Author: - The Reykjavik Grapevine

Author: John Rogers

Volcano Island: A Weekend In Vestmannaeyjar

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The tiny propellor plane descends into the clouds, buffeted by the ferocious wind. Along with my twelve or so fellow…

Composer Úlfur Eldjárn Drops New Video, Heads To Helsinki

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Icelandic composer Úlfur Eldjárn, also known for his work with the Apparat Organ Quartet, has revealed a new video from…

Artist of the Year: GKR

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Grapevine’s artist of the year award goes to the musician or performer who somehow helped to define the zeitgeist during…

Band To Watch: aYia

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In UK English, bands are usually referred to in the plural, as “they.” But when it comes to aYia, “it”…

Track By Track: ‘Epicycle’ by Gyða Valtysdóttir

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Gyða Valtysdóttir first rose to prominence as one of the twin singers in the first iteration of múm, but her…

Monster Of The Month: Kráki, The Kraken

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A fishing boat was sailing north of Iceland when it suddenly heeled, so that it was almost flooded, due to…

2016 In Travel: Small Towns, Ice Caves, Volcanoes, Islands

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To look back on Grapevine’s year in travel, we decided to first go the empirical populism route, and drew up…

North By Northeast: A Road Trip To Iceland’s Arctic Henge

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Despite its well earned reputation, Icelandic winter isn’t all bad. On a clear day, the short days—four or five hours,…

Icelandic Literature In 2016: The Complete Grapevine Guide

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This article was printed as the introduction to our December 2016 edition: The Literature Issue. You can use the links…

Exclusive: Pirate Party MP Meets Edward Snowden In Moscow

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Birgitta Jónsdóttir has been back on Icelandic soil for less than twelve hours when we meet. During the previous three…

GANGLY Have A Blow Out

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Icelandic supergroup GANGLY today unveiled their third song, entitled “Blow Out”. The group consists of Sindri from Sin Fang, Úlfur…

Second Sight: A Conversation With Sjón

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“I write as little as possible,” says Sjón, with a barely perceptible smile and a twinkle in his eye. “In…

Highlands Area Of Hveravellir To Be Developed For Tourism

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The highlands area of Hveravellir is set to receive a 600m ISK facelift. The remote and quite wild site is…

Up Close: The Textures & Colours Of Iceland

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Grapevine contributor and filmmaker Timothée Lambrecq went up to north Iceland earlier this year to explore and document the area…

Made With Love: Pallett Might Just Be Iceland’s Best Café

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Set back from the harbour road in Hafnarfjörður—the first suburb that people pass through on the way into Reykjavík—is an…

Far East: A Visit To Neskaupstaður

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Seen from Iceland’s Ring Road, the Eastfjords seem like a sparsely occupied stretch of undulating fjords and mountainous wilderness, punctuated…

JFDR Unveils KEXP Session, Announces Reykjavík Shows

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The cover star of Reykjavík Grapevine’s current print issue, Jófríður Ákadottir — — read the full “Year of Jófríður” story…

Monster Of The Month: Dagtröll – Day Troll

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Day trolls are trolls who walk abroad during bright days. They are fierce, but steadfast and loyal to their friends….

Grapevine’s Best Of 2016: Tips For Seeing The Northern Lights

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Reykjavík is a relatively small city, but even so, sometimes you need a bit of local advice to find what…

An Autumn World: Exploring The Forests Of Lagarfljót

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We take off from Reykjavík in the midst of a dour, spitting dawn. As the small propellor plane races down…

Snow Comes To North And East Iceland

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Grapevine was out exploring the north eastern tip of Iceland yesterday when a snow storm hit. Starting out from Vöpnafjörður,…

Sjón To The Future: Do You Read Me?

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In 2014, Scottish artist Katie Paterson launched a 100-year art project called The Future Library. One writer a year, starting…

The Year Of Jófríður

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Jófríður Ákadóttir is very tired. She sits slumped on the red leather sofa of a comfortably dim downtown basement café,…

The Forgotten Fjord: Off The Beaten Track In Hvalfjörður

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25km north of Reykjavík lies the secluded, undulating fjord of Hvalfjörður: the “Whale Fjord”. This 40km coastal route was once…

PHOTOS: JFDR, Julia Holter, Aron Can, Kött Grá Pje, Baloji At Airwaves ’16

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Photographer Hörður Sveinsson was roaming around Airwaves last night, and caught some great scenes from around the festival. He started…