The Drop-In

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In this episode of The Drop-In, hosts Bart Cameron and Jón Trausti Sigurðarson sit down with Montreal-based photojournalist, artist, and multimedia storyteller G. Scott MacLeod. They discuss Scott's career capturing iconic rock musicians and political movements, his unforgettable encounter with Leonard Cohen, the cultural and historical connections between Canada and Iceland, and his animated project and book called The Indigo Iona Saga And The Settlement Of Iceland, using fiction to bring to life a person whose remains were discovered in east Iceland in the 1930s. MacLeod’s exhibit opens at the SÍM Residency at Seljavegur 32 on September 24.

The Reykjavík Grapevine has been published in downtown Reykjavík for more than 20 years. For most of that time, its offices have been next door to the “World Famous Hot Dog Stand.” Every day, people drop-in to our office for various reasons. Sometimes they tell us interesting stuff that we want to share with you, so we interview them, for your pleasure. There is no theme.

Highlights:

[00:01:20] – Scott’s background as a rock photojournalist in Montreal in the 1980s

[00:03:02] – Photographing the 1988 Human Rights Now! tour and catching iconic moments with Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman, and Peter Gabriel.

[00:11:15] – Drinking "Red Needles," during an interview with Leonard Cohen

[00:30:33] – On the Indigo Iona Saga And The Settlement Of Iceland and adapting archaeological finds into animated storytelling.

[00:48:00] – Reflections on bilingualism, multiculturalism, and using art as an educational tool for future generations.

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WHO ARE WE?
The Reykjavík Grapevine is an alternative monthly magazine published in Iceland since 2003. More on https://www.grapevine.is

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Gerard Butler, Bubbi, Michael Brook & Infinite Guitar, Björk's infamous TV appearance in the 80's and so on. Director Jón Einarsson Gústafsson's latest movie Anorgasmia: All the Things We Do To Survive opens in Bíó Paradís on September 10, but his decades long career in music, television and filmmaking yielded us  a legion of stories and anecdotes from the man himself. Anorgasmia focuses on a generation struggling with commitment, set against the isolated backdrop of the Icelandic highlands with a score by Michael Brook. Michael known for inventing the "Infinite Guitar" an instrument used by the Edge on U2's "With or Without You". 

In our interview with Jón, we also discuss his early years, his time as a teenager in the synthesizer driven band Sonus Futuri, his engineering work with Bubbi Morthens, the numerous TV shows he produced and hosted on RÚV in the 80's and his documentary Wrath of the Gods featuring Gerard Butler and the cursed production of the 2005 movie Beowulf & Grendel.

Tickets for Anorgasmia are available here: https://bioparadis.is/mynd/853_anorgasmia/

The Reykjavík Grapevine has been published in downtown Reykjavík for more than 20 years. For most of that time, its offices have been next door to the “World Famous Hot Dog Stand.” Every day, people drop-in to our office for various reasons. Sometimes they tell us interesting stuff that we want to share with you, so we interview them, for your pleasure. There is no theme.

Highlights

[00:01:56] The Scoring of Anorgasmia and the Infinite Guitar

[00:11:00] Recording Bubbi Morthens’ Kona

[00:24:41] Kukl and Björk Television Scandal

[00:31:19] Creating Iceland's longest running quiz show Gettu Betur.

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Support The Reykjavík Grapevine's reporting by becoming a subscriber at https://www.grapevine.is/subscribe - We are also a printed magazine. You can subscribe to that too.

You can also support The Reykjavík Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is

WHO ARE WE?
The Reykjavík Grapevine is an alternative monthly magazine published in Iceland since 2003. More on https://www.grapevine.is

Send us Fan Mail

On Saturday 29 August Iceland held a referendum on whether or not to restart negotiations with the EU on joining that entity. The result was that 52,8% of the voters, 118.040 people, said no, and 47,2% or 105.339 people, voted yes. The vote was brought about by the decision of the sitting coalition government in Iceland, and was originally planned for 2027, but early this year the referendum was moved forward by some months, with government ministers citing international uncertainty as a reason.

