Iceland Airwaves to expand in 2017

After a successful 18th edition in the first week of November, Iceland Airwaves has announced it will venture beyond Reykjavik for festival #19.

The plan, says the festival, is to “have 2–3 official venues in Akureyri” – a city of around 18,000 people in northern Iceland – “and around 20–26 artists performing, both international and Icelandic. There will also be off-venue shows at selected venues in town.”

“It is important it is not just foreigners who come to Airwaves”

Festival director Grímur Atlason tells RÚV the move will enable “young bands in the area, and people who live in [Akureyri] and in rural areas” to attend the festival. “It is important that it is not just foreigners who come to Airwaves,” he emphasises.

More than 9,000 festivalgoers and 220 artists – including Björk, PJ Harvey (pictured) Múm and the Sonics – attended Iceland Airwaves 2016.

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