Soulful December

Soulful December – an unfailing winter tradition. When singer Britta Bergström, the Norrbotten Big Band, and artistic director Joakim Milder join forces in the midst of the Christmas bustle, a concert experience is served. In 2026, a collaboration with Lisa Miskovsky, Toussaint Chiza, and Joanné Nugas will take place.

Soulful December takes place during the Christmas season and offers a warm sense of community and anticipation, but here there is also freedom to look beyond the traditional bell chimes. The evening features hand-picked songs where well-known hits and hidden gems meet the big-band format in new forms.

Norrbotten Big Band has long cemented its position as one of Europe’s most progressive and dynamic big bands. Together with artistic director Joakim Milder’s keen sense, a musical encounter with this year’s guest artists emerges. Here, a personal artistic imprint is placed on the music—timeless, sometimes grand, sometimes minimalist.

This year, Soulful December presents a trio of artists:

- Lisa Miskovsky is one of the country’s most established artists and songwriters. With over 200,000 albums sold, two Grammys and five Rockbjörnar to her name, she moves between catchy pop hooks and more intimate expressions. In addition to hits under her own name, she has written songs for others, including Backstreet Boys’ Shape of My Heart, and collaborated with Max Martin and Joakim Berg. Recently she has gained attention for the project Eljest, where she, in Swedish, explores roots, identity and the courage to embrace the different. For this year’s concerts, Lisa brings both personal gems and her stage presence.

- Toussaint Chiza (formerly known as Tusse) has taken the step as an independent artist and creates music on his own terms. With the album It Takes a Village to Love a Child, he offers a sound rooted in African gospel and contemporary soul from London and the USA. It is a musical journey about origins, courage and family.

- Joanné Nugas possesses radiance and a vocal range that captivates the audience. She is known as one of the leading voices in the vocal ensemble The Real Group and as the Swedish voice of Ariel in Disney’s The Little Mermaid. During the year she has also found success in the lead role of Julia in the musical & Julia at Cirkus in Stockholm.

The host of the affair is, as always, singer Britta Bergström, who with a steady hand and humor guides the audience through a concert filled with musical brilliance, vocal harmony and warmth at Sara Kulturhus on December 8, 2026 at 6:30 PM.