Love in a Very Cold Climate

10:28 AM GMT 16/04/2007

‘Eclectic’ doesn’t come near to describing the bill. French metallers
Nosfell share the stage (a converted fish warehouse) with the town
brass band, Bjork’s son’s punk band Slugs follows Christian songsmith
Petur Ben whilst ravers FM Belfast make way for US alt.rock heroes
Blonde Redhead. The audience ranges from toddlers to
great-grandparents, the atmosphere both boisterous and welcoming to
those artists who, in travelling to the town, almost doubled its
population.

“I was drinking with my father in a pub in London on the hottest day of
the year and we thought the idea up,” says Mugison, “We imagined that
we would do a festival were local workers would sing, DJ and entertain
as they were the main attraction and we would get the biggest name in
Icelandic music seen to support them. When we woke up the idea was
still there so we called up some friends and to our surprise everybody
was up for it. I invited about 36 bands to play, not expecting many of
them to turn up. They all did.”

It all adds up to an explosive mix which ultimately blows with
headliners HAM. Despite modest commercial success in their original
1988-1994 years, the punk metallers have been elevated to legendary
status in the country and are cited by The Sugarcubes and Rammstein as
a major influence. Tonight’s 20-minute set is a terrifying, intense
and sweaty mash of rage, joy and downright weirdness. The Aurora
Borealis dancing for hours above the town as the crowds disperse only
add to the other-worldliness of the night.

If the V Festival is your idea of a good weekend, the Aldrei event
isn’t for you. If, however, you don’t mind some folk with your punk,
some electronica spliced into your jazz sets and you have a very, very
warm hat, you might want to consider Isafjordur as an alternative to
Easter bank holiday television next year.

Thanks to Icelandic Music Export, www.icelandicmusic.is and www.icelandair.co.uk

Posted by Ross_Bennett at 10:28 AM GMT 16/04/2007