Author: - The Reykjavik Grapevine

All In The Family

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It doesn’t get much more romantic than in the world of folk, where music is looked upon as a phenomenon…

Tequila and Chamomile

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James Blake was indulgent, lush gospel. The crowd transfixed by his full-bodied, all-consuming bassline that vibrated bones and filled every…

Friday Night Lights

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Inside, an anxious shuffle. The vast expanse of Harpa’s interior. Walls the colour of scorched-rock, bright lights reflecting in mirrors…

The Decisive Moment

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Ari Sigvaldason is a doting admirer of ugly duckling ReykjavíkAri Sigvaldason has the relaxed, unhurried sense about him of someone…

‘Inside The Volcano’ Tour: Belly Of The Beast

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Einar Stefánsson is the kind of man who whistles while descending into the mouth of a volcano. I’m standing in…

Iceland Cubed

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The question of how best to package Iceland for international consumption has long been a contentious issue, one that has…

Bastard Love

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Vesturport performs ‘Bastard—A Family Saga’ at Reykjavík City Theatre on June 2.We are not entirely lost to ourselves. Our gaping…

The Activist

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Andrea Ólafsdóttir was the last to announce her candidacy for president, on May 1, International Workers’ Day this year. Born…

Tickle Against the Machine

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On an international scale, Erna Ómarsdóttir is undoubtedly Iceland’s best-known contemporary dancer. Tickling Death Machine is her most recent project,…

The Boys Are Back In Town

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‘Valtari’—Sigur Rós’ much-anticipated sixth-release—is risky. Not that the band hasn’t, in its 18-years-active, established itself as a creative juggernaut of…

Sigur Rós Denies Split Rumours, Confirms Others

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In an exclusive interview with the Grapevine, Georg Hólm (Goggi) and Jón Þór Birgisson (Jónsi) deny persistent rumors that Kjartan…

An Elegant Twist

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Veteran designer Steinunn on the past and present of Icelandic fashionSteinunn Sigurðardóttir is a woman who takes care in the…

Getting Rid Of ‘The Man Behind The Curtain’

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Before we begin, let’s just go ahead and acknowledge the illustrious, dazzling elephant in the room: Björk. She’s always there….

Reykjavík Christmas City

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If there’s one cause to which the perpetual dusk of Icelandic winter is sympathetic, it’s that of Christmas decorations. Indeed,…

Suffer For Fashion, Or Whatever

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It was 1977, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The voice, the vision, the inimitable Nina Simone erupts the audience…

Lights & Music, Indeed

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Outside the concert venue, face flushed pink to match his undersized varsity jacket, Berndsen looked exultant. Honestly, it was probably…

Young Hearts

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LungA turns elevenThis July 10 to 17 marked the 11-year anniversary of the LungA young artists’ festival in the far-eastern…

Five Places You Should See / Trips You Should Take

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Esja—That big mountain over there Close to the heart of every Reykjaviking—literally as well as metaphorically—is the mountain range Esja,…

Information Without Borders?

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The info-wars have begun, and Iceland is begging to be the legislative battleground. In the wake of the international controversy…

Short List Announced for Top Albums of the Year

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Kraumur Music Fund announced today the nominees for this year’s Kraum List—the Fund’s annual prize for Icelandic albums of the…

Suffer For Fashion, Or Whatever

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It was 1977, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The voice, the vision, the inimitable Nina Simone erupts the audience…

Reykjavík Nine Call for Show of Solidarity

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Today marks the two-year anniversary of the alleged ‘attack on Parliament’ by the ‘Reykjavík Nine’ protesters, who in December 2008…

NASA – Sunday

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Photo by Hvalreki The first band to play that night was Orphic Oxtra who helped get me over my intense…

Art Museum – Saturday

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Photos by Hvalreki and Páll Hilmarsson a)Holy shit, this place looks awesome. It’s about time Iceland had a real pop/rock…

Reykjavík Art Museum- Friday

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Photos by Hörður Sveinsson and Morgan Levy. Chateau Marmont got right down to the point. Straightforward electro synth, indisputable as…