This week, some music fans will finally reunite with a band they have been waiting to see since 2005. Stoner rock pioneers Queens of the Stone Age will at last set foot on Icelandic soil. While this is an exhilarating prospect for some, others might find their joy elsewhere. Where? Scroll down to find out.
Monday, 19 October
Meditative Journey Through Sounds, Leiðin Heim, 19.15
How about starting your week on a literally positive note? Sound is known for its therapeutic properties, and this session offers a chance to experience them first-hand. Combined with breathwork, tones and vibrations can be powerful tools for relaxation, helping participants reach a deeper state of calm. Lasting an hour and a half, the workshop will introduce attendees to singing bowls, gongs, koshi bells, the kalimba, a rain disc and other instruments used in art therapy.
Click here to read more about the event.
Tuesday, 20 October
Handicraft Times in Úlfarsárdalur, The City Library Úlfarsárdalur, 13.00
As the first chilly days of October arrive, some Icelanders may be tempted to retreat beneath a blanket and lose themselves in a spot of meditative knitting. Craft sessions like this one offer a chance to socialise while keeping busy and taking one’s mind off the cold. The Reykjavík City Library in Úlfarsárdalur provides a cosy space for creativity and relaxed conversation over a nice cup of coffee.
Click here to read more about the event.
Wednesday, 21 October
Naza, a film screening at Bíó Paradís, 19.00
Directed by Israeli investigative journalists Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, NAZA features nighttime interviews with 24 Israeli soldiers and intelligence officers. The conversations took place on rooftops across Tel Aviv. As one interviewee explains, NAZA is an acronym for Nezek Agavi, which translates as “collateral damage”. It is also a measure used in military terminology to estimate the number of civilian deaths expected from an air strike.
Click here to read more about the event.
Thursday, 22 October
Strandir and Rebecca Hong, a concert at Mengi, 20.00
The experimental German-Icelandic quartet Strandir has been working together for about a year, but its members are already well known for their musical contributions in their respective countries. Tumi Torfason has performed as a solo artist and improvised with various collectives, while Berlin-based Tobias Link is familiar to Icelandic audiences through his electropop project Arfi.
The evening’s support act is Rebecca Hong, a Massachusetts-based pianist and improviser who creates haunting ambient soundscapes.
Click here to read more about the event.
Friday, 23 October
Interview with the Vampire, a film screening at Bíó Paradís, 21.00
This star-studded film is a perfect choice for the darker months. Played by Brad Pitt, Louis de Pointe du Lac claims to be a vampire and recounts a tale of love, betrayal, loneliness and dark hunger to an inquisitive reporter. Directed by Neil Jordan, the film is an adaptation of Anne Rice’s novel of the same name.
Click here to read more about the event.
Saturday, 24 October
Queens of the Stone Age, a live show at Laugardalshöllin, 20.00
Formed in Palm Desert, California, in 1996, Queens of the Stone Age has served as a creative playground for an array of iconic musicians, from Dave Grohl to Mark Lanegan. The current line-up features Josh Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen, Michael Shuman, Dean Fertita and Jon Theodore.
The band last performed in Iceland in 2005, when they appeared on the same bill as Foo Fighters. It has been a long wait, but some things are worth waiting for.
Click here to read more about the event.
Sunday, 25 October
Guided Tour in English, National Museum of Iceland, 13.00
Founded in 1863, the National Museum of Iceland houses an exhibition featuring around 2,000 objects. On the last Sunday of each month, the museum offers a special guided tour in a foreign language. The tour is included in the price of a museum admission ticket.
Click here to read more about the event.