With Iceland Airwaves just one month away, I was inspired to put together a little post and some picture highlights of the moments I have experienced during this magical weekend in November.
Every year in November in Iceland there is an undeniable energy on the streets of Reykjavik. I KNOW that it’s different from any other time of the year. (Trust me—I’ve been there MOST times of year.)
Asgeir at Kex Hostel – 2013 
Valdimar at CenterHotel Plaza – 2013 
Asgeir at Harpa – 2013 
Rock Paper Sisters at Hard Rock Cafe – 2018 
Surma at Dillon Bar – 2018 
Aurora at Kex Hostel – 2018
Musicians and music lovers from around the world gather in Reykjavik to experience magic.
Iceland Airwaves is the perfect music festival for a lot of reasons. For me — the small venues, chill crowds, general safety, and the fact that no one is half naked stinky and sweaty (like many music festivals in the US, which happen in the summer when it’s SO HOT) make it so wonderful.
I joke that Airwaves is the perfect music festival for someone in their 30’s and I’m not actually kidding.
I’ve seen Sigur Ros in a large venue (with the President of Iceland standing nearby), Half Moon Run on a windy night in Harpa (where I couldn’t believe that I was at a music festival, in Iceland, listening to such magic), and danced (like crazy) to Benin City in a small church near Tjornin Pond with a bunch of strangers. I shed a tear over Pascal Pinon’s performance in a bookstore and FM Belfast’s performance in Harpa (and in Kaffibarinn last year) made me jump higher than I’ve ever jumped before. While those examples are surely some highlights, each show I’ve gone to has enriched my life.
Airwaves is a weekend that is both exhausting and recharging. The crisp air between venues, the bars serving BOTH lattes and a pint, and the creative energy fuel me for the 360 days until the next Airwaves.
Can’t wait for the 20th Anniversary of Airwaves this year (and our 5th!)!
