Reykjavík Rite of Spring17-19th May 2007
Rite of Spring is a new music festival - focusing on cutting edge Folk, Jazz and World Music - taking place in Reykjavik for the second time May 17-19 2007.
Among last year headline acts were Serbian Gypsy band Kal, Brazilian bossanova gutarist Ife Tolentino, Icelandic pioneers and jazz–funksters Mezzoforte and Scottish/Latin American folk fusion Salsa Celtica - who brought the festival to a stunning close last year and will return for this years festival.
The "scene-stealers Salsa Celtica" as one journalist put it, brought the "entire audence to its feet with its swirling melodies and virtuoso musicianship. The combination is clearly greater than the sum of its parts, their performance an irresistible force and ecstatic experience."
Oumou Sangaré (MALI), "The Songbird of Wassoulou", and Goran Bregovic, with his Wedding and Funeral Band (former YUG), will also headline Rite of Spring 2007.
The first Rite of Spring event was well received by music fans within and outside of Iceland with journalsits from BBC, Songlines, Drowned in Sound and Mojo all praising the program and their experience in their publications:
- Its location half way between Europe and the Americas gives Iceland a natural opportunity to showcase the best of both continents’ folk music. (...) The festival is still in its infancy but, based on its first year, it could well find itself a fixture on the international circuit in years to come. -Stuart Williams, Mojo
- "Sweet flew onstage and off as one style of Morphed furiously into another. (...) Rite of Spring was well and truly sprung!" -Songlines festival profile. Read the full profile with pictures from last years festival here.
Rite of Spring is produced and promoted by Mr. Destiny - in cooperation with Icelandair. Mr. Destiny is also behind the renowned Iceland Airwaves festival.
“Rite of Spring is a new concept which we are developing for the first time in Iceland focusing on cutting edge Folk, Jazz and World Music. We will build it slowly over the next few years in a similar way to Airwaves but with a completely different musical vision” says Thorsteinn Stephensen owner of Mr. Destiny.
*Goran Bregovic's “Tales and Songs for Weddings and Funerals” show is produced in cooperation with Reykjavik Arts Festival.
The festival venues
NASA
Address: Austurvöllur, 101 Reykjavik
NASA is regularly used for concerts, plays and club nights and is located the heart of Reykjavik - just beside the Icelandic parliament Alþingi and opposite to one of the cities oldest hotels Hotel Borg. The whole program of Rite of Spring 2006 took place at NASA and this year large share of it will take place in the charismatic venue.
Laugardalshöll
Address: Laugardalshöll, Engjavegur 8, 104 Reykjavik
The Laugardalshöll sport hall is one of Reykjavik's main concert venues where acts like Buena Vista Social Club, Cesaria Evora, Nick Cave, Coldplay and Björk have performed. Here Goran Bregovic and his Wedding and Funeral Band will perform at Rite of Spring 2007.
Partners
Rite of Spring is produced in cooperation with Icelandair.
Partners of Rite of Spring 2007 are Reykjavik Arts Festival, Actavis and The Icelandic National Radio - Rás 2