In this bonus episode The Reykjavík Grapevine’s Jón Trausti Sigurðarson and Bart Cameron along with contributing journalist Elías Þórsson talk about the origins of the referendum, allt the way to the results, the national discourse leading up to the referendum, the murky campaign finance laws it exposed, the unexpected political alliances during it, interesting - yet not surprising - trends within some voter demographics and what the result may - or may not  mean for Iceland, for the EU and for the EEA.

Timestamps

• 00:00:14 — Introduction and overview
• 00:01:07 — Why the referendum was held
• 00:04:59 — Turnout analysis & election results
• 00:14:58 — The campaign shift: Identity politics
• 00:27:53 — Demographics & The 'Brosphere'
• 00:30:23 — Unlikely Alliances

SHOW SUPPORT
Support The Reykjavík Grapevine's reporting by becoming a subscriber at https://www.grapevine.is/subscribe - We are also a printed magazine. You can subscribe to that too.

You can also support The Reykjavík Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is

WHO ARE WE?
The Reykjavík Grapevine is an alternative monthly magazine published in Iceland since 2003. More on https://www.grapevine.is

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode we sit down with Pan Thorarensen, musician and organizer of the annual Extreme Chill Festival. We discuss the festival's 17-year history, and beginnings as an album release show in Hellisandur, Snæfellsnes, to its evolution into a highly curated concert experience in downtown Reykjavík. We discuss the highly publicised 2015 police raid which became the festival's biggest PR boost, how an expanding network with Nordic and Baltic festivals is helping artists tour internationally. We discuss the collaborative and non-competitive record store culture in Reykjavík and (finally) get around to discussing the lineup for the 2026 Extreme Chill Festival, which features legendary artists such as DJ Krush and Youth.

Check out extremechill.org for tickets and full festival details.

The Reykjavík Grapevine has been published in downtown Reykjavík for more than 20 years. For most of that time, its offices have been next door to the “World Famous Hot Dog Stand.” Every day, people drop-in to our office for various reasons. Sometimes they tell us interesting stuff that we want to share with you, so we interview them, for your pleasure. There is no theme.

• [00:01:45] - Family Collaboration & Festival Origins in Snæfellsnes
• [00:08:04] - The 2015 Police Raid & The Power of Good PR 
• [00:15:51] - Running Space Odyssey & Reykjavík's Record Store Culture
• [00:31:30] - Connecting Through the Nordic & Baltic Festival Networks
• [00:38:01] - The 2026 Lineup (DJ Krush, Youth, and more)

SHOW SUPPORT
Support The Reykjavík Grapevine's reporting by becoming a subscriber at https://www.grapevine.is/subscribe - We are also a printed magazine. You can subscribe to that too.

You can also support The Reykjavík Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is

WHO ARE WE?
The Reykjavík Grapevine is an alternative monthly magazine published in Iceland since 2003. More on https://www.grapevine.is

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode we sit down with Icelandic musician, drummer, and cultural figure Sigtryggur Baldursson. We discuss Sigtryggur's tenure from 2012 to 2024 leading the Iceland Music export office, during which he lobbied Parliament to establish an international music export fund and created the "Record in Iceland" studio refund program. Sigtryggur explains how these efforts, along with festivals like Iceland Airwaves and the Reykjavík Jazz Festival, expanded the international visibility and genre diversity of Icelandic artists beyond traditional indie music.

The discussion also explores Sigtryggur's personal artistic endeavors and the 40th anniversary of Bad Taste Records (Smekkleysa). Sigtryggur discusses his Calypso alter-ego, Bogomil Font, detailing the creation of a new, just released album featuring witty, multi-layered lyrics written in collaboration with Bragi Valdimar Skúlason. He then traces the history of Bad Taste Records from its beginnings in 1986 with a Reagan–Gorbachev summit postcard campaign to its status as a major independent label, storefront, and performance venue, while also touching on Sigtryggur two upcoming album releases, one with duo Paddan, and the other with the legendary punk band Purrkur Pillnikk.

The Reykjavík Grapevine has been published in downtown Reykjavík for more than 20 years. For most of that time, its offices have been next door to the “World Famous Hot Dog Stand.” Every day, people drop-in to our office for various reasons. Sometimes they tell us interesting stuff that we want to share with you, so we interview them, for your pleasure. There is no theme.

Highlights

[00:01:41] Building the Iceland Music Export Fund

[00:08:14] Diversifying Icelandic Music Exports

[00:18:14] The Return of Bogomil Font

[00:29:02] 40 Years of Bad Taste Records:

[00:37:34] Band Reunions & Future Releases

SHOW SUPPORT
Support The Reykjavík Grapevine's reporting by becoming a subscriber at https://www.grapevine.is/subscribe - We are also a printed magazine. You can subscribe to that too.

You can also support The Reykjavík Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is

WHO ARE WE?
The Reykjavík Grapevine is an alternative monthly magazine published in Iceland since 2003. More on https://www.grapevine.is

Send us Fan Mail

The Reykjavík Grapevine has been published in downtown Reykjavík for more than 20 years. For most of that time, its offices have been next door to the "World Famous Hot Dog Stand.” Every day, people drop-in to our office for various reasons. Sometimes they tell us interesting stuff that we want to share with you, so we interview them, for your pleasure. There is no theme.

In this episode we sit down with Þorbjörg Þorvaldsdóttir, a linguist and seasoned municipal politician, to discuss the controversial decision to dismantle the Reykjavík Human Rights Office last June 25. Þorbjörg explains the vital role the office played in aggregating data and advocating for marginalized groups—including immigrants, the queer community, and people with disabilities—across various city departments. The conversation explores the symbolic nature of these budget cuts, the alarming trend of political shifts away from progressive human rights protections, and the critical need for empathy and data-driven policy in local governance.

Highlights 

• 00:00:14 – Introduction to the guest: Þorbjörg Þorvaldsdóttir’s background in municipal politics and media commentary.
• 00:02:48 – Contextualizing the Human Rights Office: Its founding, purpose, and pioneering initiatives over the last 20 years.
• 00:07:16 – The impact of the office’s closure: Why splitting the department risks losing a comprehensive, cross-departmental view of human rights.
• 00:09:13 – The symbolic message of the cuts: What this gesture communicates to minority groups in Reykjavík and the appeasement of far-right rhetoric.
• 00:31:19 – Municipal policy and blind spots: The need for robust data gathering to ensure inclusive city planning and better representation.

SHOW SUPPORT
Support The Reykjavík Grapevine's reporting by becoming a subscriber at https://www.grapevine.is/subscribe - We are also a printed magazine. You can subscribe to that too.

You can also support The Reykjavík Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is

WHO ARE WE?
The Reykjavík Grapevine is an alternative monthly magazine published in Iceland since 2003. More on https://www.grapevine.is

Send us Fan Mail

The Reykjavík Grapevine has been published in downtown Reykjavík for more than 20 years. For most of that time, its offices have been next door to the "World Famous Hot Dog Stand.” Every day, people drop-in to our office for various reasons. Sometimes they tell us interesting stuff that we want to share with you, so we interview them, for your pleasure. There is no theme.

In this episode we are joined by legendary Icelandic bassist Tómas R. Einarsson to discuss the recently released 1985 live recording, Chet in Iceland. The recording, which includes 9 songs, captures a performance by jazz icon Chet Baker in Gamla Bíó, Reykjavík in 1985, acompanied by Tómas R. Einarsson on bass, Kristján Magnússon on piano and Sveinn Óli Jónsson on drums. 

