- Iceland Airwaves / CITY magazine / October 2005

Action: Iceland Airwaves Music Festival
With artists like Björk and Sigur Rós repping the country as national music ambassadors, it’s no wonder Iceland’s capital city of Reykjavik has a reputation as a town whose hipness far exceeds its diminutive size. Since 1999, the cornerstone of the Icelandic rock scene has been Reykjavik’s Iceland Airwaves festival. The annual music fest combines local Icelandic rock and electronic hotness with a diverse slate of acts from across the globe. Between bar hopping and rocking out, an international blend of music fans and industry types kick back in the geothermally heated outdoor Blue Lagoon, gawk at the many geysers and waterfalls the countryside boasts, or snack on some unique local dishes like shark and puffin. This year’s festivities kick off October 19 and continue for five days, with acts like Fiery Furnaces and Babyshambles playing alongside home-town heroes Gus Gus and Leaves. —DC
Go to www.icelandairwaves.com