Stephen Lockhart and Gunnhildur Edda Guðmundsdóttir, residents of Mosfellsbær just outside of Reykjavík, have petitioned the town council to allow them to host an international heavy metal festival, mbl.is reports. Ascension MMXIX, as the would-be festival been dubbed, would invite 10 – 12 international acts to perform alongside a number of Icelandic bands over the course of three days next summer.
Looking to the success of the Eistnaflug metal festival and its partnership with the East Iceland village of Neskaupstaður, Stephen, a recording engineer who operates Studio Emissary in Mosfellsbær, and Gunnhildur, a designer, are hoping to partner with a municipality to launch the new festival. The town’s sole contribution to the venture would be provide an indoor festival venue free of charge.
For the last three years, the pair has organized the Oration Music Festival in Reykjavík, which has drawn some 300 – 500 attendees, about 60% of whom are foreigners. Ascension is meant to appeal to the same demographic.
