Reykjavík Grapevine - 12.04.2019, Blaðsíða 19

Ísafjörður Never
Goes South

Aldrei Fór Ég Suður festival is back
Since 2004, April means one thing for
the people of the Westfjords: the Aldrei
Fór Ég Suður music festival.
Named after the Bubbi Morthens
song of the same name, the name trans-
lates to “I never went south.” The festi-
val is held in Ísafjörður, a picturesque
Westfjords town almost as far as one can
get from the South Iceland tourist trail.
What started off as a one-night concert
has grown into a two-day extravaganza.
Just last month, the festival won the
Music Event of the Year prize at the 2018
Icelandic Music Awards. “We’re all really
proud of it,” says Kristján Fr. Halldórs-
son, one of the festival’s organisers. “We
love doing what we do—and doing this
for fifteen years has been a privilege.
We share the award with the almost 350
bands who’ve played the festival, our
great sponsors, and the people of the
mighty Westfjords.”
Small town awakening
Aldrei Fór Ég Suður festival was founded
in 2003 by a ragtag bunch of Ísafjörður
locals who thought it would be fun to
bring musicians to perform way up
north during the winter. Sixteen years
later, it has grown into something far
greater than a lark.
“It’s a big reward for us to have people
visiting from Reykjavík, who’ve maybe
never visited other parts of Iceland aside
from Kópavogur,” says Kristján.
Indeed, the event proves that you
don’t have to stay in the capital to
experience a great party. Locals love the
event—the town of Ísafjörður is grateful
to the festival for putting it on the map,.
There’s even a street named after it.
Ski party
Now held each year over the Easter long
weekend, Aldrei coincides with the an-
nual Ísafjörður skiing festival. The mu-
sical weekend goes hand in hand with
a skiing adventure for many Icelandic
families, creating a unique and celebra-
tory atmosphere.
“The people here are very generous
and good hosts,” says Kristján. “Every-
body is so helpful and willing to do stuff
for the festival. We aren’t a group of 20
people any more—we’re a group of 3,500
people, all working to build up a good
music festival for the whole family.”
Eardrums ready
When asked which performer he looks
forward to the most, Kristján says he’s
excited about every act. “I’ve seen them
all, and they’re brilliant. But to men-
tion just one—I’d have to say Salóme
Katrín. It will be her first stadium
concert, with a big band. She is a su-
per talent and we can’t wait to see her
perform.”
This year’s musical line-up also
includes Jónas Sig—a party brass
musician with political lyrical under-
tones—and JóiPé X Króli, the young
hip-hop stars of the moment.
The varied line-up also includes
Todmobile, a legendary Icelandic pop
band that began in 1988, and Auðn, a
black metal band that burst onto the
scene in 2015. Breakout indie rockers
Mammút will also be performing.
“We don’t expect people to know
every artist, because it’s a blend of
music,” Kristján says. “But every band
gets a wonderful reception.”
So if you’re in need of a snowy
break from the city, make tracks for
Ísafjörður this Easter—and don’t for-
get your
skis.
Words:
Aliya Uteuova
Photo:
Art Bicnick
Words:
Alexander Jean
de Fontenay
Photo:
Ívar Eyþórs
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It's staying up in the Westfjords FOREVER
The Party Goes On
Three alternatives to cope with the sudden loss of
Sónar Reykjavík 2019
Given the massive line-up, Sónar
Reykjavík 2019 would have been just
as great a treat as it has for the past
six years. My condolences to all party
people, dancers, musicians and, not
least, the Sónar production crew—
who I bet are just-about ready to move
on, dig in and make next year’s edition
a blast. Never fear, dismayed party
people, as a much-needed coping-
mechanism, here are three events to
seek out in lieu of Sónar in the next
couple of weeks.
April 13th: Plútó DJ crew at Bravó
Local DJ crew Plútó’s events have
slowly but surely become mainstays
in Reykjavík’s party scene. The group
has performed their refined and bas-
sy b2b2b2b2b2b sets in most popular
bars and clubs in the city, and, on April
13th, their course is set for Bravó on
Laugavegur 22. In a statement, the
Festival
Aldrei Fór Ég Suður
takes places in
Ísafjörður on
April 19th & 20th.
Get more info at
aldrei.is
Music
Plútó DJ crew at
Bravó April 13th,
DJ Dominatricks
at Kaffibarinn April
24th, Bjarki at Bíó
Paradís April 27th.
collective said this will be their first
party there and that adjustments are
being made to Bravó’s sound system.
April 24th: DJ Dominatricks at
Kaffibarinn
DJ Dominatricks are a breath of fresh
air in the local dance-music scene,
and have made their mark with their
unique take on live performance
with their bass-heavy and pumped
music selection and ever-evolving,
delightfully frightful live-visuals.
Their next set is at Kaffibarinn on
April 24th, which also happens to be
the eve of the first Day of Summer
—a national holiday in Iceland. As
a result, Kaffibarinn will have ex-
tended opening-hours, and you can
sleep-in care-free.
April 27th: Bjarki at Bíó Paradís
A week after Sónar Reykjavík was
cancelled, Bjarki announced he
would be performing at local art-
house cinema Bíó Paradís on April
27th. Bjarki just released his deeply
personal album ‘Happy Earthday’—
Earth Day happens to be on April
22nd—and has a terrific track-re-
cord of audio-visual events like the
parties held in collaboration with
трип/Trip records around the Icelan-
dic countryside. He closed last year’s
Sónar Festival with a bang (and lots
of cucumbers).
Drop That Hip Hop
Cell7 Album Release Concert
April 12th - 22:00 - Húrra - 2-3,000 ISK
You can’t talk about Icelandic hip
hop without mentioning Cell7. One
of the OG rappers in the country, the
woman has finally returned from
the rap-grave with a new album
entitled ‘Is Anyone Listening?’ First
off, yes Queen, we are listening.
Second off, you don’t know when
the rappess will return
subterranean, so grab this
opportunity while you can. R+B
goddess GDRN will open. HJC
The Earth... In Dance
SPOR
April 24th-28th - Various Times -
Gerðuberg Culture House - 2,900 ISK
SPOR is an interactive dance
performance for children, which
explores the energy of the ocean,
earth, space, as well as the energy
that lives within ourselves. The show
is put together by Bíbí & Blaka, a
group of artists from Norway,
Finland, Greenland and the Faroe
Islands. So grab the kids and get
some well deserved rest from 'em.
You’ll have fun too. AU
Put Yo’ Horns Up
Akranes Punk
April 25th - 17:00 - Akranes
Lighthouse - Free!
“Punk fucking rock” is how
Snowed In describes their musical
tendencies. Couple that sentiment
with the fact that this event is
being held at a damn lighthouse
and you have a recipe for pure
pönk success. Historical sites and
anarchism… what’s not to love? If
you’re not already packing up your
car to get to Akranes, then let us
remind you: the event is free. SD