Melodifestivalen 2024 continues tonight and we continue with our weekly #LiveBlog – with Heat 2 this evening. The second set of six acts take to the stage in Gothenburg, with two progressing to the flash vote at the end of Heat 5 and two to the Grand Final after tonight.

So join me, Richard, from 19:00 GMT/20:00 CET, as we discover who will progress in Sweden. You know what to do by now, refresh regularly to see what we have to say in our #LiveBlog.

Refresh here from 19:00 GMT/20:00 CET

Nu kör vi!!! And we’re off with a lively band starting proceedings from the Green Room. Carina Berg welcomes the audience to the show. Carina is talking about something in relation to Estonia. We now have the voting details and a run down of tonight’s artists.

The pundits are back, along with Carina quizzing the acts in their postcards.

Maria Sur – “When I’m Gone”

Maria Sur debuted in Melodifestivalen last year and made the Final. Laser lighting and a modern sound from Maria is very different from last year’s offering. The staging is quiet dark and the overall vibe is nightclub-esq. Maria can deliver this live without any problem, but can Europe as a whole get to grips with this amongst thirty six other countries?

Engmans Kapell – “Norrland”

Engmans Kapell have the first Swedish entry of the evening. Now we have a sort-of rocky billy guitar group here – a real foot stomper. The back drop is full of oranges and yellows. Vocals are great, although I’d question the eye contact with both the audience and cameras. My other concern is this will only appeal to the older age groups voting tonight.

Dear Sara – “The Silence After You”

Not sure about these live vocals from the start. Sara is alone on stage and again it appears all very dark. While vocals improve slightly, I feel she could really do with some backing singers to accompany her. There’s a wind machine, with added pinks, purples and blues in the lighting near the end. Is it enough though?

C-Joe – “Ahumma”

C-Joe brings a gospel inspired English/Swedish entry mash-up. This gives the vibe of an African or carribean beat – somewhat of a celebration. Vocally great and the interaction with the backing singers/dancers really connect. This deserves well from a diversity & inclusion point of view.

Liamoo – “Dragon”

Liamoo is back once again for another attempt at Melodifestivalen victory. Liamoo starts off with a dragon’s fiery red background. The stage ends up been full of fire. Liamoo’s vocal is on point and has connection with both the audience and the camera. I can see this at the Eurovision Song Contest, but I can’t see it as an eighth Swedish victory – yet.

Fröken Snusk  – “Unga & fria” (Young and free)

OK, we can all see it – a giant pink woollen condom is on her head. It’s safe to say that Fröken Snusk is certainly unique. She is riding a horse – the look is bizarre, yet it’s a neon show at it’s lighting best. It’s hard to talk about expression or connection with her face covered, although she manages to deliver her vocals throughout.

We are now in the Green Room. Voting has finally opened!

The voting has closed! It’s time for the first Hall of Fame inductee of 2024. Lotta Berg is live on stage with Carina. A cover of Lotta Berg’s “Fyra bugg och en Coca cola” is now been played by the band from tonight’s opening sequence.

The first act through to the Final are Liamoo, with his entry “Dragon”.

The second round of voting has now opened! Carina is with someone from the Sami community. Voting has now closed! It’s time for the second Hall of Fame inductee of 2024. Kristian Luuk is live on stage with Carina. And the flirty bloke from last week is back!

RESULTS! The second finalist is Maria Sur, while the two artists through to the flash vote at the end of the fifth heat are Dear Sara and Fröken Snusk.

Thank you for joining me on the second weekend of Melodifestivalen – will you join me again next week?

Let us know what you think about Sweden and the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest – either in the comments below or on our FACEBOOK, TWITTER, YOUTUBE, INSTAGRAM and TIKTOK pages.

Author: Richard Taylor

Source: SVT