Charta 77 brought four decades of Swedish punk rock to Liseberg in August 2025 and proved that time has done little to slow them down.
Joined by Ulke, known from Dia Psalma and Strebers, along with Jesse Leroy of Krigsstigen, Charta 77 delivered a chaotic and energetic evening in front of a massive crowd at the amusement park’s smaller stage, complete with clown-inspired visuals, sharp humour and the raw intensity that has kept them relevant since the early 1980s.
Charta 77 at Liseberg 16 August 2025: Four decades of Swedish punk rock history
Live article updated for 2026 following the release of the band’s latest album, Förhandla med clowner.
For more than four decades, Charta 77 have remained one of the most enduring and politically outspoken names in Swedish punk rock. Formed in 1983 in Köping, the band took their name from the Czech civil rights manifesto Charter 77, a symbol of resistance against political oppression, and became a cornerstone of Scandinavia’s punk and hardcore movement through a blend of melodic punk, socially conscious lyrics and relentless live performances.
Over the years, Charta 77 have moved between punk rock, trallpunk, hardcore punk and alternative rock influences while building a loyal following far beyond Sweden.
The band have also become known for frequent collaborations within the Swedish punk scene, including connections to acts such as Asta Kask, Dia Psalma and Strebers. Their collaboration with Ulke, formerly of Dia Psalma and Strebers, has become especially appreciated among longtime fans, something that was also reflected in the concert’s “Charta 77 & Ulke” billing at Liseberg.
Charta 77 also continue to prove they are far more than a legacy act. Earlier in 2026, the band released the new album Förhandla med clowner, showing there is still plenty of creative energy left after more than forty years on the road.
Massive turnout at Liseberg’s smaller stage
That enduring popularity became very clear when Charta 77 arrived at Liseberg on 16 August 2025. The turnout at the smaller stage was genuinely impressive. So many fans had gathered that visibility quickly became difficult once the first three songs in the photo pit were over.
After leaving the pit, it became almost impossible to see anything at all from further back in the crowd, forcing an earlier departure than planned. Because of that, this becomes more of a shorter concert feature rather than a complete review of the entire set.
Still, the limited time in front of the stage was enough to witness a band performing with remarkable intensity despite having been active since 1983.
Clown make-up, flying noses and punk chaos
Visually, the concert carried a bizarre and memorable aesthetic. Every member of the band appeared with white-painted faces and clown-inspired make-up that would probably give younger concertgoers nightmares. Bassist Stefan Enger even wore a bright red clown nose.
At one point, while photographing in the pit, I was genuinely caught off guard as Enger’s clown nose suddenly came flying straight in my direction after detaching mid-song. As a concert photographer, you certainly end up witnessing some unexpected moments.
Vocalist Per Granberg stood out immediately. Dressed in a red tartan outfit complete with a kilt and his long dreadlocks, he occasionally resembled a punk rock version of Jonathan Davis from Korn on stage.
The clown-inspired imagery also brought inevitable comparisons to groups such as Insane Clown Posse. While Charta 77 remain firmly rooted in Swedish punk rock, the theatrical visuals added an unusual edge to the evening’s performance.
A split set with Ulke and nearly two hours of punk chaos
Singer Per Granberg quickly reminded the audience that Charta 77 have no intention of becoming a quiet nostalgia act. At one point, he joked that the band were already making jokes forty years ago about still being around today while taking blood pressure medication. “It’s going to be a sweaty two hours... for us,” Granberg laughed.
As it turned out, the remark was closer to reality than it initially sounded. The performance was structured in two distinct sets and ultimately stretched to close to thirty songs over what was effectively a near two-hour show. The second set also marked the arrival of Ulke, whose collaboration with the band shifted the focus towards material associated with Dia Psalma and Strebers.
Considering Granberg suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2019, the uncertainty surrounding the band’s future at the time makes this level of endurance and stage energy even more impressive. There was nothing restrained about the performance. Charta 77 attacked the stage with the urgency and speed of a band still hungry.
- Tiga är guld
- Liberal
- Herrarna i sandlådan
- PTSD
- Det finns dagar
- Kungarna af stan I
- Kungarna af stan II
- Luftslott
- Gå framåt
- Brev
- Tid-övertid
- En del mornar
- Andra Platsen
- Det kommer regn
- När världssamvetet tog semester
- I en annan värld
Second set with Ulke
- Hon får... (Dia Psalma cover)
- Luft (Dia Psalma cover)
- Emelie (Dia Psalma cover)
- Öga för öga (Dia Psalma cover)
- Alla älskar dig (Dia Psalma cover)
- Betongbarn (Strebers cover)
- Högervindar (Strebers cover)
- 39 Steg (Strebers cover)
- Dunken (Krymplings cover)
- Ensam kvar
- Balladen om lilla Elsa (Dia Psalma cover)
- Lilla björn och lilla tiger
- Tro rätt, tro fel (Dia Psalma cover)
Guest appearances from Ulke and Jesse Leroy
The evening had been promoted as “Charta 77 & Ulke”, and the collaboration was fully realised during the second set when Ulke joined the stage. As previously noted, Ulke (Hans Mikael Johansson) is best known from the influential Swedish punk and folk punk bands Strebers and Dia Psalma, with the second set largely drawing on material from those projects.
Towards the end of the set, Jesse Leroy from Krigsstigen, who had also performed earlier that day, reportedly joined the stage to help close the evening. You can find our coverage of Krigsstigen’s set here.
Charta 77 still refuse to slow down
Even from a shortened visit in front of the stage, Charta 77 managed to leave a strong impression. More than forty years after forming, they still perform with conviction, humour and an energy many younger punk bands would struggle to match.
With the release of Förhandla med clowner earlier in 2026, the band also continue proving that Charta 77 are still evolving rather than simply revisiting the past. Judging by the packed crowd at Liseberg, there is clearly still a large audience ready to follow them into their fifth decade as one of Sweden’s most legendary punk bands.
This show was shot with
Camera bodies
- Sony a7 IIIWide/standard angle shots
- Sony a7R IIClose-up/telephoto shots
Camera lenses
- Tamron 28-180 f2.8Standard zoom
- Tamron 70-180mm f2–2.8Telephoto zoom
Concert photo gallery
