Reykjavík Grapevine - 02.06.2017, Side 22

LIFE In years past, one of the most
popular attractions of Mariners’ Day
was the pillow fight on the plank, in
which men would duel, with pillows,
on a plank mounted from a pier over
the waters of the Reykjavík harbour.
Despite the obvious appeal—two
men enter, one man leaves, the other
splashing in the water like the humili-
ated child he is—the tradition slowly
lost traction, and hasn’t been on the
schedule of the holiday festivities in
Reykjavík for almost two decades, al-
though they’ve maintained the tradi-
tion in Grindavík.
B.a.h.n.s., or “Bið
að heilsa niðrí slipp”
(loosely translated
“Send My Regards
to the Dockyard”),
is a fashion label
started by Helga
Lilja, also known as
Helicopter, and her
fiancé Stephan Ste-
phensen, known to
most as the former co-leader of Ice-
landic techno-pop band GusGus. The
couple behind this maritime-themed
clothing outfit (or outfits-outfit if you
want to get all punny) have long been
fascinated with this decades-old tra-
dition, and this year they have decided
to bring it back.
For the first iteration of the reboot-
ed contest, taking place by Vesturbugt
at 15:00 on June 11, six contestants have
been chosen for their strength, beauty
and relative ce-
lebrity status.
The contestants
chosen are all
notable. Legend-
ary Icelandic film
and theatee actor
Ingvar E. Sigurðs-
son, known for his
role in ‘Everest’
and every other
Icelandic movie of the last twenty
years, will step onto the plank to face
Stephan Stephensen, Iceland’s answer
to the techno Viking, and current Glu-
teus Maximus frontman.
Actor and professor Stefán Jónsson,
father to 101 boy Joey Christ and Retro
Stefson percussionist and actor Haral-
dur Ari, will duel Böðvar Guðjónsson,
Kex hostel impresario and man about
town.
Finally, travel mogul Jóhann Pétur
Guðjónsson will fight to the death (or
at least serious wetness) with moun-
tain guide and photographer Gabríel
Patay.
While this year’s contest is closed to
entry, signups will open for next year’s
contest directly after the “mascu-
line” awards ceremony (whatever that
means), which will take place in newly
reopened local fashion store Kíosk at
18:00 on the day of the contest. Also on
offer will be free booze and discounts
on the nice B.a.h.n.s. sweaters.
The contest announcer is contro-
versial Reykjavík stand-up comedi-
enne Saga Garðarsdóttir. The organiz-
ers promise the event will herald the
end of the era of lethargic good-for-
nothings and apathetic schlemiels.
22 The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 09 — 2017
• Sea angling
• Puffin watching
• Whale watching tour
• Northern lights bus-tour
www.happytours.is
Tel: +(354) 8 533 111
We cook the
catch onboard!
Small groups
Personal service
“Amazing tour!!!! So personal and friendly.
Fishing was excellent and the family were
beautiful. Absolutely recommend Happy
Tours. Thank you for the great experience”
Pillow Fight,
The Test Of.
Manhood
The ultimate duel over open water
Words:
Sveinbjörn
Pálsson
Photos:
Stephen
Stephensen,
Tímarit.is
“The organizers
promise the event
will herald the end of
the era of lethargic
good-for-nothings and
apathetic schlemiels”
Ingvar E. Sigurðsson Jóhann Pétur Guðjónsson The brave men of years past
From Minimal To
Maximal
The chamber music elite reveals itself in the midnight sun
Words: Johanna Eriksson Photos: Jóhanna Ólafsdóttir, Karólína Thorarensen
MUSIC “This is my little experimen-
tal playground,” the brilliant pianist
Víkingur Òlafsson says when we call
him up for a chat about the award-
winning music festival Reykjavík
Midsummer Music, taking place June
22-25. Víkingur is the founder of the
chamber music celebration, and his
passion for it is strikingly con-
tagious, even over the phone.
Asked about his aim for the
festival, he says that he doesn't
really want people to know
what to expect—except some-
thing they won't forget easily.
Freedom theme
“I’m creating programs that
I think by normal standards in classi-
cal music would be considered quite
adventurous,” he says. “The great
thing with contemporary music, or
any music, is that right now we're liv-
ing in a really good time for it. People
are much more open, adventurous
and personal in the way they're
listening to music. Nobody is re-
ally thinking so much on what
everything is called, or what kind of
labels or category it is.”
That we are indeed much more free
when it comes to accessing music now-
adays and forming a broad perception
about it, is a fact. Freedom also hap-
pens to be the theme of the festival,
and Víkingur explains that he wants
to bring more openness to it. Telling a
story of each concert piece himself, as
he plans to do, will be a new approach,
one rarely seen before.
Exclusive lineup
This year’s lineup is the strongest in
the five years that Reykjavík Midsum-
mer Music has been up and running.
Víkingur hopes the mixture of inter-
national and Icelandic performers will
not only surprise the audience—but
also each other.
“It’s quite simple,” he says. “I just
want to bring some of the best mu-
sicians in the world to Reykjavík to
play chamber music and all sort of
music in Harpa, by the most beau-
tiful time of the year.”