Punk/rock idea born in a whiskey bar

Norðanpaunk (English: Nordic-Punk) is a family gathering of the Icelandic punk community held in Laugarbakki. It’s a punk/rock music festival, 42 bands performing and BYOB.

“Everyone, the performers, organizers and those attending the festival shape and form the festival together,” says Árni Þorlákur Guðnason one of theorganizer when asked about the distinction of the festival. “Another one is that Norðanpaunk aims to be a platform for the weirdest, most fun and the most difficult music in Iceland.”

Idea born in a whiskey bar

The idea of Norðanpaunk was formed in a whiskey bar in Reykjavik, where a group of friends were reminiscing about punk concerts they attended as teenagers. They decided to revive this era with a music festival on Verslunarmannahelgi, a three day weekend with loads of festivals. None of which however offers any underground music. There are many ideas that come about in bars that disappear into next day’s haze, this one however made it into reality and the first Norðanpaunk festival took place in 2013.

The festival is organized by a group of musicians who do all the work voluntarily and with a little help from friends and family, make the music happen every year.

42 bands

Norðanpaunk is a three day festival that offers 42 bands. Performing are not only some of Iceland’s best underground bands, there are some visitors from abroad as well. Here’s the line-up:

GNAW THEIR TONGUES (NL) - MARTYRDÖD (SE) - DJ FLUGVÉL OG GEIMSKIP - FORGARÐUR HELVÍTIS - MISÞYRMING - KÆLAN MIKLA - SEVERED - SINMARA - Q4U - LATISHA´S SKULL DRAWING (USA) - ABOMINOR - ALMYRKVI - ANTIMONY - AUXPAN - BRÁK - CHURCHHOUSE CREEPERS - COLD CELL (CH) - COTTAGING (USA) - DAUÐYFLIN - DULVITUND - DYNFARI - EXTENDED SUICIDE (DK) - GLORYRIDE - GJÖLL - GRAFIR - GRAVE SUPERIOR - GREAT GRIEF - GRODOCK (DE) - HATARI - HEMÚLLINN - IN THE COMPANY OF MEN - KVÖL - MANNVEIRA - MOSI FRÆNDI - OFVITARNIR - PANOS FROM KOMODO - SKELKUR Í BRINGU - URÐUN - VOID ZIZ(); - WORLD NARCOSIS - ÖRMAGNA.

Special guests: La Poste Di Falcone (DE)

The Venue

The venue for Norðanpaunk is a community hall in Laugarbakki, a very small village in North Iceland, just under 200 km from Reykjavik. Don’t worry if you’ve never heard of the place, many Icelandic people would have troubles placing it on a map. This gives this festival some of its charm, as there is very little service to be had, even the ticket to the festival must be bought online, there is no ticket sale at the door.