So, that was Iceland Airwaves 2023. The multi-venue Reykjavik festival is a sight to behold, with one of Europe’s most dramatic settings for live music suddenly thronging with bands, songwriters, producers, and DJs from across the globe.
This year was no exception, with Iceland Airwaves back to full-strength after the pandemic. Thousands of fans hit the streets of the Icelandic city, enjoying sets that spanned from red-hot indie rock incendiaries through to pastoral songwriting, left-field electronics, and the odd dose of Icelandic rap, too.
Candid cameramen Nathan Hetherington and Jamie Muir hit the mean streets, handing out disposable cameras to the some of the best artists they could find. So, up top you’ll see Yard Act taking in the sights at Grótta Island Lighthouse the day after an electrifying set at Reykjavík Art Museum; Blondshell explaining why she has “never felt so patriotic” than here at The Icelandic Phallological Museum, and Lime Garden getting cosy in Kjarval after a day out on a glacier.
Keep looking through the gallery and you’ll uncover Sprints just before their raucous 1am closing slot on Saturday night at Gaukurinn, while King of Iceland Daði Freyr steps offstage with his band members CeaseTone, Ylva Øyen and Icelandic hip-hop royalty special guests: Króli and Daughters of Reykjavik’s Blær.
In a deep cut moment, you’ll also notice Elinborg, half of Jazzygold and the ghost of Marianna Winter in an attempted Faroese group shot, relaxing backstage at Kex Hostel.
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