Reykjavík Grapevine - 02.06.2017, Page 32

Pretty In
Tents
A guide to summer festivalling in Iceland
Words: John Rogers & Hannah Jane Cohen Photo: Matthew Eisman
Packing for an Icelandic summer
festival is an interesting chal-
lenge—you might well end up try-
ing to decide between flip-flops
and a bottle of sunscreen or wellies
and an extra scarf. But not to be
deterred by the threat of soaking
cloudbursts and violent midsum-
mer windstorms, Iceland’s coun-
tryside is dotted with interesting
music festivals. From the DIY
art explosion of Seyðisfjörður’s
LungA, to the rap and techno on-
slaught of Secret Solstice, to the
cultured and genteel Midsum-
mer Music, there’s something for
everyone in Iceland’s festival cal-
endar. For full ticket and lineup
information, check out the links.
And remember: nobody likes poi.
Breiðholt Festival
When: 11 June
Where: Ystasel 37, Reykjavík 109
Performing: Markéta Irglová, sóley,
Ólöf Arnalds, aYia, RuGI, Marteinn
Sindri
Breiðholt Festival celebrates the
oft-ignored Reykjavík suburb
of Breiðholt. Based around the
Bedroom Com munit y record
label—which focuses on solo
musicians from across the too-
talented-to-function avant garde
board—this free festival might
just convince you that the 109
area code is the place to be. Of-
fering not only music, but a REAL
COLLECTIVE dance workshop, an
art centre for kids and families,
sound installations, a flea mar-
ket, and food stalls, the Breiðholt
festival is fun for every age and
mu sica l or ient at ion. Except
maybe American country fans.
More Info: breidholtfestival.com
Secret Solstice
When: 15-18 June
Where: Klambratun, Reykjavík
Performing: Foo Fighters, The
Prodigy, Rick Ross, Big Sean
Secret Solstice is the closest thing
to Coachella you’ll find in Iceland.
Celebrating the 24-hour sun with
booze, sun, and music, the festi-
val mixes international headlin-
ers with the best of the best in
Icelandic pop, rap, and techno.
Not into the whole drunken-
soirée-in-the-park scene? They
also offer other out-of-this-world
events like a concert inside a
glacier. Start with a chill on the
grass, dance at the main stage,
and end with a fury in Berghain-
esque Hel. Then pass out. Or just
keep going.
More Info: secretsolst ice.i s
Reykjavík Midsummer
Music
When: 22-25 June
Where: Harpa, Reykjavík
Performing: Julien Quentin, Maxim
Rysanov, Nicolas Altstaedt, Rosanne
Philippens, Sayaka Shoji, Víkingur
Ólafsson
Midsummer Music is the festival
where you’re least likely to ruin
your shoes. It’s a chamber music
festival, curated by celebrity con-
cert pianist Víkingur Ólafsson,
that brings together stars of the
Icelandic scene and visiting musi-
cians to play classical works and
contemporary composition. You
won’t end up doing rounds of shots
or crowdsurfing, but you might
come out feeling inspired and edi-
fied by Víkingur’s astute choices.
More Info: reykjavikmidsummer-
music.com
Eistnaflug
When: 5-8 July
Where: Neskaupstaður, East Iceland
Performing: The Dillinger Escape
Plan, Neurosis, Bloodbath, Sólstafir,
Skálmöld, Auðn
Eistnaflug began as a hobby proj-
ect, but has since grown into an
international destination for
metal fans worldwide. Held in
Neskaupstaður—a tiny backwa-
ter fishing village in the Eastf-
jords—the festival feels like a
comfortable little bubble where
the entire town is ruled by heavy
music and the alt folks who lis-
ten to it. The 2017 iteration is the
biggest yet, featuring not only
a curated selection of interna-
tional heavyweights, and the best
of the Icelandic scene, but also
one of the last ever performanc-
es of the Dillinger Escape Plan.
More Info: eistnaflug.is
Extreme Chill
When: 6-9 July
Where: Reykjavík
Performing: The Orb, Mixmaster
Morris, Another Fine Day, STUDNITZKY,
Yagya, Stereo Hypnosis
Calling all lovers of ambient and
electronica: Extreme Chill—the
only festival in Iceland dedicat-
ed solely to those genres—will
bring its dazey-dreamy-dancey
vibe back to Iceland in July. This
nomadic festival has been held
in Vík, and under the Snæfell-
sjökull glacier, but the 2017 it-
eration journeys to downtown
Reykjavík, taking over venues
like Húrra, Mengi, and Luck y
Records. If you’re looking for
like-minded people to dissect
complicated beats with, remem-
ber to get your tickets early—
every other year has sold out.
More Info: extremechill.org
Night + Day
When: 14-16 July
Where: Skógar, South Iceland
Performing: The xx, Warpaint, Earl
Sweatshirt, Sampha, Bjarki, JFDR
Having worked on their most
recent album in Reykjavík, The
xx return to our black shores
to curate the inaugural Night
+ Day festival in Skógar. Their
choices are an interesting mix-
ture of electronic music and ex-
perimental pop, gleaned from
Iceland and the international
scene. Litt le is k now n about
how the festival will be set up,
but it ’s an intriguing arrival,
located right on the Route One
tou ri st t ra i l , on the pict u r-
esque shelf of land between the
highlands and the black glacial
f loodplains of the south coast.
More Info: thexxnightandday.com
Pólar Festival
When: 14-16 July
Where: HERE Creative Space,
Stöðvarfjörður
Performing: TBC
Pólar Festival is an intimate DIY
festival based around the HERE
creative space—an impressive,
labyrinthine redeveloped fac-
tory in the tiny eastern town of
Stöðvarfjörður. With free food
fished from the fjord, communally
created decorations, and a pro-
gramme of concerts, film screen-
ings, talks and exhibitions, it’s a
lively event that draws an inter-
esting crowd. It’s a labour of love
for the locals, and their generous,
friendly, collaborative spirit ra-
diates throughout the festival.
More Info: facebook.com/polar-
stodvarfjordur
LungA
When: 16-23 July
Where: Seyðisfjörður, East Iceland
Performing: Emmsjé Gauti, Daði
Freyr, JFDR, Hormónar, Hermigervill
LungA is a festival unlike any
other. Music is only one of its el-
ements, which also include art
Culture Feature
THE HOUSE AT EYRARBAKKI

Opening hours: May 1st - September 30th daily 11.00-18.00 or by an agreement
Tel: +354 483 1504 & +354 483 1082 | husid@husid.com | www.husid.com
Árnessýsla folk museum is located in Húsið,
the House, historical home of the Danish
merchants built in 1765. Húsið is one of the
oldest houses in Iceland and a beautiful
monument of Eyrarbakki´s time as the
biggest trading place on the south coast.
Today one can enjoy exhibitions about the
story and culture of the region, famous piano,
shawl made out of human hair and the kings
pot, are among items. Húsið prides itself with
warm and homelike atmosphere.
The House at Eyrarbakki