The wine marketed under the Motörhead name and logo will therefore not be for sale in ÁTVR’s Vínbúðin stores across Iceland. In defence of the move the company cited the fact that the branding is not relevant because the band does not make the wine itself; but that the branding does inevitably promote an unhealthy lifestyle.

The information comes from an article written for Fréttablaðið by Hjörleifur Árnason, the wine’s Icelandic importer. In his article he says he has now appealed the case to the parliamentary ombudsman. Although ÁTVR has a monopoly on alcohol retail in Iceland, importers and distributors are able to deal directly with bars, restaurants and cafés; meaning the Motörhead brand could still be sold in the country and can now expect a higher profile following this controversy.

The rock band, which has been going for 37 years, loaned its name to Motörhead Shiraz, as well as to several other products including vodka and rosé wine.

Last March Hjörleifur decided to import a case of the wine through the company Rokk slf. and apply for a licence to sell it in Vínbúðin outlets. The application was rejected by ÁTVR on the grounds that the band Motörhead had nothing directly to do with the wine and that the message accompanying the product was not a positive one.

The English word ‘Motorhead’ is a slang term for an amphetamine addict and furthermore the band sings about war, abuse of power, irresponsible sex and substance abuse, ÁTVR said.

On the grounds the the band did not make the wine themselves, the importer says he fears that means all celebrity wines will be banned, such as wines by the Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Elvis Presley and others.

All events in the Winter Lights Festival are free to attend and the full schedule can be read in English here.

Reykjavík mayor Jón Gnarr will formally begin the festival at 19.30 with a short speech by Hallgrímskirkja before handing over to Marcos Zotes who will paint the cathedral in moving light themes inspired by the elements of water, fire, air and earth.

Dance, film, exhibitions, theatre, music and more will all compete for attention at a festival which truly has something for everyone – despite how cliché that phrase has become.

The festival also includes free access to many of Reykjavík’s swimming pools this Saturday evening and pool guests will be artistically stimulated all the while.

www.vetrarhatid.is

In an interview with VíkurFréttir, Rex explained that he had always wanted to visit Iceland, and when he learnt about Atlantic Studios and the possibility of filming a music video in the country, there was no question.

Elizabeth Thoroddsen, Head of Film at Pipar/TBWA, the company in charge of production on the day said, “There is a lot of interest surrounding Iceland. Many find it an interesting place to come and work, and there are plenty of artists/musicians who would like to come and shoot videos here.”

CEO of Pipar/TBWA, Valgeir Magnússon, explained that the location and facilities were perfect for the task at hand and all scenes were recorded without any problems.

The film studio is located in a former aircraft hanger at the old military navel base in Keflavík. The facilities include a 2,200 m2 soundstage with an extra 2,800 m2 for support areas, a 480 seat theatre for screenings and a swimming pool for ocean scenes.

In the last few years, several films have been partly shot at Atlantic Studios including The Good Heart, The Reykjavík Whale Watching Massacre and Rokland. Additionally, large international productions such as Flags Of Our Father and Batman Begins have filmed on location in Iceland.

The award is voted on by readers of local newspaper Bæjarins Besta and its website, bb.is. Mugison won with 36 percent of votes cast.

In second place was Guðni Albert Einarsson, a managing director from the town of Suðureyri, with 32 percent of votes. Readers described Guðni variously as: “having worked tirelessly to build up the economy and culture of the Westfjords”, having “continually supported work to give blind Nigerian children sight”, as a “miracle man from Suðureyri”, and as a “child of the land and of the nation”.

Meanwhile Mugison’s star rose to new heights in 2011, selling 28,000 copies of his album Haglél and offering free concerts around the country in thanks for the public support. The tour ended with a three-concert run at Reykjavík’s Harpa concert centre, which sold out and were so popular that the ticketing website crashed. He is also the brain behind the more-popular-every-year Easter music festival in Ísafjörður, called Aldrei Fór Ég Suður – which has become the region’s biggest annual event.

Mugison is the first person to be named Westfjordian of the Year twice – having also won the prize in 2004.

55 people received anonymous online nominations in the poll; but in the end the top three took over 77 percent of the votes.

Björk plans to give ten performances in the American city this February.

According to Vísir.is, six shows will take place at the New York Hall of Science and the last four will happen at the Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan. No other shows in the United States of America are planned at the moment, the singer says.

Biophilia has received glowing reviews from critics and fans alike. In the show Björk is supported by a 24-strong girls’ choir and an array of brand new instruments which were invented and made personally by Björk and her friends.

The skies across Iceland will light up one more time this evening as the end of Christmas is celebrated and the last of the Yule Lads makes his way back home to the mountains.

Unlike New Year’s Eve, most of the fireworks let off tonight will be part of organised displays. There are three in Reykjavik: Leirdalur, Grafarholt, at 19.30; Gufunesbær, Grafarvogur, at 17.00; and the KR sports grounds in Vesturbær at 18.30. Árborg, Hafnarfjörður and Mosfellsbær are also in the Reykjavík district and will each hold their own bonfire and fireworks displays themselves.

Towns all over Iceland will be doing likewise and the northwest town of Ísafjörður is no exception. This from local news source BB.is:

“This year’s Thirteenth celebration will be held in Ísafjörður on Friday. For many years the Thirteenth has been celebrated alternately each year between Bolungarvík and Ísafjörður.

