The big announcement of the acts for Melodifestivalen 2016 is now only five days away, but another three names of potential acts have leaked. Aftonbladet is reporting that Melfest 2016 will include drag act After Dark, Melfest legend Anna Book and Swedish-African popstress SaRaha.

After Dark

Drag act After Dark have been performing since 1976 and will celebrate their 40th anniversary with a Mello entry. They have competed in Melfest twice before. In 2004 they entered with “La dolce vita”, which placed third in the final. They returned in 2007 with the innuendo-laden “(Åh) När ni tar saken i egna händer”, but did not progress from the semi-final.

Anna Book

Singer and TV host Anna Book will also be celebrating an anniversary. 2016 marks the 30th anniversary of her first Melfest appearance, where she placed fifth with “ABC”. Anna also entered the following year with “Det finns en morgondag”, and made a comeback 20 years later in 2007 with “Samba Sambero”, where she placed ninth in the final. Anna competed on the 2006 series of Let’s Dance where she came second to Måns Zelmerlöw.

https://youtu.be/_gyAwyDCeeY

SaRaha

SaRaha is the Swedish-born, Tanzania-raised Sara Larsson, who has been making a name for herself with her take on Afropop. In the past, her song lyrics have been in Swahili, but this year she’s started recording in Swedish, with her single “Yerere” mixing up Afropop sounds with a Swedish pop sensibility.

The list of rumoured Melfest acts now tops 21 out of 28 acts, with After Dark, Anna Book and SaRaha joining Smajling Swedes, Ace Wilder, Oscar Zia, Lisa Ajax, Samir & Viktor, Dinah Nah, Panetoz, Sigrid Bernson, Pidde Pannkaka, Linda Bengtzing, Molly Sandén, Eclipse, Pernilla Andersson, Isa, Frans Jeppsson-Wall, Molly Pettersson Hammar, and Albin feat. Mattias Andréasson.

The full list of the 2016 participants will be presented at the official press conference on Monday at 9:00 CET.

Follow all of our Sweden Eurovision news here

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Firehunter
Firehunter
8 years ago

Here are only the biggest outsiders.

Amerivision
Amerivision
8 years ago

As excited as I am for Melfest 2016, I wish they send something off the beaten path like Ghost! But that will never happen!

Anyway, the Swedish public knows better and will pick the right song to try to get their 7th victory.

#LaDolceVita
#LaDolceVita
8 years ago

It would be great to see After Dark representing Sweden with some modern schlager song.

UOrated?
8 years ago

I agree with Doorioo…. Sweden has Swedish House Mafia, Robyn, The Hives, mando Diao, Veronica Maggio, Håkan Hellstrøm, Acid House Kings….And what we get for MF is Anna Book and some freakshowish drag act?? No wonder MF is not taken seriously….it really does not reflect the most popular and respected of Swedish pop and rock music. Way too overhyped. Really, Swedish music is so much more than dull G’son / Kiempe mass produced cheesy schlagers, and boring modulations….Sadly, the days of The Ark, Melody Club, Eskobar etc are gone….when the best Swedish music actually could be heard in MF! Yes… Read more »

Anthony
Anthony
8 years ago

Doorioo: Melfest once had Sean Banan twice in a row, and the Swedes had the common sense not to send him to Baku or Malmö.

Edd
Edd
8 years ago

That SaRaha song is going STRAIGHT on my iPod!!!

gary
gary
8 years ago

After Dark.. i mean seriously? Cant sing!! And Saraha just isnt very good imo.

Doorioo
Doorioo
8 years ago

Come on! After dark?? Why! Kitsch, bad taste, cheesy. Underline all kinds of silly “gay stereotypes” about esc. MF at it’s crappiest! Shows why MF never represent the best of Swedish pop and rock. And why it never can be taken seriously as a festival for real quality music!