A Proud Day
Reykjavík has been celebrating Reykjavík Gay Pride since 1998, and what was once a small and intimate event attended by close relatives and friends has now become one of the most happening events every summer in Reykjavík. The Gay Pride parade attracts around 100 thousand visitors to the center of capital. Even though the event has become quite large, it is still warm and friendly.
Reykjavík Gay Pride has become more than just a platform for gay and transgender rights, because now it is also a family festival to celebrate diversity and to show solidarity with not only those at home but around the globe.
Although the highlight of the week is the Gay Pride parade itself on Saturday 9t, there are other events during the weekend, including a free showing of the documentary “Stonewall Uprising” on Sunday, August 10, at 18 (6 pm) in cinema Bíó Paradís, courtesy of the American Embassy in Iceland.
Electronica courtesy of VALD at Húrra
The fresh and newly formed electronica band VALD will be playing their second show at the wildly popular Húrra, and they will also play material from their upcoming debut EP. The show starts at 10 PM on Saturday the 9th of August and the entrance fee is 1000 krónur.
Club Soda dance festival
Club Soda will be held for the fifth time in conjunction with Reykjavík Pride at the bar Dolly. If you are looking for a good time in general, then Dolly is definitely the place to be. The ground floor will be pulsating with dance music played by DJs such as Natalie Gunnarsdóttir aka DJ Yamaho, while the second floor will play excellent hip hop beats and songs. To top it all off, the American rap and performance Zebra Katz will also be making an appearance. From 22:00 to 4:30, on the 8th of August. Admission is free.
With a Silver Lining
The 25th annual Reykjavík Jazz Festival kicks off with a bang on August 14th, when fans and artists performing at the festival join forces and march to Harpa concert hall. The starting point is the legendary local music store Lucky Records (Rauðarárstígur 10, 101 Reykjavík), with trombonist and MC Samúel M. Samúelsson leading the flock to Harpa, where the opening ceremony will start at 7 pm. Later that night, the Chris Speed Trio will entertain.
The aim of the festival is to showcase the best in local and international jazz from a variety of genres, including electronica and world music. The venues include everything from personal home studios to the grand Harpa concert hall. From Thursday August 14 to Wednesday August 20. See programme at: reykjavikjazz.is
Live music at the home of Iceland’s only Nobel laureate
Halldór Laxness is Iceland’s only Nobel laureate and he was an unique character. On Sunday the 10th of August, at 16:00, you can experience Iceland as a native by going to listening to Sigrún Hjálmtýsdóttir, soprano, and Jóhann G. Jóhannsson who is a pianist perform songs by Jóhann to the poems by Halldórs Laxness. Even if you do not know Icelandic, you will be captivated by the performance. Tickets cost 1.500 krónur
Boogie to Boogie Trouble
Obviously, you are going to get down and boogie. Boogie Trouble are an eclectic mix of musicians who perform as a disco ensemble. Check out their summer single on Youtube. They will be playing new material at Loft Hostel. Apparently they have made an habit of covering Britney Spear’s Toxic. Admission is free at the concert starts at 21:00, on Friday the 8th, and lasts until 00:00.
Benni Hemmi Hemm unplugged
Benedikt H. Hermannsson, is an alternative musician who belongs to Iceland’s “krúttkynslóð” musical scene that includes luminaries such as Múm and Sigur Rós. Benedikt H. Hermansson is also the frontman for the band Benni Hemm Hemm. Make sure to check out Benedikt’s last performance for a while. Benedikt will be perfoming unplugged and alone tonight, on the 8th, at Mengi. During the performance, Benedikt will be playing songs from Benni Hemm Hemm’s albums such as Eliminate Evil and Revive Good Times. The price of admission is 2.000 krónur.
The International Organ Summer in Hallgrímskirkja
This Saturday, Maurice Clerc will be giving a concert for guests of Hallgrímskirkja. Clerc has played all around the world during his 35 years as a performer. Clerc will be playing baroque music from Bach, Marello, Mouret, but also pieces by Cockerau, Langlais and others. Clerc will perform at two concerts: one on Saturday at 12p.m., and the second on Sunday at 17:00 p.m.. On Saturday it costs 1.700 krónur, whereas Sunday’s concert costs 2.500.
