Author: Valgerður Þóroddsdóttir
All In The Family
It doesn’t get much more romantic than in the world of folk, where music is looked upon as a phenomenon…
Tequila and Chamomile
James Blake was indulgent, lush gospel. The crowd transfixed by his full-bodied, all-consuming bassline that vibrated bones and filled every…
Friday Night Lights
Inside, an anxious shuffle. The vast expanse of Harpa’s interior. Walls the colour of scorched-rock, bright lights reflecting in mirrors…
The Decisive Moment
Ari Sigvaldason is a doting admirer of ugly duckling ReykjavíkAri Sigvaldason has the relaxed, unhurried sense about him of someone…
‘Inside The Volcano’ Tour: Belly Of The Beast
Einar Stefánsson is the kind of man who whistles while descending into the mouth of a volcano. I’m standing in…
Iceland Cubed
The question of how best to package Iceland for international consumption has long been a contentious issue, one that has…
Bastard Love
Vesturport performs ‘Bastard—A Family Saga’ at Reykjavík City Theatre on June 2.We are not entirely lost to ourselves. Our gaping…
The Activist
Andrea Ólafsdóttir was the last to announce her candidacy for president, on May 1, International Workers’ Day this year. Born…
Tickle Against the Machine
On an international scale, Erna Ómarsdóttir is undoubtedly Iceland’s best-known contemporary dancer. Tickling Death Machine is her most recent project,…
The Boys Are Back In Town
‘Valtari’—Sigur Rós’ much-anticipated sixth-release—is risky. Not that the band hasn’t, in its 18-years-active, established itself as a creative juggernaut of…
Sigur Rós Denies Split Rumours, Confirms Others
In an exclusive interview with the Grapevine, Georg Hólm (Goggi) and Jón Þór Birgisson (Jónsi) deny persistent rumors that Kjartan…
An Elegant Twist
Veteran designer Steinunn on the past and present of Icelandic fashionSteinunn Sigurðardóttir is a woman who takes care in the…
Getting Rid Of ‘The Man Behind The Curtain’
by Valgerður Þóroddsdóttir and Rex Beckett
Before we begin, let’s just go ahead and acknowledge the illustrious, dazzling elephant in the room: Björk. She’s always there….
Reykjavík Christmas City
If there’s one cause to which the perpetual dusk of Icelandic winter is sympathetic, it’s that of Christmas decorations. Indeed,…
Suffer For Fashion, Or Whatever
It was 1977, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The voice, the vision, the inimitable Nina Simone erupts the audience…
Lights & Music, Indeed
Outside the concert venue, face flushed pink to match his undersized varsity jacket, Berndsen looked exultant. Honestly, it was probably…
Young Hearts
by Valgerður Þóroddsdóttir and Melkorka Licea
LungA turns elevenThis July 10 to 17 marked the 11-year anniversary of the LungA young artists’ festival in the far-eastern…
Five Places You Should See / Trips You Should Take
Esja—That big mountain over there Close to the heart of every Reykjaviking—literally as well as metaphorically—is the mountain range Esja,…
Information Without Borders?
The info-wars have begun, and Iceland is begging to be the legislative battleground. In the wake of the international controversy…
Short List Announced for Top Albums of the Year
Kraumur Music Fund announced today the nominees for this year’s Kraum List—the Fund’s annual prize for Icelandic albums of the…
Suffer For Fashion, Or Whatever
It was 1977, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The voice, the vision, the inimitable Nina Simone erupts the audience…
Reykjavík Nine Call for Show of Solidarity
Today marks the two-year anniversary of the alleged ‘attack on Parliament’ by the ‘Reykjavík Nine’ protesters, who in December 2008…
NASA – Sunday
by Bergrún Anna Hallsteinsdóttir and Valgerður Þóroddsdóttir
Photo by Hvalreki The first band to play that night was Orphic Oxtra who helped get me over my intense…
Art Museum – Saturday
by Sindri Eldon and Valgerður Þóroddsdóttir
Photos by Hvalreki and Páll Hilmarsson a)Holy shit, this place looks awesome. It’s about time Iceland had a real pop/rock…
Reykjavík Art Museum- Friday
Photos by Hörður Sveinsson and Morgan Levy. Chateau Marmont got right down to the point. Straightforward electro synth, indisputable as…