It is possible that the free music festival Aldrei fór ég sudur, which is usually held in Ísafjördur, the capital of the West Fjords, at Easter, will not be held next year. The volunteers who have organized the festival until now have grown tired.
From Ísafjördur. Photo by Geir Ólafsson.
“A large group of people have become weary; they have worked for free for eight years,” Mugison, the musician who is the festival’s initiator and one of its seven organizers, commented to Fréttabladid.
“Many of these people want to spend some time with their families and friends for the first time in almost a decade,” he explained. “But I’m still on. I don’t fit into this 9-5 picture.”
“The festival has not been canceled yet but I believe there will be some changes,” Mugison said, yet adding, “But we might also decide to cancel it because it is just a hobby to us.”
Mugison is hoping that the municipality will participate more. “I have yet to speak with Ísafjardarbaer to try to plan a meeting and see whether there aren’t some energetic women and men who are prepared to join us instead of those who need a break.”
In a recent Masters thesis by Hera Brá Gunnarsdóttir, a student of marketing and international trade at the University of Iceland, it is stated that Aldrei fór ég sudur has a positive impact on the image of Ísafjördur and the surrounding community.
“The report says that the number of inhabitants doubles or triples. A lot of people show up but it takes a lot of time to prepare,” Mugison concluded.
Click here to read more about the festival.
