Features
Pollstar Satellite Series: Iceland Airwaves 2019
Mummi Lu – Ásta during her Airwaves set at Hressó
Her songs have been described as poetic and folkish with a hint of Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez
Pollstar attended Iceland Airwaves for the first time in 2019. The 21st edition of the boutique showcase festival took place in Iceland’s capital Reykjavik, Nov. 4-7.
The organizers around director Will Larnach-Jones counted more than 6,000 visitors, who had the choice between some 150 bands and more than 200 performances in total, spread out across nine official venues, programmed by the Airwaves team, as well as three on-venues that host their own extra programming, plus some 20 off-venues that host the daytime content and are open to everyone, not just Iceland Airwaves wristband holders.
Alexander Matukhno – Shame from London
Performing at Gamla bíó in Reykjavik
Pollstar talked to the people behind the scenes, including Larnach-Jones, and Iceland Music Office representatives, Sigtryggur Baldursson and Anna Rut Bjarnadóttir. Iceland Music is currently on a mission of highlighting an initiative called Record in Iceland, a government initiative that offers artists recording in the country – whether international or local – a 25 percent rebate on all costs incurred by the recording process.
We also sat down with Glass Museum drummer Martin Grégiore to talk about what it takes to make it as a new band in 2019. Of course, we tried to capture some footage of beautiful Iceland as well.
More pictures from Iceland Airwaves 2019:
Linda Fährmann – Brett Newski
The American songwriter performed at Dillion during Airwaves
Alexander Matukhno – Girl In Red
One of the hot tips at Airwaves 2019
Florian Trykowski – Audience listening to Between Mountains at Iceland Airwaves 2019
Fríkirkjan, a church, is one of the beautiful venues that host concerts during Airwaves
Florian Trykowski – Mammút live at Reykjavik
Lead singer Katrína Mogensen wouldn
Alexander Matukhno – Glass Museum
Capture their audience without using any words on stage
Ásgeir Helgi – Of Monsters and Men were the big news at Airwaves 2019
Lead singer Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir