The new year is already filling up fast. Last evening, January 22, Vilhjálmur Yngvi Hjálmarsson’s Diagrams opened at Á milli and runs until January 28. Today, the artist-run gallery Kannski opens Vessel at 17:00 — works by Sunniva Allanic and Steffi Drerup that look at sustaining life through sculpture and photography.
Tonight there’s plenty to choose from. A Rokk Concert kicks off at 19:00 at Smekkleysa with Juno Paul, Gíker, and Dirt Talent Extract. Over at Marvaða (Grandagarður 5), Berglind María Tómasdóttir and Björg Brjánsdóttir will perform their flute-centric pieces Dear Carolyn and Cambrian. At the same time, Mengi hosts synth-pop artist lupine from 20:00, playing a set that mixes released and unreleased tracks.
If you want something more straight-ahead, electronic producer Knackered plays Kaffibarinn at 21:00. Late-night option: Alaska1867 and digital Iceland at Prikið around midnight — word is there’ll be a few Grapevine faces in the crowd.
More events below — keep scrolling. Got something to add? Put it in the calendar at events.grapevine.is or see what else is on.
Lavaforming — Group Exhibition
Friday, January 23 — 17:00 — Hafnarhús (Reykjavík Art Museum)
Iceland’s entry for the 2025 Venice Biennale takes the form of a multimedia group show asking what it would look like if flowing magma could be turned into a building material. Architects, writers, musicians, and designers all contribute, and the result is a genuinely unusual look at construction and what it means for the environment.ISH
French Film Festival
Friday, January 23 to Sunday, February 1 — Bíó Paradís — Tickets available at bioparadis.is
The French Film Festival opens at Bíó Paradís today. The headline draw is actress Isabelle Huppert, who is attending the premiere of her latest film, The Richest Woman In The World. The programme also includes Amélie, Hate, and The Piano Accident. On top of that, curated French wines will be pouring at the venue’s new cocktail bar, Regnboginn, in collaboration with Port 9 — not a bad combination. ISH
Rave Reif Performance: Sculpture Sculpture Performance Closing Party
Saturday, January 24 — 19:55 — Gerðarsafn — Free entry
Think Night At The Museum, but with a DJ booth. Gerðarsafn is throwing a closing party for its Sculpture Sculpture Performance exhibition, with live sets from The Post Performance Blues Band, Styrmir Örn, and Curro Rodriguez before DJs Melerito de Jeré and 8228 take over. Entry is free and the Krónikan bar will be open all night. ISH
Upprásin: HOYM, Curro Rodriguez, Skurgoð
Tuesday, January 27 — 20:00 — Harpa (Kaldalón) — 2.000 ISK
The grassroots Upprásin series is back for its first show of the year. HOYM — Elinborg Pálsdóttir, Lea Kampmann, and Katrín Helga Ólafsdóttir — bring folk-tinged songs that grew out of friendship and cultural exchange. Curro Rodriguez mixes music with flamenco dance, drawing on Iceland’s landscapes for inspiration. Closing the night are Skurgoð (formerly known as Vampíra), the 2024 Músíktilraunir winners, who bring their black metal sound to the Kaldalón stage. ISH
Swim-in Cinema: When Harry Met Sally
Thursday, February 5 — 18:00-21:00 — Sundhöll Hafnarfjörður — 4,900 ISK
Iceland’s pool culture needs little introduction, but this is a step up from a regular swim. On February 5, the Reykjavík International Film Festival is screening When Harry Met Sally at Sundhöll Hafnarfjörður — warm water, a big screen, live music from the soundtrack, and performances by invited actors. It tends to sell out, so treat this as your heads-up. FROM
