ABSTRACT

Folkets Parker (FP) and Folkets Hus (FH) have a long and special history that goes back to the beginning of the twentieth century. This chapter mainly discusses FPs and the changing musical scene after World War II. Children of the age of industrialism, their history is intimately associated with the labor movement and working-class parties in Sweden. Sweden declared itself a neutral country in World War II. This meant, among other things, that Sweden had a fresh start in 1945. Many Swedish artists, mostly rock or pop artists, continued to draw substantial audiences also in these decades, but as fewer people came to dance in the smaller parks, some closed down already in the 1970s. The kind of music offered by Swedish or foreign groups sponsored by Rikskonserter was seldom played at FPs, but more often at FHs.