Volcanoes, glaciers and black sand

What else is there to Iceland? Well, Sólstafir, for instance.

Sólstafir’s last two albums have made their way to charts, and slipping in to the Metelli Stage tent (a bit late to the party I admit) it is easy to understand the reason for aforementioned success. Sólstafir is like a musical landscape artist, creating worlds with sounds, and transporting the audience to the shores of the island country.

– Who has been to Iceland? Do you know what there is?

Sólstafir. Photo: Sampsa Geijer

Aðalbjörn ”Addi” Tryggvason engages the audience in a bit of light chatter that counterpoints the monumental soundscape the band pushes out from the stage. A few hands rise from the audience in answer to first question and Tryggvason answers the latter himself.

– Volcanoes, glaciers and black sand.

The crowd sway and nod in time with the music and everyone seems a tad introspective.  The immersion to the world according to Sólstafir is near perfect. People look almost surprised when the show ends and the crowd walk out of the tent and hear and see other people on the festival grounds. No volcanoes nor glaciers in sight.

Text: Jari Rytkönen
Photos: Sampsa Geijer