Grapevine Events: Reykjavík Jazz, SAMPL, Electronic Workshop

This morning, we heard an announcer say on the radio, “Today is Friday. Congratulations on that.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

As always, there’s a full house of exciting and interesting events happening around this city. There’s an exhibition opening at 18:00 at Núllið Gallery (a former public WC, opposite the other former public WC that is now the Punk Museum), entitled Worms & Giants.

Jack Armitage hosts a listening party for their new album Strengjavera at Mengi tonight at 20:00. Strengjavera (“string being”) is an album where Jack used a modified grand piano and mould-informed algorithms to create sounds, which you can read all about in Jack’s interview with the Grapevine.

Sunday will be the 9th annual Vegan Festival, held in association with the town of Hafnarfjörður. It will begin at 13:00 in Thorsplan, and you can expect to find plant-based health products, vegan Hungarian and Colombian food, ice cream, fresh produce, and more!

Got an event? Add it to the calendar at events.grapevine.is, or check out what’s already happening around town.

Reykjavík Jazz Fest 2025

August 26 to 31 — Multiple venues — Festival pass for 29.990 ISK, day passes available

Artists from Australia, the United States, Europe, and Iceland take a variety of stages during this six-day celebration of jazz. Sigmar Matthiasson Band (IS) will perform at Þingvellir, Grammy-winning Cécile McLorin Salvant serenades Harpa’s Eldborg on the final night, and Iceland’s music secondary school hosts a series of workshops and talks for budding jazz performers. If you’re a jazz aficionado in Iceland, congratulations on your biggest week of the year. ISH

SAMPL #4

August 29 — 20:00 — Iðnó — Free

The SAMPL concert series doles out another stellar lineup tonight at Iðnó! Taking the stage are iconic duo CYBER (Grapevine Music Award’s 2025 Artist Of The Year!), the rebellious and fun alternative-rockers of Flesh Machine, electronic indie-boy Hipsumhaps, and Spacestation’s frontman’s solo project Straff. Doors are at 20:00 and entrance, as always, is free. ISH

Laufkvist, Emma, and Moogie & the Boogiemen

August 29 — 20:00 — Smekkleysa — 2000 or pay what you can

If you’re looking for something a bit more cosy, walk no further than Smekkleysa. Tonight, blues-folk band Laufkvist, siblings duo Moogie & The Boogieman, and avant-folk group Emma will take the stage. The poster portrays a scene in a forest, and I’m sure that if you close your eyes at Smekkleysa tonight, it’ll feel like you’re having a serene moment deep in the woods. ISH

Total Babes: Turboschnalzlautsprecherrennen

August 31 — 13:00 — Hafnarborg — Free

Canadian artist Darsha Hewitt presents a workshop/performance/sonic happening in tandem with the current Hafnarborg exhibition Total Babes (Algjörar Skvísur). “Turboschnalzlautsprecherrennen,” or “Turbo Crackle Loudspeaker Race,” is Darsha’s attempt to demystify the world of electronics; this is for total beginners to learn about electronics from the very basics. Materials will be provided and the event will be in both English and Icelandic. ISH