Icelandic bands at Norwegian music conference

Three Icelandic bands will play at the By:Larm music conference between 21st–23rd February – flugelhorns included.

By:Larm, Scandinavia’s largest music conference, moves from one Norwegian city to another, and this year will take place in Oslo. Consisting of a festival and conference, By:Larm offers lectures, seminars, debates and a plethora of artists on the verge of success either at home or internationally.

The confirmed Icelandic bands are:

Benni Hemm Hemm

This indie pop band, fronted by Benedikt H. Hermannsson, began with a limited release of Hermannsson’s solo “SummerPlate EP”, in 2003. Expanding into a full band (including trumpet, bass, and flugelhorn) Benni Hemm Hemm then issued a self-titled full-length debut on Iceland’s Smakokurnar Records, in September 2005. In November 2006 the group released its second album, ‘Kajak’, a highly acclaimed record that was recorded in just a few days at Sigur Ros’s studio.

Bloodgroup

Formed in 2006 by Halez, Lilja, Raggi and Janus during some boring winter days on the east coast of Iceland, Bloodgroup play catchy electronic dance pop. After raising attention in Iceland and outside, the group finished their first album “Sticky Situation”, which has garnered glowing reviews in Iceland by several critics. After the release of the album (November, 2007), Bloodgroup have been busy playing in Iceland and other countries, promoting the album with a vivid and colourful live show.

FM Belfast

FM Belfast formed in late 2005 as a duo. The band was a studio project for some time until the 2006 Iceland Airwaves festival, when the band expanded into a full on live act. The members now vary from 3 to 8 depending on who can make it. A song and video by Kasper Bjørke featuring FM Belfast was recently released, also the band is now working on a release on the Brooklyn based label Thugfucker recordings.

See the Iceland Music Export website for more information on upcoming Icelandic music events.