Reykjavík Grapevine - 17.07.2015, Qupperneq 52

Bike Cave
Great prices
Bike Cave
Einarsnes 36 | 101 | Reykjavík stefan@bikecave.is
www.bikecave.is
Restaurant, Bar, wifi,
Scooter rental, Coffee,
Laundromat, self service pitstop
770-3113 & 666-6136
Open 8-23
OUTSIDE
FESTIVAL
8
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 10 — 2015
Enjoy our wide variety of feature cocktails
inspired by the spectacular view from SKÝ.
skylounge.is
Top floor CenterHotel Arnarhvoll - Ingólfsstræti 1 / 595 8545
Ein með öllu festival
When: July 30 – August 2
Where: Akureyri
Admission: Free!
Like Bæjarins Beztu hotdogs and the
Tao, this festival is “one with every-
thing.” Expect lots of family-oriented
fun, circus performances, open-air
concerts and nostalgia. Things are ru-
moured to get a bit more adult-friendly
as the nights wear on.
Innipúkinn
When: July 31 – August 2
Where: Húrra and Gaukurinn,
Reykjavík
Admission: 6,990 ISK
No weekend would be complete with-
out the shitfaced hordes of downtown
Reykjavík. Innipúkinn brings the Mer-
chants’ Weekend festival fun to 101,
with some of Iceland’s biggest and hip-
pest acts set to rock the stages at Húrra
and Gaukurinn—including Retro Stef-
son, Gísli Pálmi, sóley, Sin Fang, and
Muck. Get to the liquor store early—the
queue’s gonna be huge.
Neistaflug
When: July 30 – August 3
Where: Neskaupstaður, Eastfjords
Admission: 1,000 ISK
Not to be confused with the metal fes-
tival Eistnaflug (“Flying Testes”), this
romantic festival in the Eastfjords is
aimed at family fun!
Mýrarbolti
(Swamp football)
When: July 31 – August 2
Where: Ísafjörður, Westfjords
Admission: Free to spectate, 10,000
ISK to participate
This weekend sees the European
Swamp Football Championship take
place in Ísafjörður. Players are advised
to tape their shoes to their feet, and the
game includes rules such as the Pink
Card (having to kiss other players’ boo-
boos better if you injure them). Signing
off at night will be musicians Blaz Roca
and Retro Stefson, among others.
Þjóðhátíð í Eyjum
When: July 31 – August 2
Where: Westman Islands
Admission: 22,900 ISK
This “family” festival has been running
since 1872 on the Westman Islands.
You’ll need to get a boat there or be a
good swimmer, but it pays off. It’s de-
veloped a reputation for being a bit of a
wild party weekend, so keep your beer
helmet on.
Norðanpaunk 2015
When: July 31 – August 2
Where: Laugarbakki
Admission: 4,000 ISK
Northern punk! This extreme music
DIY not-for-profit fest is going to be
naaasty. In a punk way. So it’s okay.
Highlights include Kuml, Krupskaya,
Misþyrming, Kælan Mikla, Pink Street
Boys, and others.
Kotmót 2015
When: July 30 – August 3
Where: Kirkjulækjarkoti, Fljótshlíð
Admission: Free!
This is perhaps the most alternative
festival on offer during Merchants’
Weekend. A five day extravaganza, its
headliners include Stefan Christiansen,
a Norwegian preacher famous for his
lively sermons, as well as prayer circles,
campfires, carnivals, a concert party,
and general God-lovin’. The sinners at-
tending the other festivals could learn a
lot at Kotmót.
The Merchants’
Weekend Lowdown
July 30 - August 2 All over the countryMerchants’ Weekend
In Iceland, every first weekend in August is a bank holiday known as Merchants’ Weekend.
With many Icelanders getting three or four days off work, things get pretty messy in the
drinks department. However, with music and family-oriented festivals being held all across
the country, there’s still something enjoyable for all ages and tastes. Here’s a rundown of
some of the highlights for the weekend. It’s all the fun of the fair!
Photo Hörður Sveinsson
Words Ciaran Daly