Airwaves time! 19. október 2006 16:02 jjj It's that time of year again: Airwaves time. You're about to witness a unique community of musicians that has grown from the seeds of The Sugarcubes. Today's Icelandic music scene mixes and mashes contemporary genres; its participants often produce awe inspiring albums that defy expectations and classifications. In recent years, this sparsely populated island in the North Atlantic has produced hordes of world- class bands: the most famous artists of course being Björk and Sigur Rós, but many more have branched out of the island, obtaining record deals and cult followings internationally. The festival is such a successful event that many people come back for a second or third time once they've experienced it. A huge percentage of the festival-goers are from the international music press, much more so than at any other European festival. And Iceland Airwaves is just as beneficial to the City of Reykjavik as it is to all those aspiring musicians. Tickets to the festival sell out very rapidly and the large influx of tourists brings not only life to the city but excellent international PR. Airwaves is greatly responsible for Reykjavik's status as a cool capital. It seems to be the consistency of the festival that's so successful - it was a masterstroke when the organizers gave up the big concerts in Laugardalshöll and instead concentrated on getting as many cool bands as possible to play at various venues located in the city centre. Every year, the party draws you in deeper. You get caught up in a stream of people bar-hopping slightly more urgently than usual. Musicians all try to outdo each other living the rock and roll lifestyle. You could be forgiven for thinking that life is always like this in Reykjavik. anna@reykjavik.com News in English Opinion of the Day Mest lesið Steinn liggur á grúfu og skríður niður Esju Innlent Þrjú látin: Heyrðu öskur þegar hringt var í neyðarlínu Erlent Vill tollalaus viðskipti við Evrópu Erlent Sautján ára stúlka í haldi vegna innflutnings gerviópíóða Innlent Eini eftirlifandinn lýsir pyntingum og barsmíðum ísraelskra hermanna Erlent Vita æ meira um skaðleg áhrif rafsígarettna Innlent Allt að 18 stiga hiti á morgun en súld og léttskýjað í dag Veður Kanye stal Ku Klux Klan-myndinni úr Aftenposten Erlent Íslenskir höfundar meðal fórnarlamba í stórfelldum þjófnaði Meta Innlent Ísraelsher viðurkennir rangfærslur eftir birtingu myndefnis Erlent
It's that time of year again: Airwaves time. You're about to witness a unique community of musicians that has grown from the seeds of The Sugarcubes. Today's Icelandic music scene mixes and mashes contemporary genres; its participants often produce awe inspiring albums that defy expectations and classifications. In recent years, this sparsely populated island in the North Atlantic has produced hordes of world- class bands: the most famous artists of course being Björk and Sigur Rós, but many more have branched out of the island, obtaining record deals and cult followings internationally. The festival is such a successful event that many people come back for a second or third time once they've experienced it. A huge percentage of the festival-goers are from the international music press, much more so than at any other European festival. And Iceland Airwaves is just as beneficial to the City of Reykjavik as it is to all those aspiring musicians. Tickets to the festival sell out very rapidly and the large influx of tourists brings not only life to the city but excellent international PR. Airwaves is greatly responsible for Reykjavik's status as a cool capital. It seems to be the consistency of the festival that's so successful - it was a masterstroke when the organizers gave up the big concerts in Laugardalshöll and instead concentrated on getting as many cool bands as possible to play at various venues located in the city centre. Every year, the party draws you in deeper. You get caught up in a stream of people bar-hopping slightly more urgently than usual. Musicians all try to outdo each other living the rock and roll lifestyle. You could be forgiven for thinking that life is always like this in Reykjavik. anna@reykjavik.com
News in English Opinion of the Day Mest lesið Steinn liggur á grúfu og skríður niður Esju Innlent Þrjú látin: Heyrðu öskur þegar hringt var í neyðarlínu Erlent Vill tollalaus viðskipti við Evrópu Erlent Sautján ára stúlka í haldi vegna innflutnings gerviópíóða Innlent Eini eftirlifandinn lýsir pyntingum og barsmíðum ísraelskra hermanna Erlent Vita æ meira um skaðleg áhrif rafsígarettna Innlent Allt að 18 stiga hiti á morgun en súld og léttskýjað í dag Veður Kanye stal Ku Klux Klan-myndinni úr Aftenposten Erlent Íslenskir höfundar meðal fórnarlamba í stórfelldum þjófnaði Meta Innlent Ísraelsher viðurkennir rangfærslur eftir birtingu myndefnis Erlent