Keflavík, Iceland got a taste of the gypset lifestyle last June at an eclectic music festival hosted by the famous All Tomorrow’s Parties (ATP)– the organization famous for its seemingly disparate artistic genres and unique curating system. The line up for this festival was chosen by the bands themselves, and it resulted in an unpredictable set almost every time. The diverse lineup at ATP is how it got its nickname “the ultimate mix tape.”
The festival was held at the abandoned former 1941 NATO air base. The main stage is literally a hangar that was once used to protect airplanes that were not in use. The base was built during the World War II and housed nearly 6,000 American soldiers. It is definitely fun to listen to groovy music in such a strange location.
What’s also great about All Tomorrow’s Parties festivals is that there is always a strong connection and interaction between the performers and the audience. The acts are always very close to the audience and musical acts find ways to get even closer (Nick Cave had a second stage built so he could get “closer to the audience.”).
For those wanting a break from the music, head on over to the cinema festival that plays simultaneously on both festival days. The movies are not your typical Friday night box-office hits. Instead, they are quirky and strange in all the right ways; many are independent films from past decades. Jim Jarmusch is the director who chose this year’s line up of movies. He wanted movies that were simple and easy to watch but that had cinematic genius. Watch the interview below of Jarmusch explaining the reasoning behind his movie choices.
