Conservation Volunteers
You might not realise when hiking in Skaftafell or climbing Mt. Esja that the trails you are walking on were all built by The Environment Agency Conservation Volunteers. Every summ
Survival Tips:
This fierce island of ours in the North can be a tough resort to say the least. Over the last few weeks we have witnessed recurrently what seems to be […]
The Sweaty Musical Armpit
This summer marks the advent of two exciting releases from two of the scene’s youngest and most promising rock bands. The sophomore release from Mammút, whose 2006 debut corresp
Deafening Silence
Sigur Rós, despite their success, is a band that is still on it’s way out of Iceland. In a way, they are still local. It wasn’t so long ago that […]
The Ambassador
When I was packing my bags to come to Iceland, one criterion stood out in particular: “Don’t look like an American tourist. Don’t look like an American tourist,” I told m
The Artists Have Come Home to Roost
A 10-year reunion of three artists at Kling & Bang GalleryOn July 4, three visual artists will open an exhibition in Kling&Bang Gallery on Laugarvegur 23. This exhibition i
Cheap Reykjavík!
Cheap coffee This piece has nothing to do with sex, dating or the incredibly hot women of Iceland. Rather, it was inspired by the incredibly cheap lattés at Kaffibarinn (250 [&hel
Equal Opportunities
I grew up in a small village on the east coast of Iceland. In many ways it was an ideal place to be a young kid; the freedom was a […]
Icelandic Skateboard Design
Described by Mark Gonzales as a way to conquer boredom, skateboarding has saved many Icelanders from the blues, which inevitably follow island living. Although some only dabble and
Formulatic but Fun
Since the release of his latest album, Murta St. Calunga, no more than three weeks ago, Benni Hemm Hemm has been popping up in venues around Reykjavík with all the […]
Sugar and Bass Make Singapore Sling Just Palatable
Drone-laden psych rock is a difficult beast to tame – too much noise and feedback and it sounds like an inglorious mess, too precise and energetic, well, it’s something els
Hraun
Hraun have taken a fair bit of stick from various corners of the Icelandic press. The issue most have with the band is that they aren’t trying to be different […]
Sigur Rós
+ Sigur Rós’ new release mostly finds them moving away from their trademark ethereal soundscape of long build-ups, breakdowns and crescendos, towards a more traditional pop-song
Benni Hemm Hemm
Benni Hemm Hemm has reached a large number of fans with his brass-laden acoustic pop on his previous two albums. After a successful collaboration project with Swede Jens Lekman, Be
Grjóthrun
Grjóthrun is best described as authentic Icelandic folk-rock. It has never been a music genre that inspires me with pride in my cultural heritage, but let’s focus on the positiv
Surtsey: New World Heritage Site
Surtsey, the volcanic island off the southern coast of Iceland was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List at World Heritage Committee meeting in Quebec City on July 7th. A tot
Blue Lagloop
The waters, rich in algae, silica and sulfur, possess a degree of medicinal properties, and are effective treatments against skin diseases such as psoriasis, among other things.In
Iceland: Home of the Per Capita Record
Living in an environment as hostile and unpredictable as Iceland can have severe effects on one’s mental stability. When a society goes through environmental hardship, long perio
Tips from the Aussie now calling Iceland “home”
If you have recently moved to Iceland (as I have), or are considering the move, here are some thoughts and suggestions to consider (most of which I am still trying […]
Everyone’s Invited!
Galtarviti is the name of an abandoned lighthouse on the outskirts of the West Fjords. It’s just as remote as it sounds: it can only be reached via a four-hour […]
There’s a Whole Lot of Bumping Going On
For a newcomer, Reykjavik’s small size and even smaller downtown makes feeling like a local all the much easier. Once you start knowing a few people, you will see them […]