It’s Almost Over!
For over a year and a half now, Havarí has been offering a massive boost to Reykjavík’s often-championed, yet seldom-supported music scene, acting as a record store and small v
Something Borrowed, Something Blue
On January 18, one of Iceland’s more dutiful musicians’ unions, the Icelandic Society of Authors and Composers, will host the third in their ‘Birdcage’ concert series. The
Not Going Anywhere In Particular
In 2001 Icelandic hip hop exploded with the genre’s first (and last?) super selling masterpiece, the XXX Rottweiler Hundar’s self-titled debut. Simple yet cool beats and im
Attack Schmattack!
What do Páll Óskar, KK & Ellen, Reykjavík!, múm and Steini from Hjálmar all have in common? Sure, they may all be well-known local musicians, but they have very different
OMG It’s JÓNSI!
I’m not sure if you heard, but Jónsi played a little show over at Laugardalshöll on 29 December. Don’t feel bad if the low-key event passed you by, it’s not […]
Prófessorinn og Memfismafían: Diskóeyjan
A sort of children’s story with songs, Diskóeyjan tells the tale of two kids, Daníel and Rut, who are sent to Diskóeyjan (“disco island”) to learn how to be cool. [&hellip
A Long Time Listening
“Clever” title notwithstanding, A Long Time Listening is not quite diverse enough to make up for its lengthy running time (it’s a fucking hour long), but its careful sonic in
Hjaltalín
Hjaltalín are locally renowned for their live performances, and their new live album, ‘Alpanon’—a live album that documents their concert with the Icelandic Symphony Orchest
John Taverner’s Iepo Oneipo
John Tavener’s work represents a duplicate challenge for any performer: it is often highly unorthodox in its rhythm and meter, as well as deeply dependent on an appropriate and r
Retro Stefson
Retro Stefson know how to have a good time and their latest album, Kimbawe, is no exception. The band is well recognised in the Reykjavík music scene for rocking collective [&hell
Siggi G. and Memfismafían
Here’s one thing my sarcastic inner-monologue mentioned the other day: “You know what you REALLY need right now? Some easy listening music to help you survive the Christmas gra
Ensími
There is a beautiful simplicity to roughly half of this album that is difficult to shake, a core of excellent tracks that make the disappointing openers and closers all the [&helli
Not Your Conventional Rock Star…
If there’s one word that certainly doesn’t describe Bobby Conn, it’s ordinary. A collaborator with the likes of Jim O’Rourke and The Cribs, the Chicago musician is known fo
Baggalútur
As a general rule, Christmas albums are a jingly, tinkly waste of money and should be avoided if not outright banned. The latest output from comedy group Baggalútur, ‘Næstu Jó
Five Super-Weird Icelandic Records!
Icelandic musicians have produced their share of weird records. Some records aim to be weird, but some are weird by accident, the artist involved even being fully serious about the
Friðrik Dór
Okay, I know how this is gonna sound, but I’m sorry, Friðrik Dór just isn’t black enough to pull this shit off. I’m sorry, there’s simply no other word for […]
Hitt Husið / Gallery Tukt
Hitt Húsið was founded in 1991 by ÍTR, the Sports Council of Reykjavík City, with the aim of creating an information and cultural centre for young people, aged 16-25 years [&he
The Icelandic Printmakers Association
Established in 1969, Íslensk Grafík or The Icelandic Printmakers Association runs its own gallery and studio in the centre of Reykjavík. The gallery is open Thursday-Sunday, 14:
S.H. Draumur
S.H. Draumur were a large part of the Icelandic underground music scene of the ‘80s, but their legacy was eventually lost to the wastes of rock history for whatever reason. [&hel
Tjarnarbíó
Located in the heart of Reykjavik, Tjarnarbíó was built in 1913 and was operated as Íshús until 1942 when it was converted into a cinema. The building has recently been [&helli
Orphic Oxtra
The debut album by Balkan-style band Orphic Oxtra is a twisting, turning, flying all over the place kind of experience. The music swirls and swells down seemingly farcical paths an