Rock And Roll Fantasy Camp – Hressó pt. 2
Sure, I've seen this band play a hundred times before in countless dive bars and various shitholes across the United States, but this is the spirit of Rock and Roll and Dimma are l
An Acceptable Night Out In The Cold – Hressó Pt. 1
Sitting down in a booth at Hressó, like so many times before, I raised an eyebrow as a female led group joyfully played through pop songs on stage, smiling from […]
A Night Filled With Promise – Gamli Gaukurinn pt. 1
Gamli gaukurinn is a bar with a small stage in one corner. It is in no way perfect, but with the addition of Harpa Concert Hall to the Iceland Airwaves […]
Colour Me Impressed – Iðnó Part Two
Belgian outfit Girls In Hawaii ran a very tight ship in the packed Iðnó, regularly engaging with the crowd and getting them to swoon from side to side. During their performance,
The Inexhaustible Indie Venue – Iðnó pt.1
The former half of Iðnó’s Friday line-up was interesting. The night started promptly at eight with a set from Jóhann Kristinsson. His music is in many ways conventional i
An Amazing Evening
You know how dogs sometimes spend so long with their owners that they start to resemble one another? John Grant and Iceland have a similar relationship going on. If there’s ever
Iceland’s Dance Music Scene Is Awesome: Amsterdam Pt. 2
Good Moon Deer have a tough slot. They’re charged with enlivening the purgatorial atmosphere of Amsterdam, with the city alive and jumping just outside of its grubby windows.
Harlem Hypnosis – Harlem Pt. 2
It's getting really late. It's not late by Reykjavík standards, but it is considering how early everything started this evening. Half the room looks lobotomized, and I'm not sure
Beats, Unnecessary Rhymes And Nightlife – Harlem Part 1
Something about him and his singing style reminded me of Bon Iver - a Bon Raver, if you will. Though his music was created entirely with electronics, M-Band's sound was warm and on
‘What’s Wrong With Your Eyes?’ And Other Delights Heard At Gamla Bíó
At Gamla Bíó’s seated concert hall, we show our enthusiasm for a band by gently wobbling in our chairs. Tilbury’s opening performance, however, had the crowd rollicking on th
Transient Architecture & Songs From The Fringe
So let this be your soundtrack to the after-party. As I began this review I was not entirely sure how to put it all together and to be honest, I am not sure that I entirely do now
Night At The Museum
I don't believe you can underestimate the importance of fun in a live show. It's probably a cliché but if performers look like they're having fun, there's no doubt it rubs off on
Genre Assassination And Schizophrenia: Amsterdam Pt. 1
The first act to show up on stage at Amsterdam on Friday night was Hip-Hop/Reggae producer Nolem. Nolem has been around for years and his production has provided the backbone [&hel
“It’s a Party, You Know?” A Night At Þjóðleikhúskjallarinn
If you play your cards right, on a Friday night during Iceland Airwaves, there are a myriad of fun situations you could find yourself in. I happened to find myself […]
Getting Fucked Up Is A Beautiful Experience
Apparently Björk went to see Omar Souleyman instead. She made the wrong choice.
múm And The Ghost In The Machine
The drums play a key role in múm: they can be organic and primordial, they can resemble the clanking, steam-driven machinery of the Industrial Age, and they can recall the Digital
Icelandic Hiphop Exists!
Cell 7 is adept at the braggadocio expected of rappers these days, but also demonstrates lyrical depth: "I represent to the fullest, I'm a feminist." As far as the Icelandic acts o
Northern Music, Northern Lights
It's only my second day at Airwaves and already I have some solid advice. Icelanders: do not attempt to replicate the music of the African diaspora, especially reggae and hip-hop.
Haunted Halloween and the True Spirit of the North
The atmosphere, the intimacy and the haunting elements of Anna’s voice invoked The North, in capital letters, icy landscapes, Nordic crime drama, isolation, winter depression and
Ólafur Arnalds Draws Tears At Harpa Eldborg
The house lights are on in the modern, volcanic red heart of Iceland. Smoke, as though suspended from ethereal fly lines, dissipates over the audience more slowly than the aurora t
Muck Me, I’m Glad We Metz
The lovely Torontonians made sure to shred, rip, tear and murder everything they could in the most efficient manner imaginable with the time allotted to them. And like true Canadia