Marcus & Martinus draw a massive crowd at Göteborgskalaset 2025
Norwegian twin brothers Marcus & Martinus have spent more than a decade building one of Scandinavia’s most dedicated young fanbases. Since breaking through after winning Norway’s junior music competition Melodi Grand Prix Junior in 2012, Marcus and Martinus Gunnarsen have evolved from child stars into established Nordic pop performers, blending dance-pop, electropop and pop-rap with highly choreographed live shows. Over the years, they have released multiple charting albums and become a familiar presence on Scandinavian television and festival stages.
Their popularity expanded even further in Sweden through appearances on Swedish television, a runner-up finish in Melodifestivalen 2023 with “Air”, and ultimately victory in Melodifestivalen 2024 with the EDM-infused pop anthem “Unforgettable”. The song went on to represent Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, where the duo secured a ninth-place finish in the Grand Final.
With that success still fresh in the memory, it was hardly surprising that Marcus & Martinus became one of the biggest attractions at Göteborgskalaset on 30 August 2025.
A sea of “MM” fans at Kungstorget
Kungstorget, at the heart of the city festival, previously known as Göteborgs Kulturkalas, now branded as Göteborgskalaset, was already packed by 5:30 pm on a warm Saturday afternoon.
The square was dominated by children, teenagers and families. The most dedicated fans had secured positions at the front barrier long before showtime. Many sported matching MM logos on their foreheads and had “MM” written across their cheeks with black marker pen.
For a brief moment, seeing countless faces covered in “MM”, I jokingly thought: “I had no idea Marilyn Manson was this popular with kids.”
The joke quickly faded when it became obvious just how much anticipation surrounded the Norwegian twins. Their Melodifestivalen victory and Eurovision appearance had elevated them to an even higher level of popularity, making their Göteborgskalaset appearance one of the festival’s most sought-after events.
Judging by comments posted on the festival’s social media channels after the event, demand appeared to exceed the available space, with some attendees reporting difficulties accessing the concert area once capacity limits were reached.
Creativity and dedication in the crowd
From the photo pit, the scale of the audience became even more apparent.
Everywhere I looked, young fans had found new ways to display their dedication. Some wore illuminated heart-shaped headbands decorated with MM logos. Others had customised their sunglasses by attaching large white “M” letters across the lenses. Practicality may not have been the highest priority, but fan commitment certainly was.
As the presenter encouraged the audience to scream as loudly as possible for Marcus & Martinus, one nearby photographer responded with weary sarcasm.
“Please don’t. I’d quite like to keep my hearing.”
Judging by the reaction from the crowd, that wish was unlikely to be granted.
High energy on stage
When Marcus & Martinus finally emerged, they were joined by three female dancers wearing coordinated leather outfits. Behind them stood a live band consisting of guitarist, drummer and keyboard player, adding extra punch to the performance.
For anyone unfamiliar with the duo, telling the brothers apart is not always easy. Looking through the photographs from the show, Marcus appeared to be wearing a white sleeveless top, light beige trousers and a bandana. Despite their similarity, the brothers seem to have developed noticeably different personal styles, with Marcus leaning towards a tougher, more utilitarian look, while Martinus comes across as slightly more preppy and student-like. The most reliable giveaway remains the small birthmark just above Martinus’ upper lip.
The performance itself was energetic and polished, built around the combination of catchy pop songs, synchronised choreography and constant movement across the stage. Both brothers danced extensively throughout the set, frequently interacting with the three dancers as the audience enthusiastically followed every move.
A brief visit to a popular festival highlight
My own visit to the concert was relatively short. The area had become so crowded that moving around was increasingly difficult, so after photographing the first three songs I decided to head off in search of something to eat before Swedish hard rock favourites H.E.A.T took to the stage later that evening.
Shortly before Marcus & Martinus appeared, former ice hockey star Joel Lundqvist had also been on stage presenting an award, providing yet another reminder of the broad appeal of Göteborgskalaset.
That variety is perhaps one of the festival’s greatest strengths. Within the space of a single afternoon, visitors could experience award presentations, chart-topping Scandinavian pop and hard rock performances, all within the same city-centre celebration. Marcus & Martinus may have been the main attraction for thousands of young fans at Kungstorget, but they were also part of a wider programme designed to offer something for everyone.
Setlist
- Girls
- Gimme Your Love
- Like It Like It
- One Flight Away
- Heartbeat
- When All the Lights Go Out
- Endless Summer
- Die for You
- Bae
- The Room
- Air
- Love Flow
- We Are Not the Same
- Elektrisk
- Unforgettable
This show was shot with
Camera bodies
- Sony a7 IIIWider shots
- Sony a7R IIClose-ups and long-range shots
Camera lenses
- Tamron 28-75mm f2.8Wider shots
- Samyang 70-180mm f2.8Close-ups and long-range shots
Concert photo gallery