This is the Reykjavík and the capital area section of Best of Iceland This Week, the only Icelandic guide of its kind. New every week.
A Proud Day
Reykjavík has been celebrating Reykjavík Gay Pride since 1998, and what was once a small and intimate event attended by close relatives and friends has now become one of the most happening events every summer in Reykjavík. The Gay Pride parade attracts around 100 thousand visitors to the center of capital. Even though the event has become quite large, it is still warm and friendly.
Reykjavík Gay Pride has become more than just a platform for gay and transgender rights, because now it is also a family festival to celebrate diversity and to show solidarity with not only those at home but around the globe.
Although the highlight of the week is the Gay Pride parade itself on Saturday 9t, there are other events during the weekend, including a free showing of the documentary “Stonewall Uprising” on Sunday, August 10, at 18 (6 pm) in cinema Bíó Paradís, courtesy of the American Embassy in Iceland.
Electronica courtesy of VALD at Húrra
The fresh and newly formed electronica band VALD will be playing their second show at the wildly popular Húrra, and they will also play material from their upcoming debut EP. The show starts at 10 PM on Saturday the 9th of August and the entrance fee is 1000 krónur.
Club Soda dance festival
Club Soda will be held for the fifth time in conjunction with Reykjavík Pride at the bar Dolly. If you are looking for a good time in general, then Dolly is definitely the place to be. The ground floor will be pulsating with dance music played by DJs such as Natalie Gunnarsdóttir aka DJ Yamaho, while the second floor will play excellent hip hop beats and songs. To top it all off, the American rap and performance Zebra Katz will also be making an appearance. From 22:00 to 4:30, on the 8th of August. Admission is free.
With a Silver Lining
The 25th annual Reykjavík Jazz Festival kicks off with a bang on August 14th, when fans and artists performing at the festival join forces and march to Harpa concert hall. The starting point is the legendary local music store Lucky Records (Rauðarárstígur 10, 101 Reykjavík), with trombonist and MC Samúel M. Samúelsson leading the flock to Harpa, where the opening ceremony will start at 7 pm. Later that night, the Chris Speed Trio will entertain.
The aim of the festival is to showcase the best in local and international jazz from a variety of genres, including electronica and world music. The venues include everything from personal home studios to the grand Harpa concert hall. From Thursday August 14 to Wednesday August 20. See programme at: reykjavikjazz.is
Live music at the home of Iceland’s only Nobel laureate
Halldór Laxness is Iceland’s only Nobel laureate and he was an unique character. On Sunday the 10th of August, at 16:00, you can experience Iceland as a native by going to listening to Sigrún Hjálmtýsdóttir, soprano, and Jóhann G. Jóhannsson who is a pianist perform songs by Jóhann to the poems by Halldórs Laxness. Even if you do not know Icelandic, you will be captivated by the performance. Tickets cost 1.500 krónur
Boogie to Boogie Trouble
Obviously, you are going to get down and boogie. Boogie Trouble are an eclectic mix of musicians who perform as a disco ensemble. Check out their summer single on Youtube. They will be playing new material at Loft Hostel. Apparently they have made an habit of covering Britney Spear’s Toxic. Admission is free at the concert starts at 21:00, on Friday the 8th, and lasts until 00:00.
Benni Hemmi Hemm unplugged
Benedikt H. Hermannsson, is an alternative musician who belongs to Iceland’s “krúttkynslóð” musical scene that includes luminaries such as Múm and Sigur Rós. Benedikt H. Hermansson is also the frontman for the band Benni Hemm Hemm. Make sure to check out Benedikt’s last performance for a while. Benedikt will be perfoming unplugged and alone tonight, on the 8th, at Mengi. During the performance, Benedikt will be playing songs from Benni Hemm Hemm’s albums such as Eliminate Evil and Revive Good Times. The price of admission is 2.000 krónur.
The International Organ Summer in Hallgrímskirkja
This Saturday, Maurice Clerc will be giving a concert for guests of Hallgrímskirkja. Clerc has played all around the world during his 35 years as a performer. Clerc will be playing baroque music from Bach, Marello, Mouret, but also pieces by Cockerau, Langlais and others. Clerc will perform at two concerts: one on Saturday at 12p.m., and the second on Sunday at 17:00 p.m.. On Saturday it costs 1.700 krónur, whereas Sunday’s concert costs 2.500.