Timestamps:

• [00:01:27] The challenge of playing with only 15 minutes of rehearsal.
• [00:03:33] How a mistake during the concert led to a brilliant performance.
• [00:08:56] The story of "My Funny Valentine" and a sweater wager.
• [00:19:35] Why it took 40 years to release this recording and the licensing hurdles.
• [00:39:41] Tómas’s path: From working on oil rigs to discovering the double bass.

Listen to Chet in Iceland on your favorite streaming platform and check out Tómas R. Einarsson’s extensive discography.

SHOW SUPPORT
Support The Reykjavík Grapevine's reporting by becoming a subscriber at https://www.grapevine.is/subscribe - We are also a printed magazine. You can subscribe to that too.

You can also support The Reykjavík Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is

WHO ARE WE?
The Reykjavík Grapevine is an alternative monthly magazine published in Iceland since 2003. More on https://www.grapevine.is

Send us Fan Mail

The Reykjavík Grapevine has been published in downtown Reykjavík for more than 20 years. For most of that time, its offices have been next door to the "World Famous Hot Dog Stand.” Every day, people drop-in to our office for various reasons. Sometimes they tell us interesting stuff that we want to share with you, so we interview them, for your pleasure. There is no theme.

In this episode we are joined by Icelandic radio veteran Ólafur Páll Gunnarsson (Óli Palli) to discuss the upcoming 70th birthday of Iceland's bestselling (in Iceland) and extremely influential musician, Bubbi Morthens, who was featured on the cover of the latest issue of The Reykjavík Grapevine. Óli Palli discusses Bubbi's profound cultural impact, his prolific songwriting process, and his decision to stay and flourish in Iceland instead of pursuing an international career. This conversation attempts to contextualize Bubbi for an English-speaking audience, examining how his career has mirrored the Icelandic experience, from his punk-rock roots in Utangarðsmenn to his lasting influence on the nation's social and cultural landscape, including his role in normalizing views of the gay community in the 1980s.

Highlights:
00:01:42: How Bubbi’s music inspired Óli Palli to get into the music business as a radio host.
00:08:25: Bubbi as an artistic "sponge," drawing influence from a wide range of authors and musicians.
00:11:36: Bubbi’s decision to remain "a big fish in this little pond" (Iceland).
00:32:01: Bubbi's first band, Utangarðsmenn, and their role in creating Reykjavík's 1980s live music scene.
00:33:11: The social impact of the 1984 song Strákarnir á Borginni (The Boys of Hotel Borg) on the gay community in Iceland.

SHOW SUPPORT
Support The Reykjavík Grapevine's reporting by becoming a subscriber at https://www.grapevine.is/subscribe - We are also a printed magazine. You can subscribe to that too.

You can also support The Reykjavík Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is

WHO ARE WE?
The Reykjavík Grapevine is an alternative monthly magazine published in Iceland since 2003. More on https://www.grapevine.is

Send us Fan Mail

The Reykjavík Grapevine has been published in downtown Reykjavík for more than 20 years. For most of that time, its offices have been next door to the "World Famous Hot Dog Stand.” Every day, people drop-in to our office for various reasons. Sometimes they tell us interesting stuff that we want to share with you, so we interview them, for your pleasure. There is no theme.

In this episode we are joined by journalist Elías Þórsson, who wrote The Reykjavík Grapevine’s recent cover feature about the upcoming EU referendum in Iceland.

We begin by discussing the "explosive" rhetoric from anti-EU spokesperson Haraldur Ólafsson, a professor of meteorology at the University of Iceland. He suggested that the passion of the "No" side could potentially lead to acts of terrorism if Iceland were to join the EU.

We then dive into the core of the debate: the practical difference between Iceland’s current status as a member of the European Economic Area (EEA)—which already requires adopting large amounts of EU legislation—and full EU membership. While Iceland enjoys market access through the EEA, the main sticking points for full membership remain fisheries and agriculture, which are excluded from the current agreement. Pro-EU voices argue that joining would grant Iceland a vote and a voice in shaping policies it already follows, and allow for the adoption of the Euro to escape the high cost and instability of the small Icelandic króna.

