Moon Safari are one of the most joyful and beloved bands in modern progressive rock — a Swedish group whose lush, sun-drenched symphonic prog is built on some of the most gorgeous vocal harmonies the genre has ever heard. Bright, melodic and unashamedly uplifting, their music merges the grandeur of classic symphonic prog with the breezy warmth of vintage West Coast pop. For two decades, against the backdrop of the long northern winters, they have been making music as warm as summer sunshine.

The short version

Formed in Skellefteå, Sweden, in 2003, Moon Safari play sunny, harmony-rich symphonic prog — bright, melodic and richly arranged, with their trademark lush, multi-part vocal harmonies at the centre of everything. Across five studio albums from “A Doorway to Summer” (2005) to “Himlabacken Vol. 2” (2023), including the double-album masterpiece “Blomljud” (2008), they have become one of the best-loved bands in modern prog. Theirs is some of the warmest, most uplifting music the genre has to offer.

Skellefteå: harmonies from the north

Moon Safari came together in 2003 in the small northern Swedish town of Skellefteå. An early demo caught the ear of Tomas Bodin, keyboardist of fellow Swedes The Flower Kings, who was impressed enough to produce their debut album, “A Doorway to Summer” (2005). At the heart of the band were three brothers — Simon, Pontus and Sebastian Åkesson — whose voices, blended with those of their bandmates, gave Moon Safari the extraordinary choral sound that would become their signature, and their rise among prog fans soon followed.

Sunny, harmony-rich prog

What sets Moon Safari apart, above all else, is their voices. Arranged by keyboardist Simon Åkesson, their dense, intricate, multi-part vocal harmonies are a wonder — full, soaring and impossibly warm, often blossoming into full a cappella passages. Around them, the band weave bright, melodic, major-key symphonic prog: acoustic guitars and vintage keyboards, sweeping arrangements and sun-kissed melodies that recall the Beach Boys and ELO as much as Yes and Genesis. Optimistic and heartfelt where so much prog is dark, theirs is music of pure warmth and joy — an antidote, as they put it, to the long northern winters.

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From A Doorway to Summer to Himlabacken

Moon Safari’s catalogue is small but treasured. The debut “A Doorway to Summer” (2005) introduced their sunny symphonic prog, before the ambitious double album “Blomljud” (2008) — Swedish for “flower sound” — became a fan-adored masterpiece. “Lover’s End” (2010), a bittersweet concept about love and heartbreak, gave them their signature song in “A Kid Called Panic”, while “Himlabacken Vol. 1” (2013) looked back warmly on childhood and growing up. After a long wait, they returned in 2023 with the comeback album “Himlabacken Vol. 2”.

Album by album

Five albums of sunny, harmony-rich symphonic prog. Tap any title for its guide.

The players

Moon Safari are a six-piece, and their sound is the sum of all their voices. Lead vocals are shared between guitarist Petter Sandström and keyboardist Simon Åkesson, the latter also the architect of the band’s celebrated harmonies. With Simon’s brothers, guitarist Pontus Åkesson and keyboardist Sebastian Åkesson, plus bassist Johan Westerlund and drummer Mikael Israelsson, they form a remarkably tight-knit ensemble. The band’s long-time original drummer Tobias Lundgren and early guitarist Anthon Johansson both featured in their formative years, but it is the three-brother vocal core that gives Moon Safari their magic.

Where to start

Begin with the double album “Blomljud” (2008), widely regarded as Moon Safari’s masterpiece and a glorious showcase for their harmonies and ambition. From there, the heartfelt concept album “Lover’s End” (2010) and the nostalgic “Himlabacken Vol. 1” (2013) are both essential. Three albums that capture one of modern prog’s sunniest and most lovable bands.

Why they still matter

Moon Safari matter as a reminder that progressive rock can be warm, melodic and full of joy — a band who took the symphonic prog tradition and infused it with the bright harmonies and sunny optimism of classic pop, creating something genuinely uplifting and entirely their own. Their lush, choral sound has earned them one of the most devoted followings in modern prog, and few bands inspire such affection. For anyone who wants their progressive rock beautiful, melodic and bursting with sunshine, Moon Safari are essential listening.

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