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REYKJAVIK - AIRWAVES FESTIVAL

Our man Dan went to Iceland to see some geysers, wallow in hot springs, cash in on the feeble Icelandic kr√≥na, and watch some bands at the Airwaves Festival. Here's what he came back with….


Florence Welch from Florence & the Machine turned up to Airwaves without regular sidekick Dev from Lightspeed Champion, but still wailed the place down with her indie blues at the Reykjavik Art Museum on Thursday night.  Found out afterwards that she’s only 20. Girl needs a good night’s sleep.

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The best Icelandic band was probably the oldest one out of the bunch ‚Äì Reykjavik’s answer to Depeche Mode, Gus Gus.  Memo to all young bands: shooting yourself in the face with a dry ice cannister is a surefire way to get a party started. Pros like pros.


Vampire Weekend’s bass geek put the band’s clean cut image in jeopardy by wearing his lovely onstage jumper on the plane to London, the day after the band’s headlining set [Not pictured: his felt green Adidas Gazelles].  That’s right, wearing the same clothes two days in a row!  The sneaky buggers also tried to get in the EU passport queue.


Gullfoss waterfall. Rainbow provided by Odin.


Local screamo kids, the Fist Fokkers (below), and Bristol’s laptop lovin’ Fuck Buttons (above) went head to head for the title of "Best Fucking Duo."  The latter were fucking boring beyond belief, so let’s give it to the lads in the fairy lights.


Vicky (formerly Vicky Pollard) were certainly the hardest working band during Airwaves.  These four nice girls and a bloke played four shows around town, all the while being letched on by the guys from Kerrang.  They also had the rare distinction among the Icelandic acts of actually having an album (Pull Hard) out.  Recommended for fans of Little Britain-referencing hard rock (you know who you are).

Naflakusk (Icelandic for "Six Peaches Geldofs") played a taut and compelling set of songs, which explored the pain and angst of growing up in the shadow of a modern day media saint.  Half the band then collapsed from "nervous exhaustion."


Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. Biffy Clyro were there too, totally harshing my mellow.

DANALOG