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Category Archives: icelandic music


We Love Björk as Much as Everyone Else

But we’re not going to make a fake video about her.
Sometimes we stumble across things online that make us really wonder about the fate of humanity.
Then we leave Oprah.com.
But even the rest of the Net seems to be jammed with people stalking celebrities or taping themselves doing borderline illegal things with Mexican food. Or both.
We won’t […]

Something for May: The Concerts are Coming Edition

A roundup of things to do in Iceland this May, as prepared by your ticket-holding editors.

Icelanders aren’t much for people who whine about what’s wrong in the world, but they sure are excited about Bob Dylan’s concert 26 May. Just like a woman.
Rite of Spring Festival returns 17-19 May. It’s like Airwaves for the folk, jazz, and world […]

The Little Gay Viking

There once was a little gay Viking. This friendly but misunderstood fellow spent all his time braiding horses’ manes and knitting colorful scarves. The village people liked him, until one day he got drunk on chocolate choo-choos at the summer festival and tried to kiss Thor, the blacksmith. Thor was really embarrassed and angry because he was more aroused than disgusted, so […]

Follow the Light

The first 100 people to book this Icebreaker deal will get free concert tickets, but everyone gets return tickets for ₤154!
The Þráður (Thread) music festival next weekend features some of Iceland’s hottest bands (see below), and we want to give you a free ticket. The first 100 people to book one of these special city break deals will walk […]

Something for March: The Bleeding Gums Edition

A roundup of things to do in Iceland this month, as prepared by your 8 Bar editors.

The Yardbirds don’t remember the 60’s, but you might. They join musicians from all over the world 18-21 March at the Reykjavík Blues Festival. Sad and happy at the same time. 
So you’ve seen Spamalot four times… wouldn’t it be nice to see the New […]

Something for February:
The You Don’t Mess with Spring Edition

A round-up of things to do in Iceland this February, as prepared by your sickly-white editors.

Tell darkness to “smell it… smell it… NOW TAKE IT!” 7-9 February at the Winter Lights Festival. Bring a flashlight.
Fight racism with hip-hop at Gauk á Stöng 1 February. Don’t expect to see many Spanish football loyalists.
The Iceland Symphony Orchestra performs […]

Sigur Rós Spreads Some Holiday Cheer

Icelanders have gotten a bit of a reputation for being shy with people they don’t know. We swear it’s not true.

Sigur Rós Info: Band Site | Their Movie | Crazy Fan Site

Iceland Airwaves: The Best Tips for 2008

What we learned from Iceland’s largest music festival:
Iceland rocks. This comes as no surprise to seasoned Icelandic music lovers, but there may be no better city in which to hear music. The vibe downtown is completely welcoming and energetic. Iceland is truely in love with music and the people who make it. Speaking of which…
Listen like a local. Of […]

Iceland Airwaves: The Best of Wednesday

Smoosh!
Ok, we’ll admit that these three cute little sisters from Seattle had an unfair advantage. Who could fault three kids flying to Iceland to play in front of hundreds of wannabe Vikings? They had an unfair advantage from the start, but the real surprise was how great they turned out to be! Asy, Chloe, and Maia offer up catchy electro-pop songs with the playfulness and […]

Airwaves is Up In It

Just lay back and enjoy the ride.
We can’t believe it, but another year has passed and it’s time for the biggest, longest, loudest music festival in the world. Or at least in Iceland, which is hipper than most of the world, so you get the idea.
“What’s all this ‘Airwaves‘ then?” you ask. Airwaves is what […]

Something for September: The “There’s More?!” Edition

If you were looking for a rest from the seemingly endless list of cool stuff to do in Iceland this month… uh, sorry.

The concert build-up to Airwaves continues this month with the stylings of Nora Jones, Chris Cornell, Franz Ferdinand, and more. Fair warning: our last editor actaully overdosed on live music once - vomited in […]

August In-Depth: Reykjavík Marathon/Culture Night

A bunch of running, concerts, a whispering world record, fireworks, and free waffles. What more could you want?
If there is one thing that Icelanders know, it’s celebration. Iceland is the kind of place where people throw a party because they find soap that matches their towels.
So imagine what can happen when you hold an internationally renowned marathon and a country’s largest […]

August In-Depth: Gay Pride Weekend

On 11 August, Iceland comes way, way out of the closet.
Gay Pride weekend has grown to become one of the most anticipated festivals of the year. At this Saturday’s parade, kids sporting rainbow flags and face paint will be as common as drag queens and women in plaid. Páll Óskar, Iceland’s reigning Queen, will croon to the crowd of […]

Something for August: The Closet Door is Half Open Edition

A roundup of things to do in Reykjavík and beyond this August, as prepared by your fab-u-lous editors.

This 3-6 August, the Westman Islands is the unlikely scene of the earth’s wildest annual party. It’s also where 93% of all Icelanders were conceived. Bring protection (from the weather).
The Reykjavík Gay Pride Festival sashays its way into town 9-12 August. […]

Something for July: The Summer Stupor Edition

A roundup of things to do in Reykjavík and beyond this July, as prepared by your not-quite-used-to-the-midnight-sun editors.

