The Tim Bergling Foundation is now launching Stage For A Better Day, a new national project that gives young musicians aged 13 to 25 the opportunity to bring their music to established live stages around Sweden. The initiative is an extension of the foundation’s commitment to improving young people's mental health and aims to promote creativity, community, and musical development in a safe environment.
The project premieres at Göteborgskalaset on August 29, 2026, with performances taking place at Kungstorget between 13:00 and 15:00. Among the artists selected via open applications are:
- Rosa Rummet: An indie pop band from Gothenburg featuring Ingrid Waddington, Edith Andersson, Siri Hedegren, Ella Envall, and Elmy Sabel. The band draws inspiration from the everyday life and emotions of adolescence, striving to create a strong connection with the audience through their music.
- Aleena Zerin: A 15-year-old singer-songwriter from Trollhättan. With roots in a musical family, Aleena began playing piano at the age of 12 and has already participated in local talent competitions.
- Symmetric Swing: A quartet formed in 2014 that blends jazz, fusion, and improvisation with a modern touch. The group consists of Lucy Ingerman, Axel Rivera, Felix James, and Joseph Bumba, who share the belief that every concert is unique and should be performed as if it were the last.
The premiere will also be graced by rising star Nisse Hasselgren, making his first live appearance since the much-noted guest performance with Håkan Hellström at Ullevi 2025. Hasselgren is known for his emotional interpretations, including “Nordhemsgatan leder rakt in i himlen”, and his presence further strengthens the project's ambition to create encounters between new and more established artists. The event MC is Abdimajdid Suleman from Angered, a member of the Tim Bergling Foundation’s youth council, further underlining the project’s youth focus.
Music as support for young people's well-being
Stage For A Better Day expands on the Tim Bergling Foundation’s work and builds upon the initiative Studios For A Better Day, which offers young people free access to rehearsal spaces across the country. Now the opportunities are broadened by also giving selected young musicians a place on live stages and the chance for coaching and support ahead of their performances. Through open applications, individualized guidance, and continued backing, participants receive valuable experience, industry knowledge, and strengthened self-esteem through music-making.
The launch of the initiative coincides with the publication of a new Novus report prepared by the Tim Bergling Foundation. The report shows that 70% of young people feel that culture, including music, has helped them feel better – while 20% find it difficult to access offerings due to fewer meeting places. Stage For A Better Day is the foundation’s direct response to this need, providing both a platform for artistic expression and a sense of community.
After its premiere in Gothenburg, the project continues as a tour with stops at key cultural events around the country:
- Göteborgskalaset, Gothenburg – August 29, 2026
- Uppsala Kulturnatta, Uppsala – September 12, 2026
- Fryshuset, Stockholm – November 11, 2026
The Tim Bergling Foundation was founded in 2019 by Klas Bergling and Anki Lidén in memory of their son Tim Bergling (Avicii). The foundation’s work focuses on supporting the mental health of children and young people through projects such as Stage For A Better Day and Studios For A Better Day, shaped with direct inspiration from young people themselves about the importance of meaningful leisure time, creativity, and safe environments.
Stage For A Better Day stands as further proof of the power of music-making – not only as an art form, but as a source of well-being, belonging, and hope for the next generation of artists in Sweden.
