“Electric Atmosphere” in the West as a Music Festival approaches
From Aldrei fór ég suður Music Festival last year, when the festival celebrated its 20th anniversary. mbl.is/Halldór Sveinbjörnsson
Excitement is building in Ísafjörður as the beloved music festival Aldrei fór ég suður draws near. The event, now a staple of the town’s cultural life, will take place from April 18–19, and preparations are well underway.
A town united by music
Festival organizer Kristján Freyr Halldórsson describes a powerful sense of unity in the community as residents come together to bring the festival to life.
“This is looking really promising,” Halldórsson said in an interview with mbl.is . “We’ve already received the sound system—an entire container filled with festival gear has arrived.”
The stage setup is about to begin inside the Kampaskemma, a shed belonging to the shrimp processing plant Kampi, which has generously loaned the space to the festival for nearly a decade.
Sveinbjörn Thoroddsen Hermigervill performs his art with Berndsen on Aldrei fór ég suður Music Festival in 2019. Photo/Ásgeir Helgi
“This has become a true community project,” Halldórsson said. “Even though about 20–30 people officially organize the event, it often feels like the whole town is involved in one way or another.”
One resident, for instance, donates his time and crane truck every year to move portable toilets for festivalgoers—completely free of charge and without even being asked.
A free festival, fueled by passion
Tickets have never been sold for Aldrei fór ég suður , and that, Halldórsson says, is a big part of its charm.
“Of course I’d love to take credit,” he said with a laugh, “but that’s just not how this works. I think people—both the guests and the performers—sense that this is something genuine. It’s driven purely by passion.”
Each year, the organizers field questions about ticket sales, even though the answer remains the same: the festival is completely free and entirely volunteer-run.
“No one gets paid. This isn’t about profit. People can feel that it’s authentic—it’s simply a group of people coming together to create something special for their community.”
Kristján Freyr Halldórsson. Golli / Kjartan Þorbjörnsson
Ready for anything
This year’s festival will feature performances from 11 bands and artists, set to arrive in Ísafjörður on Easter Sunday and Good Friday, by both car and plane. The team is prepared for any challenges that might arise.
“We’ve always got backup plans,” Halldórsson said. “Over the years, we’ve had last-minute flight cancellations and had to rush to Reykjavík to pick up performers. We’re ready with Plans B and C.”
Bracing for cold, hoping for sun
Despite the excitement, festival-goers are advised to dress warmly. While the weather forecast predicts sun over the Easter weekend, a chill is still in the air.
“If that’s true, we’ll be lucky,” Halldórsson said. “But it’s still winter in Ísafjörður—and it’s always cold during Aldrei fór ég suður . The venue is just a raw industrial building by the harbor. Still, once the music starts and the dancing begins, nobody feels the cold.”
A town transformed
The energy in Ísafjörður has already started to rise—not only because of the festival, but also thanks to other local events like the Fossavatnsgangan cross-country ski race last weekend and the ongoing Ísafjörður Ski Week.
Halldórsson says the festival is a major moment for the town, which will likely see its population more than double over the weekend.
“Ísafjörður is home to about 4,000 people,” he said. “But according to figures from the Road Administration, we’re expecting at least 4,500 visitors this week—about 2,000 cars are heading up to Ísafjarðardjúp.”
As Halldórsson put it: “It’s going to get crazy here as the week goes on.”