Bad Taste, the label that brought you Björk and Sigur Rós has opened a store and gallery downtown, featuring the exhibit ‘Lobster or Fame’. We’ll have the fame, lightly sautéed.
In case you missed them 30 years ago, Toto will play Iceland’s biggest venue 10 […]

Get to Know Iceland’s Eurovision Entry

How do you follow-up the disaster of Sylvia Night? Glam Rock!
The walking hangover that is Sylvia Night has just started to die off, and what better way to cure it for good than some screaming rock?
As Eiríkur Hauksson took the stage for his third chance at Eurovision stardom (he was Iceland’s first entrant in 1986 and sang for Norway in 1991), Icelanders issued a collective pitiful groan. […]

Something for May: The More Artsy, Less Fartsy Edition

A roundup of things to do in Reykjavík this May, as prepared by your gastricly challenged culturally enlightened editors.

The Reykjavík Arts Festival takes over the capital May 10 to 26. It features hundreds of people that you’ve never heard of who have more talent than Robbie Williams. Oh right, there are mimes too, so, uh, the less said the better.
And you thought the rite of […]

Something for April: The Mostly Björk Edition

A roundup of things to do in Reykjavík this April, as prepared by your sprightly editors.

Björk, Iceland. Iceland, Björk. Perhaps you’ve met? The singer comes home to kick off the world tour backing her new CD Volta April 9th. Worth it just to see what she’ll wear.
Make your hangover feel like community service. Get to […]

March: Now One of Iceland’s Top 12 Months

A round-up of things to do in Reykjavík for the rest of March, as prepared by your thankful-to-be-out-of-the-clutch-of-winter’s-evil-darkness editors.

Five years between albums is just too long. Be there as dance music visionaries and all-around hipsters GusGus celebrate the release of their fourth album on the 24th at Nasa. You won’t be the coolest person in the […]

Something for the Weekend: Sweat Baby Sweat Edition

A roundup of things to do in Reykjavík this weekend, prepared by your sweaty fit editors.

The warm-up for the weekend takes place on Thursday at the Breakbeat Night at Pravda. Oommph oommph oommph.
If you’re more of the sober and indie kind-of-person, the youth culture centre Hitt Húsið, almost across the street from Pravda, is having […]

Something for the Weekend: The Fleeting Moments Edition

A roundup of things to do in Reykjavík this weekend, prepared by your now-you-see-them-now-you-don’t editors.

Right. “The world’s most exciting techno band,” Booka Shade, take the stage at Gaukur á Stöng Friday evening. Also on the bill: some people (we think) called Jack Schidt, Djuna Barnes, Miss Lori, Darren C, Hairdoctor and Fm Belfast. The guys […]

Something for the Weekend: The Usual Suspects Edition

A round-up of things to do in Reykjavík this weekend, as prepared by your unusually suspicious editors.

Poetry might be dead, but somebody didn’t get the memo. The cool cats of Nýhil will be reading, like, poetry, between acts at Grand rokk tonight. The usual suspects are playing: Mr. Silla & Mongoose, Pétur Ben, Reykjavik! and […]

Icelandic Drummer of the Month: Danni

The first entry in an occasional series spotlighting the rockers no self-respecting groupie will go out with, unless all the others are taken.
Our first little drummer boy is Danni Þorsteinsson, and we assure you this choice has absolutely nothing to do with nepotism (stop blinking Danni). He’s been hitting the skins in the Icelandic music […]

Something for the Weekend: The Almost Christmas Edition

A round-up of things to do in Reykjavík this weekend, as prepared by your anxiously-awaiting-the-holiday editors.

If you’re a proper Iceland nerd, you should be familiar with Valgeir Guðjónsson. This time, he’s playing in a church. Concert starts at 8 tonight in Seltjarnarneskirkja. Let’s hope he plays the “Peeing Outside Song”.
More eccentric Icelandic music at Tjarnabíó […]

Something for the Weekend: The Narcissistic Edition

A round-up of things to do in Reykjavík this weekend, prepared by your festive and slightly self-involved editors.

Headstart the weekend on Freaky Friday afternoon at Gallerí Gel, where hair is cut to beats spun by one of our very own, the super-fabulous DJ Kiki-Ow.
Later that evening, spend your hard-earned paychecks at Sirkus, where Curver plays […]

Something for the Weekend: The Local vs. Global Edition

A roundup of things to do in Reykjavík this weekend, prepared by your cosmopolitan editors.

Tonight, synchronize your watches as the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, complete with two male-choirs and one heroic bass, plays enough Wagner to make you want to invade Poland.
Balance the hormones Friday night at Café Cultura, where voluptious Icelandic women engage in Arabic […]

Gallerí Gel: The (Hair)doctor will see you now

These people can make you look cool, as long as you don’t interfere.
Wandering around 101 Reykjavík on Friday evenings, you are more than likely to come across a few shellshocked trendsetters with obscenely trendy, über half-a-haircut-mullet hairdos. They have most probably been to see the Hairdoctor Jón Atli (the most glamorous hairstylist since Warren Beatty) […]

Something for the Weekend: The Sugarcoated Edition

A roundup of things to do in Reykjavík this weekend, prepared by your sweet, yet sassy, editors.

