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Aldrei for eg Sudur
The first band I met up with at Aldrei fór ég suður was super adorable electronic duo, Yoda Remote. Emil and Bragi are still in their teens but they were recently signed to local label, TomTom records and have a defined sound that take others years to find. It was refreshing to see them amongst the mostly indie rock line-up.
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Aldrei fór ég suður (I Never Went South) Music Festival in Ísafjörður, Iceland is a loving ‘fuck you’ to Reykjavik in that these West Fjords (population 4000) has all the talent, activities, and shenanigans that any big city contains but with huge heart and sense of community. Here’s a great write-up about the festival by Inspired by Iceland:
Aldrei fór ég suður brings together local bands with the biggest names on the Icelandic music scene. Since its inception in 2004 the event has been run on a volunteer basis by Ísafjörður residents. Entrance to all events is free, and this year we are adding a LIVE ONLINE STREAM on www.inspiredbyiceland.com to give music fans the world over a chance to take part. Lonely Planet named Aldrei fór ég suður as one of the three most interesting happenings around the world in April in its Best of Travel 2011 round up.
If you ever plan to make your way to Iceland, I totally recommend a trip to Ísafjörður’s Aldrei fór ég suður Music Festival. You will no doubt be awestruck by the beauty of the fjords that surround your every move and the incredible warmth of its residents.
WELCOME DINNER DONE UP OLD SCHOOL
WELCOME DINNER WITH THE MAYOR
SMOKED MUSSELS
ME AND MY MTV CAMERA-BABES (WITH 66°NORTH HATS GIVEN TO US BY THE MAYOR)
WHEN IN THE WEST FJORDS, STRIKE A POSE
INSIDE THE VENUE
OUTSIDE THE VENUE
Big thanks to Michael from Icelandair and Kamilla from Iceland Music Export for making this trip happen. Looking forward to coming back to Iceland in October for Airwaves! x
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Prinspolo, the alter ego of Svavar Pétur Eysteinsson, may sound familiar. Yes, the name is inspired by the Polish chocolate bar, Prince Polo (which I love) and when I heard that Svavar's Prins is equally as food-obsessed as me, I knew I had to meet up with him. After watching the band perform at Aldrei, we made a mad dash to a friend's house for a surprise birthday performance... and of course, talked food and music afterwards.
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The one band that I was familiar with, prior to leaving for Iceland, on the Aldrei line-up was FM Belfast, whom I've loved for years. I dare you to listen to "Underwear" and not have it stuck in your head (in a good way) all day. Like most Icelandic acts, members of FM Belfast are also in many other bands (you may remember seeing Loa in the Prins Polo pictures). I had a blast chatting with FM Belfast, as you can see in the photos below:
Their high-energy performance at Aldrei was a definite highlight... and not just because everyone stripped down to their underwear.
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While looking through the line-up of acts at Aldrei, it's hard not to stop and listen to Lazyblood. With a background in dance and theatre production, Erna Ómarsdóttir and Valdimar Jóhannsson's combination of opera and death metal is incredibly captivating. I met up with the dynamic duo at Valdimar's mother's home in Ísafjörður (which also happens to be the same house that the President of Iceland was born in).
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On our final day at Aldrei in Ísafjörður, we had a huge Easter sunday dinner with all the bands who performed at the festival. I'm a huge sap so you know I totally melted at the heartwarming vibe. Before dinner, I chatted with one of the founders, fellow Icelandic musician, Mugison. The idea for Aldrei fór ég suður (I never went south) started over a pint of beer between Mugison and his father, who were both born in Ísafjörður. Their passion to show off Iceland's vibrant music scene paralleled with Ísafjörður’s offbeat location and relaxed atmosphere is a combination for festival-success.
TALKING TO MUGISON WITH HIS WIFE LOOKING OVER. VERY CUTE.
MUGISON'S DAD COOKING EASTER DINNER
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