Icelandic babes soaking in hot springs? Raving underneath the Northern Lights? DJs performing while contorted inside of tiny boxes? Alunageorge? No, this is not just every young boy’s fantasy—it is the one and only Iceland Airwaves festival, which took place last week in the nation’s capital of Reykjavík! This icy soirée’s inaugural bash—wait is it cold in Iceland?—was held in 1999 in an airplane hanger, and since then the festival has been known as one of the premier annual showcases for new music… and super weird shit in general.

Everyone from Fatboy Slim and Hot Chip to Sigur Rós and the Flaming Lips have taken the stage(s) here and it’s known to be a breeding ground for cutting edge music and a whole lotta glamorous hipsters. Where else can you roll out of bed, hunt for waterfalls and lava fields, then dive into the world famous Blue Lagoon while doing your best two-step to world-class talent? Iceland, baby. Check out this stunning gallery from photo ninja Nicky Digital and join me in scratching my head as to why the hell I didn’t go to the festival. There’s always next year…

Squeezing in one last DJ set at Dolly with

Nicky Digital

The infamous Northern Lights

Nicky Digital

Jon Hopkins live set at Harpa Concert Hall

Nicky Digital

Harpa Concert Hall

Nicky Digital

Sykur live at Harpa Concert Hall

Nicky Digital

Hermigervill off venue performance at the Kex Hostel

Nicky Digital

Hermigervill off venue performance at the Kex Hostel

Nicky Digital

Hanging with Hermigervill at the Kex Hostel

Nicky Digital

Nicky Digital hanging with Rakel Mjöll of Halleluwah

Nicky Digital

AlunaGeorge live at Harpa

Nicky Digital

Oculus live at Harlem

Nicky Digital

Iceland Airwaves Chill Party at the Blue Lagoon

Nicky Digital

Retro Stefson live at the Iceland Airwaves Chill Party at the Blue Lagoon

Nicky Digital

Iceland Airwaves Chill Party at the Blue Lagoon

Nicky Digital

Harpa Concert Hall

Nicky Digital

FM Belfast live at Harpa

Nicky Digital

Jagwar Ma like at Reykjavik Art Museum

Nicky Digital

Jagwar Ma like at Reykjavik Art Museum

Nicky Digital

Young Fathers live at Gamli Gaukurinn

Nicky Digital

Tanya & Marlon live set at Boston

Nicky Digital

MØ live at Reykjavik Art Museum

Nicky Digital

Harpa Concert Hall

Nicky Digital

Reykjavik Harbor

Nicky Digital

Steve Sampling at the Möller Records showcase at Lucky Records

Nicky Digital

Ultra Mega Technobandið Stefán at the Band in a Box performance

Nicky Digital

Grísalappalísa at the Reykjavik Art Museum

Nicky Digital

Bloodgroup live at Harpa

Nicky Digital