Words by

Gabríel Benjamin

@gabrielandmore

Say goodbye to the wet February and hello to snowy March with a weekend full of unmissable events, including Reykjavík’s Folk Festival and Gunnar Nelson’sreturn to the UFC after a year off.

Friday

The Vintage Caravan’s Farewell Concert
Following a new contract with Nuclear Blast Records, the youngster prog rock trio that make up The Vintage Caravan have decided to move to Denmark. Not wanting to go out with a whisper, the trio who have kept the rock-hungry youth of today headbanging ferociously through 2013, are putting on a final show at Gamli Gaukurinn, with stoner/sludge metal band ONI warming up the show.
– Gamli Gaukurinn at 22:00, 1,500 ISK admission

Reykjavík Folk Festival
If you yearn calm and soulful folk music then you should make your way to KEX Hostel to catch the last two days of the Reykjavík Folk Festival. Friday’s programme includes Kristjana Arngríms, Hymnalaya and Bubbi Morthens and Saturday’s programme includes Soffía Björg, KK and Snorri Helgason. Have a pint, sit down and enjoy the show.
– KEX Hostel Friday and Saturday at 20:00, 3,000 ISK admission per day

Saturday

Dreka Dínamít / Tanya & Marlon / LaFontaine & Untitled2Music / Hlýnun Jarðar
Rafarta Records is a label with a passion for electronic music, and tonight it hosts its second musical extravaganza at Harlem. The line-up includes Dreka Dínamít, AKA Elli Grill, the duo Tanya & Marlon Pollock, LaFontaine & Untitled2Music, and the apocalyptically named Hlýnun Jarðar (“Global Warming”).
– Harlem at 23:00, free admission

Knife Fights & Þórir Georg Album Release Party
New wave rock band Knife Fights and experimental folk artist Þórir Georg are hosting a double album release party to celebrate their respective new albums ‘I Need You To Go To Hell’ and ‘Ræfill.’ Don’t be a slouch, check out the show and if the music is to your liking you can buy the albums on-site.

– Lucky Records at 16:00, free admission

UFC Fight Night Featuring Gunnar Nelson Vs. Omari Akhmedov
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past month you should have heard that Icelandic MMA Fighter Gunnar Nelson is fighting the Russian Omari Akhmedov in the UFC, the biggest worldwide MMA circuit, and the fight is happening tonight. Stúdentakjallarinn is screening the fight live, so you can celebrate with a pint or console yourself with a stiff drink depending on how the fight goes.
– Stúdentakjallarinn at 20:00, free admission

Melrakkar: Kill ‘Em All Tribute Concert
Newly formed tribute band Melrakkar (“Arctic Foxes”) celebrates Metallica’s 1983 album ‘Kill ‘Em All’ by playing it live in its entirety. The album is considered by many to be one of the more significant contributions to the metal genre. Melrakkar is composed of five rock and metal legends from HAM, Mínus, Skálmöld and Sólstafir, so you can expect a top-notch performance.
– Gamli Gaukurinn at 22:00, 2,500 ISK admission

Sunday

Black Sunday: Near Dark
If you like twisted vampire films, you need to check out Kathryn Bigelow’s ‘Near Dark’ that the folk at Black Sunday are screening at Bíó Paradís. The story revolves around Caleb Colton, a farm boy, who reluctantly joins a travelling troupe of evil vampires on a wild ride of an adventure. It features an all-star cast including Adrian Pasdar, Bill Paxton and Jenette Goldstein.
– Bíó Paradís at 20:00, 1,400 ISK admission

This is only a fragment of the Grapevine’s listings. For the complete schedule, head over to ourlistings site. If you have events that you want listed, please email them to us atlistings@grapevine.is.