The music festival you have never heard of

Every winter, Iceland hosts a music festival across multiple venues in Reykjavík - and you can steal away to take in the natural beauty

- Shrenik Avlani

It is in the middle of nowhere. There is no easy way to get there as there are no direct flights from any Indian airport. But such is the reputation of this island just south of the Arctic Circle that even Schengen visa struggles and lack of direct flights can’t keep it off travel wishlists. Iceland is that kind of a wonderland, indeed. 

You are probably visualising the Northern Lights, volcanoes, geysers, lagoons, hot springs, glaciers and scenes from Game Of Thrones. It is all that and more. I ended up in Iceland in November, not by design but by accident. I was in Europe for Oktoberfest and had to fly to the US. A friend suggested Icelandair, which offers a free stopover for up to seven days when you fly transatlantic with them. Before long I was picking up my backpack from the Keflavik airport baggage belt in Iceland.

That was also the day the Iceland Airwaves music festival began. Unlike Glastonbury, Tomorrowland or Lollapalooza, which all take place in a single expansive venue with multiple stages, the venues for Iceland Airwaves, which has been held since 1999, include bars, theatres, parks and hostels spread across the country’s capital, Reykjavik. There are gigs even at the airport.

The line-up is an eclectic mix of new and upcoming bands, DJs and musicians from across the world. Last year’s headliners were the excellent Bombay Bicycle Club. I heard an Irish band, Pastiche, doing a soundcheck at the KEX Hostel bar while I was washing down a pizza dinner with a beer. I posted a video of the soundcheck and the lead singer slipped into my DMs asking for the original video. Would any artist at any other festival do that?