“The Thirteenth celebration this year begins with a torch parade from the scout hall at 20.00. The procession will make its way from there to [the lawn outside the town library]. Among the procession will be drummers, a bishop, the elf king and queen, princes and princesses, as well as elves and other hidden people. It is also not unlikely that Grýla will appear in all her gruesome glory.

“Traditional New Year’s and Thirteenth songs will be sung and people will dance around the fire. There will also be a ballet display by the dance students and the Rögnvaldur art school. After the dancing everyone will make their way to outside the Neisti shopping centre where the celebration will end with a firework display.

“It is the Women’s Association of Hlíf which organises this year’s Thirteenth celebration, with help from the elementary school, the search & rescue team, the scouts, Ísafjarðarbær municipality; as well as singers, actors and musicians from the town. Over 100 people are taking part in the Thirteenth celebration in one way or another and the ladies from Hlíf would like to thank them all for their help.”

In many towns, including Ísafjörður/Bolungarvík, the fireworks display is organised by the search & rescue teams, who let off the fireworks they did not manage to sell before NYE – their biggest fundraising event of the year.

Today is also the day for taking down household Christmas decorations; although Christmas lights are an exception, remaining stubbornly in place in many homes for at least another month or more – helping people through the darkness of winter.

The reason for the free Mugison concerts is to say ‘thank you’ for the great reception his new album Haglél has received over the last two months, the artist says. Over 12,000 copies have been sold so far; which is a lot in such a small country.

In addition to the free concerts in Harpa at 19.30 and 22.00 on 22nd December, for which no more tickets are available; Mugison will also play for free in Akureyri (twice), Bolungarvík, Seyðisfjörður and the Westman Islands (see below).

Friday 16th December
Akureyri – Græni Hatturinn 20.00 and 23.00
Free tickets became available at the venue, in person only, yesterday from 13.00.

Saturday 17th December
Bolungarvík (Westfjords, near to Ísafjörður) – Félagsheimilið (community centre) 20:00
Free tickets will become available at the venue, in person only, on 16th December at 13.00.

Sunday 18th December
Seyðisfjörður (east Iceland, near to Egilsstaðir) – Félagsheimilið (community centre) 20:00
No pre-”sale” of tickets. First-come-first-served.

Monday 19th December
Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands) – Höllin 20:00
No pre-”sale” of tickets. First-come-first-served.

The collection kicked off with a fundraising concert at Reykjavík’s Harpa conference and concert centre yesterday afternoon, called “We Support the Faroese!”.

The concert was organised by Faroese musician Jógvan Hansen and his Icelandic musician friend Friðrik Ómar — but people who missed the concert are still able to contribute by phone or by bank transfer.

President of Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson is the fund’s patron and yesterday’s concert featured Jógvan, Friðrik Ómar, Ragnheiður Gröndal, Helgi Björnsson, KK and Ellen Kristjánsdóttir, along with the Reykjavík Girls’ Choir.

The musical event was broadcast live on national television and radio in both Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

Donations can be made from Icelandic bank accounts to 0101-26-102000 with kennitala 480208-0480.

Iceland and the Faroe Islands are closely linked, culturally; and the Faroe Islands were among the first to offer help to Iceland at several key moments; including by offering a loan when the Icelandic banks crashed and by collecting for the victims of the Westfjords avalanches in 1995. The Icelandic people and government were therefore enthusiastic to help when news broke of the massive storm just over two weeks ago.

Simonon, who now plays with Damon Albarn’s band The Good, the Bad and the Queen, worked as a cook on-board the Esperanza ship and was detained alongside 17 other campaigners in June when they stormed the Leiv Eiriksson oil rig off the coast of Greenland.

The group scaled the platform from speedboats and asked to see the owner’s emergency plans in the event of an oil spill in the Arctic region.”It’s obvious why Cairn [the rig’s owner] won’t tell the world how it would clean up a BP-style oil spill here in the Arctic, and that’s because it can’t be done,” campaigner Ben Ayliffe said at the time.

Speaking to NME music magazine, Simonon said, “We stormed the oil rig. They said if you don’t get off … we’re going to phone the authorities in Greenland and say you’ve hijacked the oil rig, and the police will come and arrest you. And that’s pretty much what happened.”

Simonon was only allowed to join the Greenpeace mission after promising to pose as part of the ship’s crew. Fellow activist Martti Leinonen described “Paul the assistant cook” as a “quiet, humble and funny guy”, adding that he even kept his identity secret while behind bars.

“The food was so bad, we finally got the guards to agree to let Paul cook,” Leinonen said. “He makes excellent vegetarian food.”

Meetings will be held today and over the coming days to break the deadlock. Runar Oskarsson, the chairman of the symphony orchestra members’ union negotiating committee, says he is neither positive nor negative about the prospects of a deal before Thursday. He would not be drawn to say more than that, RUV reports.

The Iceland Symphony Orchestra is an independent public institution under the Ministry of Education and its members are, therefore, technically public sector employees. The Icelandic state has subpoenaed the orchestra union over whether or not the threatened strike has been organised in a legally-accountable manner.

It is expected that the labour court will make its decision before the strike is due to begin.

The idea of a symphony orchestra going on strike may seem almost humorous to some; especially in comparison to strikes by fire fighters, teachers or air traffic controllers. But the Iceland Symphony Orchestra is central to musical culture in Iceland and it was a core reason for the construction of the brand new Harpa concert and conference centre. It is also considered one of the best orchestras in the entire Nordic region. Against this backdrop of investment and pride in the orchestra it is noteworthy that its members have been out of contract since March 2009. Their goal going into the current negotiations is to receive a 36 percent pay increase.