Uma Obscura is the alternative culture festival in Umeå, a festival that celebrates subculture and art.
It used to be called Sunset Park festival. After 6 years of outdoor festival style the festival moved indoors to Umeå Folkets Hus, in September 2014. It was held yearly up until 2014, then paused for 2015 to return in 2016, paused 2017 and continued with two editions in 2018 and one in 2019. Due to the pandemic the 2020 edition was postponed. 2021 the festival returned as Obscura Light. Uma Obscura returned in autumn 2022 at full capacity again.
Uma Obscura is a culture festival, co-created with the artists and the visitors, celebrating subculture movements. The festival has it all: music, dance, film, club, performance, art exhibitions, lectures, seminars and a market. Behind the festival is the culture organisation KF Kretsen from Umeå.
Uma Obscura posters:
Our hall of fame
During the years we have had the honour of having these guests & features:
Music Obscura:
International guests:
Auger (UK), Aurelio Voltaire (US), Blastromen (Fi), Chaos Research (Fi), Hateful Chains (Fi), Miseria Ultima (Fi), Momento Mori (UK), Ras Bolding (Dk), Rest In Silence (Fi), Sari (Jp), Two Witches (Fi), VKgoeswild (Ger/Ukr), Wayne Hussey (Bra/UK), Älymystö (Fi)
Artists & bands from Sweden:
6:th Awakening, Abu Nein, Aeropyornis, Agent Side Grinder, Alice In Videoland, Andreas Wandegren, Anna Öberg & Härsk, Arcana, Aron Hidman & Mariel Rosendahl, Asperger Synthdrome, Covenant, Cryo, Dawn of Oblivion, Den Akustiske Alkemisten, Death Maze, Diskoteket, Dpoint, Draumstafir, Electricution, EMP – Songs from Fire & Ice, Epidemics, The Forever Season, Gallow’s Eve, Helvetets Port, Hysterica, Håkan Wikell, JA!, Jens Gustavson, Jonny and the Primates, Karin Park, Kammarheit, Kardinal Synd, Knekt, Kunt, Live Elephant, Ljustörst, The Litsos, louie.lou, Lucifer’s Aid, The Magnettes, Malaise, Maskinpark OSD, Mechatronic, The Mist of Avalon, Morlocks, Månegarm, Netherbird, Ninedee, Norrbotten Improviser’s Orchestra, Normoria, Octolab, Oestergaards, O.F.O.G., Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio, Paris Is Burning, Priest, Pumpaorkestern, Red Butt Closeup, Red Cell, Robin Lilja, Rået, Sanguine Rumours, Shakespeare Labouring, Snakeskin Angels, South Orange, Spark!, S.P.O.C.K, Stormdeath, Strauss Ex Machina, Styggelse, Summoned Tide, ”Tillfälliga Störningar, Exempelvis Ljud”, Total Egon, Tugga Terrier, Page, Pierre Colling, Project-X, Ulla Olsson, Vergil, Waves Under Water, White Birches, Ye Banished Privateers, Zonaria,
Dance Obscura:
International guests:
Alenka Neurand (Ger), Ariellah (US), Brutal Ballet (UK), Chaos Le Fairee (Fi), Dud Muurmand (Dk), Elin Kåven (No), Ethel Anima (Pl) Golnosh, Halcyon (Fi), Hege Slettemås (No), Ida & Maxx (Ger), Karna May (No/Ukr), Mila Balero (Ukr), Miss Blueberry (Fi), Morgana (Esp), Naggar (Fi), Semira Frost (No), Teater Mirax (Fi), Trium Parcae (Fr), Valeria Gornova (Ukr), Vayola Heart (US)
Dance acts from Sweden:
Aida Meherani, Anna Wallenius, Aska, Baphomet, Ea, Ea & Katarina, Entropy, Foul Mimicry, Fräulein Frauke, Ignite, Jamo Jamo Young, Katarina Klingberg, krAa Fusion & marlen sunna, Lady Rivet, Lisa Lundgren, Morganas Döttrar, Midnattssol, Misty Moon, Mz Mable Higgingbottom, Påfåglarna, The Red Carpet Show, Salty Punch, Saturn Dance Crew, Skadans omfamning, SU-EN, Tomas Näslund och Maria Höglund, Umbra, UPDC – Unpretty Dance Crew
Art Obscura:
