Avantasia Delivers a Magnificent Headlining Performance at Skogsröjet 2026

Skogsröjet had chosen to give Friday's headlining act an unusually long set time. With a full 2.5 hours at their disposal, Avantasia received a duration suited to their extensive concept and which is closer to the length they usually have at their own concerts. After a long festival day and with a start time not until 11:00 PM, it remained to be seen whether the audience still had the energy.

I myself had not seen Avantasia live before. However, I had heard the same thing from pretty much everyone who had: "They are amazing live!"

The evening opened with "Creepshow", where Tobias Sammet immediately won over the audience with his natural stage presence and easy rapport. In the subsequent "Reach Out for the Light", Kenny Leckremo made his entrance as the evening's first guest artist. With his powerful voice and classic rock star poses, he raised the temperature even more.

Avantasia is a unique concept within hard rock. Tobias Sammet's metal opera is built on collaborations with several different singers, each of whom brings something special. Live, it becomes clear why the concept has worked so well for over 25 years. The variations between singers make the concert more of a musical performance than a traditional rock show.

During the evening, besides Kenny Leckremo, we also get to enjoy Tommy Karevik, Ronnie Atkins, and Bob Catley from Magnum, all of whom have their own moments in the spotlight. Tobias Sammet simultaneously serves as the binding force throughout the concert. Most impressive, however, is the interplay between the vocalists. The duets feel natural and vibrant, as if they are truly telling the story together rather than just waiting for their turn to sing.

Even the ensemble's backing vocalists get their moments during the evening, stepping out from the background several times. A fine example is "Farewell", where Chiara Tricarico leaves her place further back on stage to sing a duet with Tobias Sammet. Her clear voice, together with Sammet's powerful singing style, creates a nice contrast and shows the breadth Avantasia has in its vocal lineup.

The stage show is also of high quality. Background images and stage design change throughout the concert, giving each song its own visual setting. The props are also used effectively—during "Lucifer", Tobias's grand piano starts to burn, and during "The Toy Master", the large bat-like throne is rolled out on stage and shoots fire as the flames light up the stage. It is a well-executed production where the visuals enhance the music rather than compete with it.

When Tobias suddenly announces the last number of the evening, there’s that spontaneous reaction: Already? The clock is approaching 1:30 AM, but despite the late hour, the concert has passed much faster than expected.

"Sign of the Cross / The Seven Angels" becomes a magnificent finale where all the singers gather on stage and tie together an evening filled with strong vocal performances, musical variety, and impressive interplay.

This show exceeded my expectations and I can only agree that Avantasia is amazing live.