For all you lovers of that big church on the hill, this weekend there are 20 years since it was opened. Photographs of the church throughout its 50+ year building process are on display. Nearer my God, to thee.
Thursday […]

Something for the Weekend: The Let’s Ignore the Weather Edition

I see you baby, shaking that ass

Dance the somewhat nippy winter weather away, Friday start your evening somewhere very hot indeed. The Icelandic Bellydance Championships are held at Ýmishúsið and begin at 8pm. a mere 1800isk to see 19 ladies (including one of our fabulous editors) flick their hips in a way which ensures you’ll […]

Something for the Weekend: The Arty Out of Towner’s Edition

Iceland wakes up again.

Starting this Friday, the Young Art Festival, organized by Hitt Húsið, a cultural centre for “young people.” (Well, 17-25 year-olds. After that you’re old, apparently.) The first night, at Tjarnarbíó, is dedicated to students of The Icelandic Academy of Arts, and the fun starts at nine. Watch out for the street performers.
Later […]

Icelandic Music 101: Ghostigital

How abstract can they get?
Ghostigital is the current project of Sugarcubes ranter rapper, Einar Örn, who, together with producer/programmer/genius Curver, manages to transform the inside of tazmanian devil’s head whilst having a seizure, into something audible.
Somewhat loved and respected, with remixes by other artists left, right and centre, they can be a bit confusing slash […]

12 Tónar: The nicest men in Icelandic show business

At the best little record store in Reykjavík, indie doesn’t necessarily mean small t-shirts. Just great coffee, impeccable manners, and the occasional autographed Lionel Ritchie album.

If you’re looking for some fine Icelandic music, a selection of Icelandic presidential portraits, some damn fine coffee, or simply capitalism with a human face, go to directly to the […]

Iceland Airwaves:
Sunday’s Top 5

Official Hangover Day.
Thankfully, the official schedule has almost nothing in store for us today, but if you’re still alive, there are some off-venue gigs.

In the highly unlikely event that you’re feel fresh, you could start at The Naked Ape, a colourful design store at the corner where Skólavörðustígur meets Laugavegur. There you can see a […]

Iceland Airwaves:
Saturday’s Top 5

At Gaukurinn, the all-star band Sometime starts at 22.15. You know, provided the drummer holds his drink.
At midnight in Iðnó, the old theatre by the lake, Stórsveit Nix Noltes (Nick Nolte’s Big Band) will make you sweat like a gypsy.
Two options at 01.00. Either go back to Gaukurinn to see the Hairdoctor, a band of […]

Iceland Airwaves:
Friday’s Top 5

Here we go again.

So, by now you know where the Reykjavik Art Museum is, eh? Well, we’ll start there. At 20.45 Benni Hemm Hemm starts playing with his big band of 18 people. Get your money’s worth.
Two options for 22.15 and 23.00. First choice: stay at the Art Museum. First up (assuming that Kraftwerk’s lawyers […]

Iceland Airwaves:
Thursday’s Top 5

Tonight starts at 19.00 with Ske at the Reykjavík Art Museum. They go through front(wo)men faster than other bands go through groupies. Everyone is excited to see their line-up this year.
For you cutie pie lovers, Skakkamanage and Þórir are playing at Gaukurinn, back to back. Skakkamanage starts at 20.45 and Þórir at 21.30. Decide for […]

Something for the Weekend: the (Almost) Non-Airwaves Edition

Yeah, yeah. Iceland Airwaves, blah, blah, blah. We get it. Just check their website, ok?
On Saturday, check out the noon-to-midnight off-venue Airwaves concert at Hljómalind on Laugavegur. Pardon us while we abuse our position and encourage you to check out super-cutie Mr. Silla (pictured above, pretending to be tough) and her new best friend, Mongoose, […]

Iceland Airwaves: Wednesday’s Top 5

Cynic Guru play poppy, alternative rock at Gaukurinn at 20.15 (that’s a quarter past eight for civilians and Brits). You may be interested to hear that frontman Roland Hartwell plays the violin with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra. He also plays guitar with the band. And sings. Like the old lady said to the other old […]

Hipsters of the world unite at Iceland Airwaves

The international hipster community prepares for a difficult weekend by donning wristbands, as the most important music festival in the solar system begins in Reykjavík tonight.
Unless you’ve had more important things to think about, you’ll know that the annual Iceland Airwaves music festival starts in Reykjavík today, and continues through to Sunday.
Beginning in 1999, what […]

Icelandic Music 101: GusGus

The grand old men and women of Icelandic dance music apparently still have last night in their bodies.
Established in 1995 as some kind of multidisciplinary art conglomerate, GusGus have gone through more personnel changes than Fleetwood Mac and Van Halen put together, only to end up better than ever.
While you wait for their next album, […]

Something for the Weekend: Highbrow Edition

A round up of things to do in Reykjavík this weekend, prepared by your good-looking and oh-so culturally minded editors.

He’s back! Former General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and Pizza Hut fan, Mikhail Gorbachev is back in Iceland this weekend. No Ronald Reagan this time, just a lot of people […]