The British pop icon Nik Kershaw is making a long-awaited return to Sweden with two exclusive concerts in May 2027. With his melodic pop songs and distinctive songwriting, Kershaw has left a lasting mark on pop history, with classics such as “Wouldn’t It Be Good,” “The Riddle,” and “I Won’t Let the Sun Go Down.” The upcoming shows are expected to be highlights for both new and dedicated fans.
A Longstanding Musical Journey
Nik Kershaw was born on March 1, 1958, in Bristol and grew up in Ipswich, where music was present from the very beginning. His father worked as an architect and played flute in the local orchestra, and his mother trained to be an opera singer. At the age of 15, Kershaw had his musical awakening after watching a TV documentary about David Bowie, which led him to start playing guitar. Early influences included T. Rex, Deep Purple, Simon & Garfunkel, and Genesis.
After a few years in local bands and a stint as a civil servant, Kershaw decided to dedicate himself fully to music. He began playing guitar in various jazz fusion and cover bands, where he honed his craft. In 1983, he signed with MCA Records and began his successful career as a solo artist. His debut single “I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down” was released in September 1983 and initially reached number 47 on the UK singles chart, but after a re-release in 1984, it climbed to second place. The same year, “Wouldn’t It Be Good” spent five weeks at number four in the UK and became his international breakthrough, especially through the platinum-selling album “Human Racing.”
The success continued with the album “The Riddle,” also a platinum hit, and frequent tours around Europe. In 1985, Kershaw’s position was further strengthened with tours in Europe, Canada, Australia, the USA, and Japan, as well as a celebrated performance at Live Aid. He then released the albums “Radio Musicola” and “The Works” before, from 1989 onwards, focusing more on songwriting and production for other artists.
During the 1990s, Kershaw established himself as a successful songwriter and producer, working with, among others, Elton John, Cliff Richard, Bonnie Tyler, Gary Barlow, and Sia. One of his most famous songs from this period is “The One and Only,” which he wrote and produced for Chesney Hawkes. Despite this, he continued his own artist career, releasing albums such as “15 Minutes” (1998), “To Be Frank” (2001), “You’ve Got To Laugh” (2006), the acoustic “No Frills” (2009), “Ei8ht” (2012), and his latest project “Oxymoron” (2020).
Throughout his career, Kershaw has been praised for his songwriting and artistry, something that has led to four Brit Awards nominations and recognition from musicians such as Eric Clapton, Miles Davis, and Elton John. The latter has called Kershaw “the best songwriter of his generation.” Kershaw remains active both on stage and in the studio, with a loyal audience worldwide.
The Swedish concerts in 2027 are produced by Holgerhund Live, which is behind many high-quality music events in the Nordics.
Here are Nik Kershaw’s Swedish tour dates for 2027:
- May 21 – Cirkus, Stockholm
- May 22 – Jacyz Big Stage, Gothenburg
