Rökkurró – one of my favourite Icelandic bands by a long shot – will self-release their new album later this year which will be preceded by the single The Backbone. This single, which follows the superlative-inducing ‘Killing Time’ is also being made available in a limited handmade edition – limited to just 120 copies from […]

With thanks to Deb Willott, Carolyn Bain and Tarja Kuikka.

Sóley is best known for being an original member of Seabear, but is also an emerging and talented solo artist. Her debut EP and subsequent album We Sink are delightful pieces of skewed piano pop, all showcasing her twisted lyrics and hushed vocals. Similarly, Sóley’s live shows have been well regarded both in Iceland and […]

Auður from I Heart Reykjavík is doing a charity walking tour in aid of ICE-SAR on 15th August. I’ve donated an ebook copy of Iceland to each person taking part. I’m honoured to be involved. Here is what Auður has to say about it: The I Heart Reykjavík Charity Walking Tour On August 15th I’ll […]

Day 1. It’s a weird old place Ásbrú. It’s a former NATO base, and the ghosts of its past use are on every corner—the hangars, the barracks, the unmanned checkpoint as you enter—and it’s oddly located being too far to walk from Keflavík, and yet close enough to be handy. It’s a complex mix of […]

A must for any Icelandophile, this book from Alda Sigmundsdóttir is a follow-up to her earlier The Little Book of The Icelanders. Alda has written several books, both fiction and non-fiction, written for The Guardian and, of course, Iceland Review. She has a large international following on social media, and never holds back when giving […]

Náttfari, the band, not the folklore, were formed in 2000 and quickly became Icelandic favorites, receiving rave reviews for live shows including a New York Times piece calling them “mind-blowing.” Then, despite an eight year break, they returned in 2011 to pick up where they left off. They did too, and were named as one […]

My Independent Bookshop has just awarded my virtual bookshop ‘Books Of Iceland’ a MIBBY for shop of the week! My Independent Bookshop is a website set up to provide a whole new perspective to book buying, esp. in light of Amazon’s hold on the market. You can set up a ‘virtual bookshop’ and choose 12 […]

All Tomorrow’s Parties is coming to Icelandic shores in July. ATP provide a different festival experience: think more customer experience, hand picked music and a keen eye on quality, rather than snogging teenagers, cheap lager and funky hats. It’s a formula that has seen ATP travel from its holiday park beginnings in the UK to […]

1. Water. It’s the best in the world. It comes out of the tap for free. Don’t buy it in bottles! Hafdís Huld once gave me a huge telling off for buying water in Iceland. She was absolutely right. 2. Places to hide. Reykjavik City Hall (Ráðhús Reykjavíkur) is a great place to hide from […]