A.S. Fanning (IRL) + Moon Mother

Oceanen presents: A.S. Fanning (IRL) + Moon Mother A.S. Fanning – Take Me Back To Nowhere

A.S. Fanning is an Irish songwriter whose music combines the introspective feel of indie folk with the heavier, expansive sound of alternative rock and psychedelic music. His songs are characterised by layers of sonic textures, melancholic moods and his resonant baritone voice, exploring themes of existential unease, mortality and uncertainty.

Drawing comparisons to Leonard Cohen and Scott Walker, Fanning transforms feelings of unease into hauntingly beautiful soundscapes. He blends acoustic intimacy with subtle electronic elements, creating a sound that feels both timeless and distinctly personal.

A.S. Fanning’s latest album Mushroom Cloud was widely acclaimed in the UK, receiving particular praise for its sweeping atmospheres and uncompromising lyrics. Described by the press as a career-defining work, the album earned him the accolade of Songwriter of the Year 2023 in Far Out Magazine, cementing his reputation as one of Ireland’s most significant musical voices.

His forthcoming album Take Me Back to Nowhere was shaped by feelings of disorientation, fragmentation and a fascination with the unstable nature of reality. Written while he was confined to his home with a broken wrist, the album reflects both physical limitation and creative block – where the endless flow of words eventually became overwhelming chaos.

Inspired by science fiction writers such as Ursula K. Le Guin and J.G. Ballard, the songs explore how imagination can bend reality and how anxiety can reshape the world into surreal and isolating landscapes.

Alongside this inner turbulence was the constant noise of global conflicts, filtered through social media, and a sense that the moral centre was collapsing. The surreal spectacle of war, reduced to “content”, heightened a sense of unreality – of civilisation as a thin façade. His idea of confusion as a legitimate form of entertainment became a guiding force: rather than resisting chaos, the album embraces it.

The result is a work that moves between intimacy and disorientation, grounded in the belief that there is no single reality – only fragmented personal perspectives.

“Take me back to nowhere” becomes both a longing for escape and an acceptance of disorientation – a return to the void that precedes and outlives us.

Conceptual, atmospheric and slightly unsettling, the album invites the listener to sink into the depths of confusion.

Moon Mother "The western Swedish duo Moon Mother make music that speaks to your soul, and when they open the door to their mysterious world of shadows and light, you are taken to a place beyond space and time. It is as if something ancient enters the room and makes its presence felt. In winter 2026, they released their second album Meadowlands, which received international attention and praise in underground circles around the world. Some predict that it is only a matter of time before this alternative slowcore and dark folk phenomenon, which has flown under the radar, appears on bigger stages. With their moon rock, they take the listener on a heartfelt journey where music born in darkness becomes a dance towards the light of hope, always with as much heart as attitude."

"The country’s leading slowcore band – and its most overlooked, it should be added!" - Mats Lundgren “It's low-key, slow and reverb-drenched. You can hear threads of Handsome Family and Marianne Faithful. It's blackness-deluxe. But, it's beautiful in all its gloom. Very beautiful.”

— Lira Musikmagasin “Meadowlands is one the the most honest, evocative and meaningful things I have heard in a long, long time, and I’m deeply in awe of what this duo has pulled off on what is ultimately only their second album.”

— Sounds From The Dark Side

Photo: Neil Hoare __________

Accessibility

Kulturhuset Oceanen is a Q-listed historic building, which poses challenges when it comes to accessibility. We do our best to enable as many people as possible to visit us. If you use a mobility aid, the entrance to the performance space is the most suitable way in. This is reached through Gathenhielmska trädgården. The entrance is locked, so please contact us one day before your visit, and no later than Friday at 16:00 if you are visiting over the weekend. There is a wheelchair-accessible toilet in the performance space. Personal assistants do not need to buy their own ticket, but please contact us in advance so that we can issue a ticket for them. Please note! Flashing lights may be used during concerts and events. For questions about accessibility, contact Mia Herman, [email protected].

Ticket refunds

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