On The Road: Mad Max Death Sculpture
For first-time visitors to Iceland, a waterfall, glacier and black-beach nature safari is kind of a must. As you make your way out of town on Route 1 heading south, […]
Space Exploration: An Interview With The Ekkisens Gallery
Ekkisens is a small art gallery hidden away in the basement of a normal-looking downtown house on Bergstaðastræti. After crossing the lawn, a discreet doorway leads to a small se
DJ Of The Issue: Bervit
For each issue, we at Grapevine spend a lot of time gathering and filtering all of the best gigs and DJ sets you can see during the weeks ahead for […]
Gimme Some Sykur: Electro-Pop Darlings Hit Gamla Bíó Tonight
Icelandic electro-pop quintet Sykur are a thrilling live experience. From a foundation of throbbing bass, sparkling synth octaves and diamond-cut pop melodies, they whip up a celeb
Mutual Core: Elín Hansdóttir Disrupts Ásmundarsafn
“Come with me. To the beginning, to the chaos, where everything is, but also nothing,” proclaims sculptor Elín Hansdóttir, faux-dramatically, her voice bouncing around the Á
Monster Of The Month: Ljósálfur, The Light-Elf
“Elves are the noblest and most distinguished of all earthly creatures. Their similarity to us humans is such that when one hears of light-elves—that most gentle breed of e
Introducing: KRELD
As electro-quartet Sykur slowly marshall their forces for their long-awaited new album, one of the band’s mainstays, Kristján Eldjárn, has been quietly working on solo mate
Last Chance For Aurora Borealis?
As the days get longer and the nights get lighter, the chances of seeing the aurora borealis over Iceland recede for the summer. But this weekend, the aurora forecast at […]
PHOTOS: Early Summer Sun At Sólheimajökull
For visitors to Iceland, the majestic peaks of the southern glaciers have a magnetic pull. Eyjafjallajökull comes into view somewhere between Selfoss and Hella on the southern roa
PHOTOS: A Day Out In Akureyri
On our way up to Grímsey island recently, we had a four hour layover, so we jumped in a hire car and had a drive around in Akureyri, Iceland’s “second […]
Airwaves Announce Warpaint, Liima, The Sonics, Delores Haze & More
Airwaves have added some new names to the 2016 festival lineup. As well as the already-announced PJ Harvey, Julia Holter, múm and Kronos Quartet, they’ve added seminal US ga
Do Winter & Summer “Freeze Together?” Weather Myth EXPOSED
Each year in Iceland, the first Thursday after the 18th April each year is the official beginning of the summer, marked by a national holiday. That’s today! Happy summer. Acc
A Feast For All The Senses In Stykkishólmur
“Are you kidding?” laughs the grizzled old bus driver. “I’ll never get to Ártun by 8:51. Maybe if this was a Ferrari.” He checks a timetable. “You should take Strætó
Gavin Evans On Photographing Björk, Iggy Pop & David Bowie
In 1995, photographer Gavin Evans was commissioned by Time Out magazine in London to shoot David Bowie, during the recording of ‘Outside’. The results were a series of distinct
Coming Together, Breaking Apart: Final Reykjavík Tectonics Begins
The sparky, bristly, diminutive Ilan Volkov must be, by now, very familiar to anyone interested in classical music and contemporary composition in Reykjavík. He began as chief con
Monster Of The Month: Útburður
When mothers expose their newborn children, leaving them where they will not be found, they turn into a ghost known as útburður. When they are seen, their appearance resembles th
The Naughty Step: Politicians & Celebs Implicated In Leak
While (now former) Prime Minister Sigmundur Davið Gunnlaugsson has been the focus of the Panama Papers furore, he’s joined on the naughty step by a motley crew of politicians an
We Asked The Protestors: What Do You Want To Happen?
We went down to a rainy protest outside of Alþingi tonight (Wednesday 6th of April 2016) and asked the protestors one question: “What do you want to happen?” Sirra “
Photos: Peaceful Protest Sees 23k Participants And 3 Arrests
The first protest that took place outside Althingi after the Panama Papers revelations was one of the biggest in Iceland’s history. Counting attendance at such a sprawling event
Inside Cooper & Gorfer’s Mesmerising Weather Diaries
Very occasionally, arriving in a new place can feel like stepping into another world. It might be a spot within nature like Dyrholæy beach, where the violent waves lift thousands
Samaris Drop First Video From Black Lights LP
Icelandic electronica trio Samaris have dropped the first video from their forthcoming second album, ‘Black Lights,’ which is slated for release on June 10th via One Li