Emmelie de Forest’s unsurprising win with the folksy “Only Teardrops” gives Denmark the right to host Europe’s biggest TV event for the first time since 1991, and Copenhagen has already been suggested as hot favourite as a venue for Eurovision 2014.  But it’s not a done deal, Herning has also thrown its name into the hat.

The capital, which lies within 20 minutes drive by tunnel from Malmo, boasts good transport and infrastructure, sufficient hotels and the Perken Stadium where the previous tournament was hosted in Denmark. It also hosted the only other occasion, in 1964, when Denmark won the right to host.

The Forum Arena, which hosted the 50th anniversary Eurovision Song Contest Congratulations show, and the Ballerup Arena which hosted the 2011 Danish Eurovision national final are two other slated options.

But Herning also has a claim to Eurovision pedigree, having hosted the national competition where Emmelie was chosen to represent Denmark. Its Jysken Boxer Arena is equally suitable.

Typically a thorough bidding process is undertaken to choose a host city. That Copenhagen has already twice hosted the 40 nation singing competition might work against them.

The 3-day event – sponsored by Kex Hostel, City of Reykjavik, and more – will be hosting a number of local bands, as well as some international artists from Australia and the UK.

Bands playing at Reykjavik Music Mess 2013 include:

Sykur
Bloodgroup
Oyama
PVT (AUS)
DZ DEATHRAYS (AUS)
Withered hand (UK)
Good Moon Deer
Tonik
Just Another Snake Cult
Loji (from Sudden Weather Change)
STAFRÆNN HÁKON
Monotown
Boogie Trouble

Reykjavik locals Mammút, who are currently putting the finishing touches on their third album, will also be performing at the event, as well as their good friends Muck.

For more information about this year’s event and the bands performing, visit http://www.reykjavikmusicmess.com and to buy tickets, check out http://midi.is/tonleikar/1/7527.

See the event poster below:

The annual international competition which  was hosted by Sweden following  Loreen’s win in the 2012 edition with the song “Euphoria” was held in Malmö Arena and hosted by comedienne Petra Mede. Denmark’s win didn’t come as a surprise to Eurovision experts and enthusiasts, with bookmakers  having tagged Emmelie’s song as their favourite. The barefooted singer, who was the 18th act on stage, gave  a touching performance of “Only Teardrops”.

“I’m the happiest girl in the world. Not only for being a winner but also for having won here in Sweden, where my dad came from, he liked this contest so much,” said Ammelie following her victory.

The episode, entitled The Saga of Carl Carlson, will air in North America on Sunday 19th May and in Iceland the following day. The plot of the two-part show revolves around the character of Carl Carlson, Homer’s friend and co-worker, who sets off to visit his home country, Iceland.

The surprising origins of Springfield nuclear power plant employee, Carl Carlson, were revealed in an episode in the 14th series, wherein unexpected brightness in the middle of the night reminded the character of his Icelandic boyhood.

The Simpsons  also featured Iceland in a 2010 episode that parodied the protests following  the 2008 bank crash.

While Sigur Rós only joins a long list of bands and solo artists to make a guest appearance on the show – amongst others Daft Punk, Lady Gaga and U2 have all made appearances – this will be one of the rare times an entire original score is composed for the occasion, including the Icelandic band’s take on the famous opening theme of The Simpsons.

Sigur Rós, which will issue their new album Kveikur on Tuesday 18th June, stated on their website  that ”with this episode, Sigur Rós have written and performed more original music for The Simpsons than any other outside band in the show’s history.”

The creator of the show, Matt Groening, said, “I’m a longtime fan of Sigur Rós, and we’re honored to bring their Icelandic  ambient moods to our goofy cartoon show.”

The photogenic, barefooted, twenty year old belted out her song to a backing of tin whistles and drums and received an enthusiastic response, indicating she is surely one of the favourites to win a third title for Denmark. The country last won in 2000.

With more than six years stage experience behind her, and performing in her own backyard, across the Øresund in host city Malmo, she has an advantage over others. If she wins, it will the second year in a row the bookies in Britain have correctly identified the winner.

Other countries who’s entrants went through the finals from semi-final one were; Estonia, Russia, The Ukraine, Netherlands, Lithuania, Belarus, Moldova, Ireland and Belgium, while performers from Austria, Montenegro, Croatia, Cyprus, Serbia and Slovenia were eliminated.

Last year’s winner, Loreen, won Sweden the right to host the 2013, and 58^th, Eurovision Contest with her song Euphoria.

For weeks, adverts across Stockholm, from billboards to rental bikes, have been promoting the much anticipated opening. Trademark sequined disco costumes, survivors from their 1970s hey-day, have even been put on display at Arlanda International Airport.

ABBA: The museum, mimicking the title of a movie featuring the worldwide sensation, will now give fans further insight into the lives and careers of the foursome.

The state-of-the-art museum, located on Djurgaarden Island, has five floors featuring band memorabilia, including costumes, instruments, gold records and recreations of their recording studios and dressing rooms.

“The focus will be on letting visitors experience how the ABBA members lived their lives,” museum curator Ingmarie Halling, who was the band’s stylist from 1976 to 1980, told AFP in a recent interview.

Getting back together for a rare collaboration, Agnetha Faeltskog, Anni-Frid (Frida) Lyngstad, Benny Andersson and Bjoern Ulvaeus helped to design the museum and its fun exhibits, bringing together two sets of couples who were once married.

For example, in one room, dedicated to the hit song Ring Ring, is a telephone and the four band members are expected to occasionally call the private number for a lucky visitor to answer.

The group shot to stardom in the 1970s with hits like Voulez Vous, Dancing Queen and Waterloo, and won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. They went on to sell 378 million albums worldwide, third only behind Elvis Presley and the Beatles.

Spotify gives access to their 24 million users to a catalog of more than 20 million songs. First-time users get a 6 month trial period during which they have access to an unlimited amount of music. Once the trial period is over, users can listen to 10 hours of music a month for free, or subscribe to a “Premium” account.

Spotify was developed in Sweden in 2006 and launched for public access in 2008. The service has since then known ups and downs, posting a loss of $61 million of 2011, while they have been accused of unfairly compensating artists.

In honour of the fortieth anniversary of the release of their seminal album Aqualung, the band have been touring and appearing worldwide in selected appearances. Three dates have been scheduled in Iceland; appearing in Akureyri on June 7^th, followed by a concert in the Westman Islands  on June 8^th and finally at Harpa in Reykjavík on June 9^th.

The concert will feature a ‘best of selection’ from their 45 year career with well known hits such as Aqualung, Thick as a brick and Locomotive breath, among others.

Jethro Tull have previously played in Iceland more than four time, most recently in 2012. But with the members, including founders Ian Anderson and Martin Barre, close to retirement this could be their last appearance.

In recent years the band has been replaced on tour by Martin Barre and his band while Anderson announced in 2012 that he planned to release Thick as a Brick 2, largely a solo album. The Iceland tour is part of a promotional tour.