Concert series dedicated to the grassroots of Icelandic music, across musical genres.

Harpa, in cooperation with Reykjavík Music City and the broadcasting channel Rás 2, is organizing a concert series dedicated to the grassroots of Icelandic music across musical genres.

The concert series is called Upprásin, and takes place in Kaldalón music hall one Tuesday evening each month in the winter of 2024–2025. The concert series is a part of the implementation of the policy of Harpa to open doors for the grassroots and young people across genres and to increase diversity. The goal is also for music lovers to be able to easily access new Icelandic music of various kinds, directly from the grassroots of the music scene, performed in the optimal facilities of the nation’s premier concert hall.

The ticket price is 2000 isk.

Samosa was formed in 2023 in the aftermath of a project that led to a concept album and rock opera about “Landvættir”, the land guardians or wights from Icelandic folklore. Samosa plays psychedelic rock while touching on folklorish and dark fantastical imagery and themes. Everyday issues of modern life are given a supernatural guise to the rhythm of old-school prog rock and neo-psychedelia.

Unfiled is the two-headed beast of Atli Bollason and Guðmundur Úlfarsson. They began working together in 2019 with a series of experimental A/V nights. Their practice revolves around feedback systems–both literal and metaphorical–the mechanics of signification, visual improvisation, memories, ghosts and noise. Aside from more traditional concert-type settings, their work has been shown in galleries and branched out into non-temporal mediums such as engravings and murals.

Eló is a young up-and-coming artist and singer-songwriter who puts emphasis on lyrics and melodies with personal and raw songs that embrace and hug the listener tight. Eló was the runner up in the annual Battle of the Bands in Reykjavík, and also received the FTT Songwriter Awards. Her laid-back and mellow music evokes strong emotions, such as joy, sadness, affection and anticipation.

Eló will perform with a band at Upprásin; Hjálmar Carl Guðnason on bass guitar, Ívar Andri Klausen on electric guitar, Bergsteinn Sigurðarson on drums and Magnús Þór Sveinsson on keys.