Outdoor Rock and Roll

The first, and hopefully not the last, Reykjavík Tropik music festival took place over the weekend. Domestic acts like Daníel Ágúst, Benni Hemm Hemm, Hjálmar, Apparat Organ Quartet, Jeff Who?, Leaves, Trabant and international bands Supergrass, Girls In Hawaii, ESG, Kid Carpet and Ladytron were all set to play at the festival tent in front of the main building of the University of Iceland.

However the last day had to be relocated and eventually took place at the indoor venue NASA. The three-piece American punk band Sleater-Kinney had already booked a concert at NASA that same night so at the end the festival line-up grew bigger and better than anyone had expected.

The idea of having an outdoor festival in Iceland may sound crazy but the largest tent available in the city was installed to provide shelter for the concert marathon. The weather on the other hand was great for most of the weekend so Reykjavík was all set for a great three-day outdoor rock and roll festival. And that is just what we got ¿unfortunately the turnout was far below what everyone had hoped for, which meant that artists like Daníel Ágúst and Benni Hemm Hemm (who played during the day or early in the evening) had to appear in front of a crowd of only a hundred people.

During the evenings the turnout was all right and the atmosphere when bands like Hjálmar, Apparat Organ Quartet and Jeff Who? played was sometimes amazing and some of the international acts like Sleater-Kinney, Ladytron, ESG and Kid Carpet gave great performances. When the main act Supergrass went onstage Saturday night people were not sure of what to expect. They had just finished a long recording session and were really just doing this gig for the fun of it so what were they gonna play?

The crowd was pleased to hear the first song on the setlist that night ¿ "Richard III" from Supergrass's second album In It for the Money. Old favourites like "Caught By The Fuzz", "Lenny", "Strange Ones", "Sun Hit The Sky" and "Pumpin' On Your Stereo" followed in a mixed programme of older and newer hit songs and some brand new ones. Truly a great show that will be remembered for a long time. The band itself seemed to have a good time and said that they would definitely be back sooner rather than later.

We hope to see Supergrass again someday but what is more important is to see the Reykjavík Tropik festival again. The low turnout at this festival is a concern for Icelandic music life especially when concerts like Iggy Pop have already failed this year and a festival where The Darkness, Motörhead and David Gray were supposed to play has been cancelled due to low ticket sales. Have Icelanders lost their interest in concerts or are there simply too many events to choose from nowadays?

One thing at least is certain. Reykjavík Tropik was a great event ¿ great bands, great weather, great (but few) people and some amazing concerts. Let's hope Reykjavík Tropik is here to stay.

- Ágúst Bogason, radio host on National Radio 2