Atlantica - 01.03.2004, Qupperneq 31

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE REYKJAVÍK LOFTBRÚ FUND VISIT http://www.icelandair.is/reykjavikloftbru
Following the success of the Iceland
Airwaves music festival, which takes
place in Reykjavík, Icelandair has come to
the aid of young and aspiring bands by
founding the Reykjavík Loftbrú Fund
(Reykjavík ‘Air Bridge’). The fund aids
musicians in travelling to music festivals
and concerts abroad, and Icelandair also
presents one band annually with the best
musical export award at the Icelandic
Music Awards. This year, the coveted
prize went to rock band Mínus. These
hard-core rockers landed a contract with
US label Victory Records last year and
rave reviews with music magazines such
as Kerrang. Fronted by Krummi, a long-
haired, young Iggy Pop lookalike, the
group have gained quite a reputation for
their wild behaviour, in true rock-star fash-
ion. With a stage performance par excel-
lence and rock to rule the world, the band
have a new album out, Halldór Laxness,
named after Iceland’s Nobel prize-winning
author. “This is a fantastic effort by
Icelandair,” says guitarist Frosti, speaking
from a recording studio in London. “I can
only describe the Fund as a miracle for
Icelandic musicians. It means that we’re
given a fair chance to make it in the music
business. Our success, and the success of
several Icelandic bands, would have been
impossible without Reykjavík Loftbrú .”
The Reykjavík Loftbrú Fund was founded
in conjunction with the Association of
Icelandic Musicians and STEF, the associ-
ation of songwriters in Iceland, and it is
hoped that hundreds of Icelandic musi-
cians will be able to use the Fund’s sup-
port. Icelandic music and collaboration
with Icelandic musicians have for years
played a key role in Icelandair's marketing
of the country abroad, and Reykjavík
Loftbrú is seen as a continuation of and a
further boost to the Iceland Airwaves fes-
tival.
Icelandair is the instigator of Iceland
Airwaves, principal sponsor of Reykjavík
Loftbrú, and main sponsor of the annual
Icelandic Music Awards.
Mínus are keeping very busy at the
moment. They are releasing a new single
in the UK in March called ‘Romantic
Exorcism’, to follow up their first UK
release, ‘Angel in Disguise’.
“We’re busy recording new songs and
hope to release a new album at the end of
the year,” says Frosti. “Between record-
ings we’ll be playing at various music fes-
tivals in Europe.” For concert dates visit
www.noisyboys.net AMB
❍i-site
[ IDEAS OF INTEREST IN ICELAND ]
The Reykjavík Loftbrú Fund aids
upcoming Icelandic bands in
conquering the world.
Their latest success:
the hard-core rockers in Mínus.
Photos by Börkur Sigthórsson.
EXPORTING ROCK ’N’ ROLL
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