Way Out West – Gothenburg – August 13-15 2026 – 6 great shows

6 great shows at this year’s sold-out Way Out West festival in Gothenburg’s largest park, Slottskogen.

I watched around 20 live acts during the 3 days, but these stood out.

Photo by: Timothy Gottlieb

1. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

An extremely intense and emotional experience, almost like a ritual. Nick’s mic wasn’t working at first, so he threw it aside in frustration. Afterwards, he and the band remained on their stage to enjoy The Cure that followed on the opposite stage.

Photo by: Timothy Gottlieb

2. The Cure

It is truly magical to see The Cure, a band that I fell in love with as a teen, closing out the main stage ahead of a massive crowd, proving that their timeless melancholy still resonates just as deeply with a brand-new generation of younger fans embracing them for the first time.  The saxophone on the song “A Night Like This” was played by Gabriel Cooper, the son of the band’s drummer, Jason Cooper

Photo by: Timothy Gottlieb

3. Anna von Hausswolff

I’ve heard so many people praising her haunting vocals and soundscapes, and now I finally got to experience it for the first time – complete with a “witch battle” with Nicole Sabouné.

4. Moby

It’s been a while since I caught him live and we interviewed him back in the 90:s. Now, in 2026, it is amazing to see how he still possesses this enormous energy. And how effortlessly he is transforming his intricate studio productions into a massive live experience with live musicians and powerhouse vocalists, including a standout performance by Jacob Lusk.

5. Jehnny Beth

The fierce post-punk frontwoman had an intense and electrifying presence. A couple of tracks reminded me of The Young Gods, which is a huge plus in my book.

6. Svart ridå

A rising female Swedish rock trio delivering captivating, moody, and quite minimalistic indie that perfectly matched the late-night slot – the last gig of WoW. They made the audience kneel; that says a lot.