For over a year and a half now, Havarí has been offering a massive boost to Reykjavík’s often-championed, yet seldom-supported music scene, acting as a record store and small venue for bands, as well as offering literature from young artists and writers. It has been pretty much universally loved by anyone even remotely connected with contemporary Icelandic art and music, which is damn near every inhabitant of Reykjavík between the ages of 15 and 35.

On Saturday, January 29, it closes. The space has been acquired to construct a new downtown hotel, and Havarí has yet to find a new place to set up shop. This will, I hope, not deter them long, and I am confident an establishment of Havarí’s ilk can always find a place in downtown Reykjavík; we need it. In a country where people can’t build a house without it being hotly debated for months on end, the one thing everybody seems to agree on, local or foreigner, is that we make great music, and yet the entire scene is basically run on youthful enthusiasm and a handful of crafty entrepreneurs. It receives no support from the state and never has, and corporate sponsorship has been limited to one generous airline. We need, and I’m going to write that again in bold just to make the point (in a stupid, we need places like Havarí, colourful, eventful repositories of local culture where people can easily access new and interesting Icelandic music, especially if they’re from out of town and especially if they’re not staying long, i.e. they’re tourists. What we don’t need is one more pricy downtown hotel. Just saying.

But I digress. Before their departure, Havarí’s proprietors have organised a series of  musical events over the next two weeks, as well as offering a considerable discount on all their remaining wares. Be sure to check it out.

Havarí, Austurstræti 6, 101 Reykjavík

All shows start at 16:00

Tuesday, January 18

TBA


Wedesday, January 19

Sindri Eldon – Part One


Thursday, January 20,

Sindri Eldon – Part Two


Friday, January 21

Per: Segulsvið


Saturday, January 22

Mr. Silla – pink pancakes served


Monday, January 24

Þórir Georg


Tuesday, January 25

AMFJ


Wednesday, January 26

TBA


Thursday, January 27

Amiina


Friday, January 28

TBA


Saturday, January 29

Closing party: Prinspóló & FM Belfast