Mr. Destiny, a promoting company in charge of the Iceland Airwaves music festival, sent a statement to Reykjavík authorities yesterday protesting the planned demolishing of Klapparstígur 30, which houses the famous bar Sirkus, scheduled to begin tomorrow.
“Demolishing the house is not only attacking Reykjavík’s older buildings which have an obvious historic value, but also the capital’s musical and cultural life. The damage incurred upon the capital region’s tourist industry is clear to everyone,” the statement reads.
“This is our last chance—as well as of others interested parties within the Icelandic cultural life and tourist industry—to make our voices heard and challenge the authorities to put a stop to this,” Mr. Destiny said in the statement, thus challenging Minister of Education Thorgerdur Katrín Gunnarsdóttir and Mayor of Reykjavík Ólafur F. Magnússon to prevent the destruction of Klapparstígur 30, which was built 1917.
Last weekend hundreds of musicians gathered at Sirkus, including Megas, Páll Óskar, KK, Mugison, Múm and Sigur Rós, for a concert in protest of the move and intended to show how important Sirkus is to Reykjavík’s culture and music scene.
Musician Svavar Pétur Eysteinsson represented the artists and gave Mayor Magússon a list of 2,000 signatures of people who protest the destruction of Klapparstígur 30. Magnússon welcomed the protesters and said he would discuss the matter within the city council, Morgunbladid reports.
According to Mr. Destiny, Sirkus has been a center of growth and creativity in the local music scene for decades, as well as before Sirkus opened, when the building housed N1 bar and Grand Rokk.
Many Icelandic artists and musicians have their roots at Sirkus, including Björk, Sigur Rós and Múm. The video to Björk’s song “Triumph of the Heart,” was shot in Sirkus.
