Artists 2010

Ólöf Arnalds Ólöf is a versatile artist and plays beautiful music on numerous instruments as well as singing like an angel. Bloodgroup The siblings from Egilsstaðir and their friend from Faroe Island played at Aldrei fór ég suður three years ago and were a storming hit. Since then they have travelled extensively, e.g. to Ísafjörður’s sistertown; Roskilde in Denmark. Urmull There’s no need to introduce the band Urmull to those who were regulars at Sjallinn in Ísafjörður in the early nineties of the last century. For those who weren’t you might say that Urmull is one of the bands that shaped a whole generation in Ísafjörður and gave many teenagers their first insight to the world of grunge. Dikta Dikta is without a doubt one of the most popular bands of the country at the moment and they well deserve that title. Few if any are better at conveying beautiful and riveting melodies and the people love it. Hjaltalín Hjaltalín hardly needs any introduction. They return to the festival and now with “The Album of the year” and “The Voice of the year” along with them. Bróðir Svartúlfs Bróðir Svartúlfs is a hip-hop band from North-Iceland. They are one of the bands that have become popular through the Icelandic Music Experiments. They themselves describe their music as a mixture of Sigurrós and Rage against the machine. Lára Rúnars Lára Rúnarsdóttir is a songbird that sings beautiful melodies with personal lyrics. Pollapönk Pollapönk is made up of extremely child-friendly rockers from Hafnarfjörður that have for some years entertained children all around the country with some success. Mið-Ísland There we have some of the funniest men in Iceland. They are now visiting Ísafjörður and the festival to entertain the festival guests. Lay Low Lay Low’s real name is Lovísa Elísabet Sigrúnardóttir and has made herself a good name in the last few years for her bluesy country music. Sigríður Thorlacius This songbird has sung herself into the hearts of the nation with the band Hjaltalín, and Megas and Björgvin Halldórsson, just to name a few. She recently published the album Ljúflingshóll where she sings songs by Jón Múli Árnason and was recently voted “The Voice of the year” at the Icelandic Music Awards. Morðingjarnir Morðingjarnir are three moderately upbeat boys from the south that play rapid punk music. Hudson Wayne Hudson Wayne is a band that everybody should know by now, but fewer know that this is the first band ever to step on stage at Aldrei fór ég suður when they played at the first festival in 2004. Sólinn frá Sandgerði With a dedicated support from Sandgerðisbær municipality the festival was able to book this promising dance-band to Ísafjörður. First and foremost is the one and only Kiddi Casio, a front-man with the grace of God that has a real way of crazing the ladies. Rúnar Þór Rúnar Þór Pétursson, or Rúnar Péturs Geirs as he is better known as in Ísafjörður, is a familiar musician who has sipped many dance floors. The Ray-Ban’s, the black leather jacket and the beautiful piano lines are what Rúnar is best known for. Geirfuglarnir In 1991 two employees of the children’s psych ward at the Landspítali-University Hospital formed this band that has been going since then. Few changes in personnel have been made through the years, as things go, but the fundamental philosophy of the band is still standing as a rock in the sea. Ingó og Veðurguðirnir As most good dance-bands this one was created through the band member’s adoration of the dance music-artist Helgi Björnsson. The band was formed in 2003 and has since then enjoyed increased popularity, especially after the lead-singer was a hit in reality TV. Biggibix Biggibix, or Birgir Örn Sigurjónsson, is a musician from Ísafjörður that seeks inspiration from within. He enjoyed his parents’ giant record collection and held his first concert in the cellar of the block of flats where he grew up. Orphic Oxtra Filled with inspiration from the culture in the Balkan countries this band comes from the Westfjords; three of its members are from Ísafjörður. The band was created in the canteen at the Icelandic Academy of Arts. Skúli hinn mennski The troubadour from Ísafjörður Skúli Þórðarson is unequivocal called Skuli hinn mennski (Skúli the human) to disassociate him from his not lesser known namesake of the dog-kind, which ran everything in Seljalandsvegur in Ísafjörður around the turn of the century. Skúli, who now has left us for the eternal hunting grounds, was loved by his owner and others that were so lucky to have known him. Stjörnuryk A group of four hip-hoppers from the west that poetise rhymes about the reality of Ísafjörður. “Was going to buy myself a kroppsæla, but I needed 200 kr more” and “Shit how good this kringla is” are among lyrics that might be found in their songs. MC Isaksen The future of the hip-hop in the Westfjords is certainly bright because MC Isaksen has found his rhythm even though he hasn’t even finished elementary school. Klikkhausarnir Klikkhausarnir is a teen-band from the area that has gotten deserved attention for their energetic performances. Hjálmar The wool-sweater-reggae-band Hjálmar needs no introduction. They are now visiting AFÉS for the second time. Rúnar Þóris From the spearhead of the Icelandic new wave music comes Rúnar Þórisson whom people in Ísafjörður know well from the band Grafík which lifted the roof of the social club in Hnífsdalur, as well as at dances all around the country in the eighties. Mugison The Best album 2004. The Best album 2008. The pride of Súðavík 2007. Do we need to say more? Yxna What the parents do the children do, but in this case it’s vice versa. The Harbour Master Muggi leads this brilliant band, but along with him are the director of the Westfjords Heritage Museum, the CEO of the Westfjords Development Agency (atvest), and a lecturer in marine technology with the University Centre of the Westfjords. Tom Hannay Without a doubt the people in Bolungarvík presume they own a part of this young Brit that plays wistful, but powerful, pop. Ugly Alex A heavy metal band from the north. The festival planners thought that the festival needed a bit more overdrive this year and therefore booked these young men from Akureyri, along with one from Ísafjörður. Jitney The festival planners are proud to participate in Nordic cooperation. From Odda in Norway these four young men join us to play mystical rock ’n’ roll. Korter í þrjú From the cellar of the home economics school in Ísafjörður we have two technoheads that are going to show us that nothing has changed even though PartyZone has been moved to Thursday. Biogen We thought it wouldn’t be enough to have only one techno band, so Biogen is welcomed west once again. Biogen knows heads and tales in Ísafjörður, as his father runs the town’s fish market. Drengjakórinn Konráð Young boys from Gaggó Vest (the secondary school in Ísafjörður). They are taking their first steps in the business and are going to count in for one or two songs for the festival guests. Sesar A, BlazRoca og DJ Kocoon From Hlöðuvík in Sléttuhreppur we have two brothers Seasar and Blaz and along with them is the DJ Kocoon. Hardcore rap that leaves no one un-insulted. NineElevens When these dinosaurs were on the top of their game, they were 15 years behind their time, but now they are a whole quarter of a century behind what’s going on in the rock ‘n’ roll. Times change and the humans with it, but not them. Óminnishegrar The local high school’s contribution to this year’s festival. Baunirnar Vivacious men that are going to blow the festival in.