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Unto The Breach: Encountering The Humpback Whale In Akureyri
We knew that it was getting serious when they brought out the waterproof boiler suits. It was 8:50 PM, and we were standing at the Elding pier in Akureyri, the largest town in Northern Iceland, preparing to join an express whale watching…
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Finding Earth On The Moon: A New Documentary Examines The Human Side Of One Of Mankind’s Greatest Endeavours
In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the moon landings, a new documentary entitled ‘Cosmic Birth,’ produced by Rafnar Orri Gunnarsson and Örlygur (Örly) Hnefill Örlygsson, considers the spiritual, human side of this extraordinary achievement, as well as the role Iceland played…
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Food of Iceland: Icelandic Glacial Air
What stage of capitalism even is this? Available in a disturbing number of shops across Reykjavik, Icelandic air is, well, pretty much what it sounds like. You can buy it in a can, but if you want the full experience, you can…
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Well, You Asked… The Iceland Advice Column: UFO Yurt Edition
We get a lot of questions from our dear readers, often delivered in the form of polite emails, but even more often, aggravated tweets or Facebook comments tirades. However, we’re always here to help, ever bright-eyed and snarky, with plenty of Iceland…
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All That Glitters: A Road Trip Around The Diamond Circle
You don’t need to spend long on the Diamond Circle—northern Iceland’s greatest sightseeing route—to realise that it’s a different world to the neatly kempt and touristed Golden Circle. Deep in the rugged countryside of the north, everything is rougher, stranger and often…
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Ask a Geologist: With Its Several Hotspots, Could Reykjavík Erupt?
We asked geologist Ed Marshall, a postdoc in Mantle Geochemistry and Igneous Petrology at the University of Iceland: do Reykjavík’s several geothermal hot spots indicate that the city could turn into the scene of a Hollywood disaster movie. To put it simply:…
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Prison and Paradise: Eminent UK Poets Share Letters With Iceland
Reykjavík’s literary world celebrated solstice with a duet of events featuring heavyweight UK poets Lavinia Greenlaw, Paul Muldoon and poet laureate Simon Armitage. As one of Ireland’s foremost poets, Muldoon has published over thirty collections, including works that have won him a…
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Grapevine Playlist: Auður, Birgir, Skaði, Singapore Sling & More
What’s new in Icelandic Music you ask? Many, many things. Singapore Sling – Suicide Twist Take some classic 80s goth vocals, add a drum machine and some grunge guitars and wham, bam, a wild Singapore Sling appears. ‘Suicide Twist,’ the first single…
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Come Into The Chamber: Reykholt’s Civilised Summer Music Festival
Since its founding in 1997, the Reykholt Chamber Music Festival has become one of Iceland’s most treasured classical music events, and, in 2018, its reputation was cemented with a nod from the Icelandic Music Awards. This year, the festival runs from July…
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Grapevine Playlist: K.ola, Múm Vs. Kronos Quartet, ADHD, Hjaltalín, Hermigervill
Live seven lightning bolts striking your prefrontal cortex, here are the latest electrifying phenomena to appear from within the Icelandic music scene. Krassasig – Brjóta Heilann One half of art-pop duo Munster, Krassasig’s debut single ‘Brjóta Heilann’ is a bright, breezy, and…
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Food Of Iceland: Kleinur
News broke recently that Krispy Kreme is shutting down its Icelandic operations. How will we survive? Well, perhaps by sampling any one of the bazillions of Icelandic pastries. And there’s no better place to start than with Kleinur. There’s much to appreciate…
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Weather: It’s Gonna Get… Icelandic
Bid farewell to the sun for a few days as the weather will revert to the classic, rainy Icelandic weather we know and love. The rain won’t set in in earnest till Sunday but expect an overcast Friday, with cloud cover across…
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Well, You Asked: Your Iceland Advice Questions Answered
Got a problem that needs solving, a burning issue that needs addressing, a matter that needs settling, or a thirst for awesome life advice? We at the Grapevine are here to help. It’s time for another edition of Well, You Asked. Is…
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The Taste of Victory: Diving Into The Winners Of Iceland’s Músiktilraunir
In the world of Icelandic music, Músiktilraunir, Iceland’s ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition, is a veritable kingmaker. Running for over 30 years, it’s helped kickstart bands like Mammút, Vök, and Of Monsters and Men. This year, the winner was metal band Blóðmör…
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Creating Their Own Space: Soulflow Brings Women And Queer Comedy Nights To Gaukurinn
At Soulflow Comedy, a new show happening every Monday night at Gaukurinn, everyone is included. The weekly event, which will showcase exclusively women and queer performers, is causing a shockwave in the Reykajvík comedy scene. “Comedy can feel really intimidating,” says Kimi…
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The Week In Weather: Hang On Till The Weekend
It’s going to be a rainy and overcast rest of the week—all the more reason to enjoy a sunny weekend. If you’ve got any indoor activities planned, Thursday would be a good time to do them, as there’ll be intermittent rain across…
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Iceland Football Supporter To Visit Iceland For First Time After Crowdfund
Mohammad Sayed Majumder, a passionate supporter of the Icelandic football team, will visit Iceland from Bangladesh after a diligent fundraising effort by Tólfan, an Icelandic football fan club. Though the fans of Iceland’s football team are somewhat small in number, they make…
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Contemporary Classics: Reykjavík Midsummer Music Reviewed
You could be forgiven for thinking that a piece entitled ‘Homage to Robert Schumann’ might sound like music by Schumann. I’m guessing that most of the audience who attended the Reykjavík Midsummer Music Festival on June 21st might have thought the same.…
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Grapevine Playlist: ROKKY, Hildur & Teitur, Sigur Rós, Gyðjan Uxi & More
Like six hidden people pirouetting out of a weird misty summer moss-scape, here are the latest mythical emergences from the Icelandic music scene in a brand new edition of Grapevine playlist. ROKKY – deux A bit like a less goth and silly…
