Musikhus i centrum: två lokala praktiker inom den svenska progressiva musikrörelsen : Uppsala Musikforum och Sprängkullen i Göteborg

The dissertation studies local practices within the Swedish progressive or alternative music movement in the 1970s. It analyses how cultural communities were formed on the basis of local musical practices, focusing on two case studies: Musikforum in Uppsala and Sprängkullen in Gothenburg. Theoretical starting points combine communities and scenes, movements and public spheres, subcultures and gender identities. An overview is made on the main phases of this movement, from its initiation in the 1960s to its dissolution in the 1980s, as well as of its infrastructural resources. Then, after giving a background and context to each of the two cases, the activists are analysed in terms of gender, age, class, ethnicity and political views, as well as the relations between amateur and professional musicians. For each of the two local settings, an analysis is further made of music produced, and of the relations towards the Swedish music movement at large, political movements, state and municipal authorities, established music institutions, the music industry and the media. The results of the analyses indicate interesting similarities as well as differences. Uppsala Musikforum was more inclined towards jazz and folk music while Sprängkullen in Gothenburg was politically more radical, with an inclination towards heavier rock music. However, the divergence was not as pronounced as generally has been thought, and there were in fact striking parallels between the history and the activities of these two places. The study is thus a contribution to an understanding of how aesthetics and politics interacted in the dynamic development of local music scenes.