What to Do This Week | All Shades of Music in Iceland’s Capital
2026-02-23 - 12:25
As we head into the final week of February, the city and its venues are bubbling with events — especially live music. There’s a palpable sense of anticipation in the air, as if everything is gearing up to welcome spring, despite the weather’s best efforts to suggest otherwise. The week kicks off with a lively singalong session and unfolds into a variety of concerts showcasing the many faces of Icelandic music — from raw, untamed punk rock to immersive drone ambient, and everything in between. Monday, 23 February Come and Sing!, a singing gathering at the Árbær City Library, 16.30 Fancy a sing-song? Once a month, Spöngin City Library and Árbær City Library host warm, feel-good community singing sessions, usually accompanied by a local artist. This time, guitarist and all-round bringer of joy Valli will lead the way, guiding everyone through some of the greatest gems in Icelandic pop history — a carefully chosen mix of much-loved classics that most people are bound to recognise and happily join in with. Click here to find more information about the event. Tuesday, 24 February Launched by Reykjavík Music City in collaboration with Rás 2 and Landsbankinn, the Upprásin concert series is dedicated to championing Iceland’s grassroots music scene. The line-ups often bring together independent artists with strikingly different sounds and styles, creating evenings full of contrast and discovery. This Tuesday, audiences can look forward to an eclectic programme: immersive drone ambient from Glupsk, intricate jazz fusion by Anya Shaddock, and dreamy indie-folk courtesy of Laufkvist. Click here to find more information about the event. Wednesday, 25 February For those in need of a breather between concerts, a DJ set at Röntgen is the perfect interlude. Diving into her extensive vinyl collection, DJ Giovanna Del Dio will whisk you away into the glittering world of Italo disco — all pulsing basslines and shimmering synths. It’s a fitting soundtrack for the first tentative days of spring. Thursday, 26 February Sterre van Wezel with a group. Photo: Troll.is. South Coast & Glacier Hike Minibus Tour, 8.00 Just two hours from Reykjavík, the South Coast captures Iceland’s raw, elemental beauty in a single sweep — glaciers and volcanoes, shimmering ice caves and vast stretches of black sand beach. While finding a tour operator heading south is easy enough, few offer an experience with a truly distinctive edge. The South Coast and Glacier Tours from Troll.is combine the region’s iconic landmarks with carefully chosen hidden gems, creating a journey that feels both classic and refreshingly personal. Click here to find more information about the tour. Friday, 27 February Saktmóðigur, an album launch at Dillon, 21.00 Venerable punk band Saktmóðigur is celebrating their new release Seljum Sannleikann, which blends an unstoppable energy of Guns ‘n’ Roses and menacing Viking force. The collective formed in 1991 which makes it one of the longest-lived bands in this genre. Apart from Saktmóðigur, the show will feature support act Bastarður. Click here to find more information about the event. Saturday, 28 February Amor Vincit Omnia, an album launch at Mengi, 20.00 Local darlings Amor Vincit Omnia are releasing a new EP, extended babe, which continues the trajectory of their 2024 mini album brb babe. Founded in 2023, the pop project crafts music that’s playful, eccentric, and unapologetically bold. Drawing inspiration from boundary-pushing innovators across the pop spectrum, Amor’s sound stretches from the explosive electronic energy of Skrillex to the hypnotic minimalism of Steve Reich — blending club-driven intensity with intricate rhythmic textures. Click here to find more information about the event. Sunday, 1 March Skelkur í bringu, a concert at Kaffibarinn, 22.30 Anyone familiar with the solo project of Steinunn Hardardottir, dj. flugvél og geimskip (Airplane & Spaceship), are aware of her naughty punk side project Skelkur í bringu. The key elements associated with Steinunn’s mercurial performance are here: Bollywood-style high-pitched vocals, lyrics narrating about fantasy worlds and psychedelic vibe. Perfect start to spring.