Action Art, Alva Andersson, Ambjörn Photo, Anders Muammar, Anna Windseth, Anunnaki Photography, Axel EG Andersson, Black Lion Records, Black Raven, Cecilia Lindblad, Confused Owls Go Somewhere, Coras Alternativ, Curiomira (Jacob Petersson), Cygne Noir, Eden, Elinda Creates, Emmalie Västman, Erik Torstensson, Evelina Larsson, FallenBeautyDesign, Fredrik Hedberg, Five Portals, Geson Rathnow, Glenn Edberg, GruvMarita & KattenOxo, Hanna Rindeskog, Helena Ulfsdotter, Ida, JAQ Studios, JAQ Studios Group Show, J.E. Alexis, Jenny Renling, Jens Daniel Burman, Johan Holmlund, Julia Pivén, Jörgen Rabben, Kai Reichwaldt, Kurt Sigurdsson (UK), Lina Forsberg, Linnea Holmström Ljung, MagaLacrima (Fi), Marcus, Maria Lundström, Mia Falk, My, Monochrome – The Exhibition, Nymla, Nördar i Norr, Otyg Makeri, Paradise of Fantasy, Peter Mollwing, Petra Shara Stoor/Skulls & Bones Artwork, Petter Ottosson, Phantasm Pharmaceuticals, Ravenwing Design, Ratsinart, Rebecka Jonasson, R & R, Robin Lilja, Räf Design/Denise Mångsén, Sally Steampunkers, Sandra ”Gecko Cat” Aronsson, Sandra Mattsson, Sara Norberg, Scorpid Leather, Steampunkers, Stefan Thunströms Monsternallar, Tekla Linnéa Andersson, Thomas Kieselbach, Tinker Tailor, Tomas Ponga, Y. Lundberg, You Are Not Alone – art exhibition
Performance:
Capoeira Bótnia, Cemi Istari, EMP, Pauline Massimo (Bra/Esp), Sunset Parade, Umeå Hung Gar Kwon, Valkyrie
Seminars & Lectures:
Bengt Rahm, Dohee Kim, Leo Flavum, Martin Ericsson, Peter Kagerland, Ola Ågren, Petter Nallo, Sylvia Lancaster (UK), Timo Vuorensola, Torny Gottberg
Authors:
Niclas Lexén
Film Obscura:
Connected, Dyke Hard, Kunskapens Pris, Marco Polo (Blindpassasjer), Nightsatan and the Loops of Doom, No Law 4000, Norwegian Ninja, Nuclear Nation – Past-Present-Future, The Shadow Out Of Time, Star Wars – Threads of Destiny, The Unliving (Återfödseln)
Fashion:
Batbrat Goth Fashion, FireBirdFusion, Isabeau Ouvert (Ger), Kai Reichwaldt Modevisning, Living Night Design, Machine Ain’t Dead Design, Naucler Design, Sin Weaver (Ger), Techdoll, Tomas Ponga, Veil of Visions
Musicals:
En Shoggoth På Taket/Showgoth,
Workshops:
Ariellah (US), Northern Abbey Writer’s Workshop, Witch Drum Circle Workshop (Fi), Ethel Anima (Pl)
Various:
Alice (interactive performance), Art Lab (2022), Alternative Flea Market, ImPro, Jonas Lundström, caroline landberg, Batbrat, Vampire of Versailles, Voici
DJs:
DJ Adora BatBrat, DJ Aeoi, DJ Anders Muammar, DJ Atreyo, DJ Audiovirus, DJ Bat out of Helsingborg, DJ Briseis, DJ Charlie, DJs Club Greyscale, DJ Coldtrack, DJ Comacat, DJ Dead Doll, DJ Eskil, DJ Fireboy, DJ Gieph, DJ Hasse Newton, DJ Innocentius, DJ Jaana Zynthexia. DJ Jenny Tentakler, DJ Jyrki Witch aka JW, DJ Jätten, DJ Kain, DJ Kari Berg, DJ Lisa Lidehäll, DJ Liquid Love, DJ Martin69, DJ Maulwurf, DJ Mirre, DJ Sinsect, DJ Slackerbitch, DJ Subsanity, DJ Svartpunkt.
Cancellations:
Dark Offerings (2024), Das Ich (due to unknown and not verified circumstances 2011), Henric de la Cour (2018), Neze (2019), Escaped Noise (2018), Elizabeth Zohar (2023), Victoria Alwagaa (2024), all acts in 2020 (due to the pandemic).
Artistic directors and coordinators:
2010: Kai Reichwaldt
2011: Peter Mollwing
2012: Lina Reichwaldt
2013: Madeleine Holmlund
2014: Nik, Peter Öberg, Madeleine Holmlund and more.
2016: Nik, Peter Öberg/Ola Ågren, Madeleine Holmlund, Tomas Ponga, Sanna Rundblad, Kari Berg, Emelie Klein.
2018-1: Nik, Madeleine Holmlund, KF Blackbird/Tomas Ponga/Sanna Rundblad, Föreningen SNÖ/UPDC, Emelie Klein.
2018-2: Nik, Madeleine Holmlund, KF Blackbird/Tomas Ponga/Sanna Rundblad, Emelie Klein, Liquid Sky/Erik Emanuelsson.
2019: Nik, Madeleine Holmlund, KF Blackbird/Tomas Ponga/Sanna Rundblad, Robin Lilja, Emelie Klein.
2021: Danne Berggren
2022: Nik, Madeleine Holmlund, KF Blackbird/Tomas Ponga/Sanna Rundblad and more.
2023: Nik, Madeleine Holmlund, KF Blackbird/Tomas Ponga/Sanna Rundblad and more.
2024: Nik, Madeleine Holmlund, KF Blackbird/Tomas Ponga/Sanna Rundblad.
DARK SKY
The concept Dark Sky was launched as a cooperation between Liquid Sky and Uma Obscura/KF Kretsen as a club night, part of Uma Obscura 2018 (2). It was successful and became a stand alone event in 2019, along with a Dark lounge event.
The following acts were part of Dark Sky 2019:
Lizette Lizette, Lego, Psy’Aviah, Sandra Mosh, Soundi, Marla Rosso, Bianca Maria, MLY, Ebba & Jätten, Liquid Sky med vänner, Briseis, Telezart & Fireboy, Brenda El Rayes.
Dark Lounge: DJ workshop with Sandra Mosh, Art by Soundi, Open talks – meet artists and organizers.