, poet and lyricistForfatter Helge Rykkja er død 27 June – Mats Rådberg, 72, Swedish singer 12 July – Jarno Sarkula, 47, Finnish musician (Alamaailman Vasarat)Alamaailman Vasarat -yhtyeen perustaja Jarno ”Stakula” Sarkula on kuollut 28 July – Bent Fabric, 95, Danish pianist and composer 22 August – Ulla Pia, 75, Danish singer 6 September – Anita Lindblom, 82, Swedish singer and actress”Sånt är livet”-artisten Anita Lindblom död 8 September – Vexi Salmi, 77, Finnish lyricistFolkkära sångtextförfattaren Vexi Salmi är död 29 October – Alexander Vedernikov, 56, Russian chief conductor of the Royal Danish Opera (COVID) 26 November – Allan Botschinsky, 80, Danish jazz trumpeter 19 December – , 60, Swedish drummer (Roxette). 24 December – Roland Cedermark, 82, Swedish singer 29 December – Gösta Linderholm, 79, Swedish singer and composer December – Alexi Laiho, 41, Finnish guitarist, composer, and vocalist
References