Author: Alice Demurtas
Grapevine Music Awards: Artist Of The Year – Jófríður Ákadóttir
Once a year, we at Grapevine honour the best and brightest of the Icelandic music scene by giving out awards…
Grapevine Music Awards: Artist To Watch – EinarIndra
Once a year, we at Grapevine honour the best and brightest of the Icelandic music scene by giving out awards…
A Different Tempo: Amiina’s Fantômas Comes To Norður Og Niður
Nothing says Sigur rós like a winter music festival that also includes lectures, dance performances and movie screenings. But hey,…
The Utopian: Björk On Loss, Moving On, Activism & Seeking Change
I’ve been looking out the window into the snowy sky for less than two minutes when Björk walks into the…
Talks Of Building Luxury Hotel At Lake Thingvallavatn Begin Again
Discussions about building a new luxury hotel in the area of Skálabrekka, adjacent to the Þingvellir National Park, have begun…
The Winter City: Enjoying Reykjavík In The Dark Months
by John Rogers, Alice Demurtas and Hannah Jane Cohen
‘Tis the season to… be jolly, sure, but also to clip snow cleats onto your shoes so you don’t slip…
Dalvík Town Guide: Hiking, Heli-skiing & Bathing In Beer
Tucked away in a picturesque bay on the west side of Eyjafjörður, Dalvík is surprisingly lively for a 1400-strong municipality….
Reykjavík Guide: Quick Food On The Move
Despite the wide range of places to go out for dinner in Reykjavík, finding good spots to eat when you’re…
120-Year Old Theatre Iðnó Gets A Brand New Life
With its egg-white facade and prime location on Reykjavík’s Tjörnin pond, the 120-year-old theatre Iðnó is one of those buildings…
The Grotesque Powers Of Human Nature: Egill Sæbjörnsson’s Trolls
As I sit in the peacock-blue interiors of i8 Gallery, a turquoise espresso cup twinkles before my eyes like a…
Life in Pictures: To Love Is To Hope
It’s not easy to free yourself from the constraints of modern life. Singer-songwriter and troubadour Jélila Bouraoui is trying to…
What’s New & Who’s Who #6: Drag, Techno, Indie, Soft Rock
by John Rogers, Hannah Jane Cohen and Alice Demurtas
SO MUCH NEWNESS. It’s part six of our epic Airwaves 2017 festival debutantes guide. Mighty Bear Iceland’s resurgent drag scene…
Life In Pictures: Katrín Jakobsdóttir
As she prepares for the upcoming elections, the chair of the Leftist-Green party Katrín Jakobsdóttir has barely any time to…
Vinny Wood: Once You Go Analogue You Never Go Back
Besides Icelandic artists and entertainers, it’s almost impossible to find musicians who decide to tour Iceland. It just doesn’t happen….
What’s New & Who’s Who #5: Lo-fi, Rap, Jazz & More
by John Rogers, Hannah Jane Cohen and Alice Demurtas
Oh lord, the fun never ends: part five of our guide to the bands playing Airwaves for the first time…
What’s New & Who’s Who At Airwaves #4: GDRN, Indriði & More
by John Rogers, Hannah Jane Cohen and Alice Demurtas
Our guide to the least dusty artists at Airwaves 2017 continues. Each one is plucked freshly from the rolling fields….
Last Words: The Degeneration Of Humanity
What do you do when you need the extra cash to pay rent that has doubled in the past six…
The Mysterious Chronicles Of Mosfellsbær’s Unruly Cocks
An Icelandic man’s long battle over preventing his chickens from being confiscated by the police has finally come to an…
The Quality of Dreams: Icelandic Director Ása Hjörleifsdóttir On The Icelandic Filmmaking Scene
It’s early Monday morning when I meet Ása Helga Hjörleifsdóttir, the latest director to shake up the Icelandic movie scene….
Benjamin Hardman: Iceland Behind The Shutter
Young, talented photographers are taking the Icelandic tourism industry by storm with a series of individualised workshops that take travellers…
Buy Shit: Hangover Kit, Horse Meat & Ceramics
Because souvenirs don’t have to suck: some Icelandic products to look out for. Skyn Iceland Hangover Kit Taking its inspiration…
Road Trip: A Bike Ride Away From Paradise
It’s the fifth week in a row that my flatmate Tom and I bail on our adventurous hiking plans. Every…
The Solitary Islander & His Trusted Dog
On an island not that far away, in the middle of Þjórsá river, solitary soul Hákon Kjalar Hjördísarson lives his…
Island Life – News From The Countryside
To address the lack of tourist accommodation in the countryside, a new shiny hotel is being built in the proximity…
Iceland Behind The Shutter
Icelanders are slowly getting used to the idea of temporarily sharing their country with massive amounts of tourists. As tourism…