Our discussion also explores how domestic politics and global security concerns are influencing the debate. High inflation and interest rates historically correlate with greater public willingness to join the EU; however, skepticism about U.S. and NATO reliability, coupled with the government's noticeably ambiguous promotion of the referendum, raises questions about whether the timing is a "set-up to fail." We end by making opposing predictions for the August 29 referendum.

Episode highlights:

02:40 The Explosive Anti-EU Interview & Terrorism Reference

08:41 Clarifying the Referendum: Why the Debate is Just About Talking to the EU

12:58 Fisheries, Agriculture, and the Myth of the Icelandic Sheep

23:07 Pro-EU Case: Sovereignty, A Voice in Brussels, and Fleeing the Króna

26:41 Inflation, Geopolitics, and Why the Timing is Suspicious

30:58 Is The Government Setting Up the EU Referendum to Fail?

54:58 Iceland’s Existential Question: Where Do We Turn for Security?

SHOW SUPPORT
Support The Reykjavík Grapevine's reporting by becoming a subscriber at https://www.grapevine.is/subscribe - We are also a printed magazine. You can subscribe to that too.

You can also support The Reykjavík Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is

WHO ARE WE?
The Reykjavík Grapevine is an alternative monthly magazine published in Iceland since 2003. More on https://www.grapevine.is

Send us Fan Mail

The Reykjavík Grapevine has been published out of downtown Reykjavík for more than 20 years, with its offices for most of that time next door to the "World Famous Hot Dog Stand." 

In this episode we are joined by Jay Thompson and Natasha González, known as the "Coconuts family," professional sailors and extreme adventurers who have repeatedly sailed to Iceland, often arriving in the dead of winter. They discuss their full-time life aboard their incredible 107-year-old, 40-ton solid oak vessel, Lola of Skagen, their recent winter journey from France via the British Isles, and how they run surf and ski charters in the remote Westfjords. They also share the story of their son, Artico, who was born in Ísafjörður, and detail the technical challenges of navigating Iceland's treacherous high-latitude waters using local knowledge and weather analysis.

Hosted by: Jón Trausti Sigurðarson & Bart Cameron

Episode Highlights

00:01:17 - Meet Lola: Detailing the guests' majestic, 107-year-old, 40-ton solid oak Danish fishing boat.

00:03:54 - Lola's amazing history as a hajkutter (shark cutter) that used a live well to transport fish to England.

00:06:00 - The WWII survival story: How Lola sank after hitting a mine in the Baltic and later reappeared.

00:07:00 - Why the Coconuts family chooses to spend the winter in Iceland, arriving in February, because they "don't really like it so much in summer."

00:09:56 - Taking adventurers on surf charters to remote, previously unsurfed waves in the Westfjords, including naming one "Lola's Right."

00:15:39 - The incredible story of their son, Artico (meaning Arctic in Spanish), who was born in an old house in Ísafjörður.

00:22:18 - Guiding a hardcore Norwegian group on a ski and dive expedition to the remote natural reserve of Hornstrandir.

00:31:43 - Professional sailor Jay Thompson explains the main difference when sailing Iceland's high latitudes, including quick weather changes and strong currents.

Follow Jay and Natasha's adventures on their website coconuts.is and learn more about their boat at lolaofskagen.com. You can also find them on social media at Coconuts Sail and Lola of Skagen.

SHOW SUPPORT
Support The Reykjavík Grapevine's reporting by becoming a subscriber at https://www.grapevine.is/subscribe - We are also a printed magazine. You can subscribe to that too.

You can also support The Reykjavík Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is

WHO ARE WE?
The Reykjavík Grapevine is an alternative monthly magazine published in Iceland since 2003. More on https://www.grapevine.is