Iceland Airwaves 2001 Review

In a world that is getting smaller every day, the dedicated festival goer doesn't have to hang up his or her silly hat just because the British Summer has passed on by.

Leaving home at around 6pm, we found ourselves checking into our hotel in the heart of Reykjavik at just gone midnight. I've spent longer getting from London to my Glastonbury tent site.

On the bedside table are two sets of earplugs. Is this an omen about the music we are hear to be an audience to? We sincerely hoped not!

For those of you who don't know, then Iceland Airwaves festival is laid on predominantly by the national airline, Iceland Airways. The package of flights, hotel (4 star B&B) and access all venues festival pass therefore comes in at a smidgen over £400.

For this, you not only get the nightly fun of a city wide music festival spanning a clutter of musical genres, but you also get to benefit from the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of Iceland, and in particular its capital city of Reykjavik.

Reykjavik. Considerably easier to say than to spell. Not as much as could be said for Leikhuskjallarinn, one of the festival venues that we uncovered over the weekend.

Let's face it. Unless you are Icelandic then you probably couldn't care less what Magga Stina of Hringir look, sound or taste like. Some of you will have heard of Sigur Ros perhaps - and it's quite likely that more of you will in the future - but will it be of any interest to you if we tell you that XXX Rotweiler use the chorus line to We Will Rock You in one of their raps?

So we reckon that what you really need in this review is to hear are a few musical anecdotes, be given a couple of thoughts about the different venues, get a lowdown on some Icelandic customs and get some idea about what the hell you might do with yourself for the daylight hours in this most northerly of capital cities.

To be frank, the music itself is almost secondary to the spirit of this festival. It gives a sense of purpose to the all-night bar crawling that inevitably takes place, but whether you are listening to angry German Chicks on Speed, chilled out instumentals from Ulpa, rockin' indie courtesy of America's Sparta or the New Orleans funk of Jaguar Blackxploitation (with their furry animal slippered bass player - don't ask) what really counts is that you are doing it in Iceland& and that Iceland welcomes you with open arms.