DJ Kevin Cole and Online Content Manager Jim Beckmann preview the 2014 Iceland Airwaves Music Festival with a diverse mix of tracks from 17 Icelandic artists including FM Belfast, Sóley, Kiasmos, and Low Roar. 1. Prins Póló - Hamstra sjarma 2. FM Belfast - Gold 3. Uni Stefson - Manuel 4. Fufanu -…
The newest act on our lineup performs a dreamy set of indie-pop from the KEX Hostel in Reykjavik.
Watch the band's performance from Iceland Airwaves 2019.
aYia performs cataclysmic songs live from KEXP’s Iceland Airwaves 2018 broadcast at KEX Hostel.
KEXP broadcast live from KEX Hostel at Iceland Airwaves is Icelandic artist Pétur Ben. He first came into the spotlight following his collaboration with Icelandic virtuoso Mugisonm and the following year he released his debut record, Wine for My Weakness, and won an Icelandic Music Award for best a…
Icelandic songster Júníus Meyvant and his nine piece backing band deliver a long set of richly textured arctic soul. Live from Kex Hostel in Reykjavik during Iceland Airwaves 2014. Recorded 11/06/2014 - 7 songs: Hailslide, Gold Laces, Neon Experience, Beat Silent Neat, Mighty Backbone, Color Decay…
Holy hell, what an epic finish! Legendary Icelandic band HAM took over Kex Hostel for our final show of the day from Iceland Airwaves. And when we say took over, we really mean it. These heavy rockers formed in 1984, but it was a series of opening gigs for The Sugarcubes in 1988 that began to garne…
Our time at KEX Hostel for 2018 ends with a fierce performance from the rising London math-noise outfit.
Watch the band's performance from Iceland Airwaves 2019.
Watch her performance from Iceland Airwaves 2019 and read an interview.
Our first live Iceland Airwaves show of the day from Kex Hostel in Reykjavik was Icelandic indie-folk quintet Árstíðir. Formed in 2008 as a guitar-based group, they've since added piano, violin, and cello to the mix. They incorporate classical, minimalist, and even some prog rock elements into thei…
We rounded out day two of our Iceland Airwaves broadcast live from Kex Hostel with Icelandic punk band Hórmónar. Like many of our favorite Icelandic acts, Hórmónar were the winners of last year’s Músíktilraunir or “Music Experiments,” Iceland’s youth-focused battle of the bands (other winners inclu…
We have reached day one of Iceland Airwaves Music Festival, and the anticipation in Reykjavik is palatable. Locals and visitors alike are milling about town, getting ready for the big week to come. Here at KEX Hostel, KEXP is putting the finishing touches on preparations for an incredible week of l…
The newest member of KEXP’s video team has already logged some serious miles as a videographer, including a trip to Iceland Airwaves with KEXP.
Day three was all about the beauty of contrast, ranging from atmospheric compositions to face melting riffs.
In this session from KEX Hostel in Reykjavik, Bagdad Brothers perform nine songs during KEXP’s broadcast from Iceland Airwaves.
KEXP has been incredibly fortunate to return to Iceland these past six years, not only to discover new artists to share with our listeners, but also to witness the astounding growth of bands like Vök. When we first heard them in 2013, Vök had recently formed, starting as a duo and winning Músíktilr…
During her concert at last year's Iceland Airwaves Music Festival, Björk screened a virtual reality video for the Vulnicura track “Notget.” (The clip, along with videos for “Family,” “Stonemilker,” and “Black Lake,” were also screened last year at the Björk Digital exhibit in Montreal.) Today, sh…
We just can't get enough of shoegazey band Oyama, who we featured this morning for our Song of the Day podcast. Later this month, the young Icelandic group is about to release their full-length debut, recorded with friend of KEXP Pétur Ben at Sigur Rós' Sundlaugin studio. And also today, they share…
Our third Iceland Airwaves performance at Kex Hostel was Uni Stefson, who shortened his name Unnsteinn Manuel Stefánsson for his first solo outing earlier this year. This solo project is a marked departure from his past eight years fronting electro pop band Retro Stefson. His new album, Enginn Græt…
