“Extreme weather conditions” have forced organizers to call off the sold out Rauðasandur festival in the West fjords. Festivalgoers, staff and musicians have been directed to the nearby town of Patreksfjörður, where they will be put up in the local elementary school for the night. Organizers are currently working to schedule a concert featuring some of the Rauðasandur artists at Patreksfjörður’s Sjóræningjahúsið, so the weekend will not be a total bust. In fact, looking at the bright side, it might turn into quite the adventure…
The festival site was evacuated safely, including the PA equipment. Speaking to Grapevine writer John Rogers, Rauðasandur Festival organizers remarked that they were forced to cancel the festival due to unprecedented dire weather. “We are currently reprogramming and re-constituting the festival for the Pirate House [Sjóræningjahúsið] in Patreksfjörður, with the bands that are still standing,” the organizers said.
“It’s grim, but everyone is safe :)” John Rogers wrote the Grapevine earlier, having just made it to Patreksfjörður. He continued:
“The weather started getting bad, and eventually it dawned on everyone that the festival was being blown into the sea. Emergency services were called in good time, and after a quick evaluation, people were directed offsite to the nearest town. A school has been made available for us to sleep in, and the shows will go on in the pirate themed bar.”
John says a lot of attendees seem intent on sticking it out in Patreksfjörður, including himself. “Many people seem to have scattered to nearby family members, or started the drive back to Reykjavík, but a lot are still in the mood for music,” John said, promising his upcoming review of the festival will be a great read when it hits the streets in two weeks time.
Founded in 2011, Rauðasandur Festival is music and events festival set in the stunning scenery of Rauðasandur (Red Sands) of the West Fjords of Iceland. The region is a 10 km long 3km wide red sandy beach stretching to Látrabjarg cliffs, which is the westernmost point of Iceland, and facing the bay of Breiðafjörður, which connects to the Atlantic Ocean. The 2013 edition sold out early, and was to feature performances by acts such as Prins Póló, Borkó, Snorri Helgason, Hermigervill, Boogie Trouble and Mr. Silla.
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Pic by awesome photographer Hörður Sveinsson, nabbed from his Instagram page.
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