Nöjesfabriken is a large entertainment and live music complex at Karlagatan 42 in the Herrhagen district of Karlstad, Sweden. Opened in 2003, the venue covers around 7,500 square metres and contains several concert spaces alongside restaurants, bars, a nightclub, bowling, darts, golf simulators and event facilities. Five different stages are used for live music, ranging from smaller club settings to halls capable of accommodating close to 2,000 people.

The complex occupies former industrial buildings once used by Karlstads Mekaniska Verkstad, one of the city’s most important engineering companies. Workshop and foundry activity was established on the site during the 19th century, while the surviving brick buildings largely date from the late 1800s and the following decades. When the old industrial premises were converted into an entertainment complex at the beginning of the 2000s, much of their original character was retained. The name Nöjesfabriken – literally “The Entertainment Factory” – is a direct reference to the site’s industrial past.

Nöjesfabriken officially opened its live music operation in September 2003 with a concert by The Cardigans. Since then, its various stages have hosted a wide range of Swedish and international artists. The largest concert spaces include Stora Eventhallen, which can accommodate around 1,850 people for live events, and Mässhallen, where concerts can hold more than 2,000. Smaller shows are staged in rooms such as the rock bar, while the outdoor Innergården opens during the summer with space for around 800 guests.

Rock and metal have been a regular part of the programme throughout Nöjesfabriken’s history. Motörhead performed there in 2007, while other heavy and rock-oriented artists appearing over the years have included In Flames, Entombed, W.A.S.P., Volbeat, Europe, Mustasch, D-A-D, Graveyard, Refused, Backyard Babies and Danko Jones. The venue continues to host metal concerts, ranging from major Swedish touring bands to international acts, with artists such as Sabaton, Pain, Candlemass and Vomitory appearing in more recent times.

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ADDRESS:
Karlagatan 42, 652 23 Karlstad, Sweden

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