# Airwaves for the Twelfth Time *10 November 2026* *Íslenska: [[Fréttir/2026-11-10 Airwaves í tólfta skipti|Airwaves í tólfta skipti]]* I played Iceland Airwaves last weekend, for the twelfth time. The first time was 2003. Back then I was on Accidental Records, Matthew Herbert's label, and I offered Airwaves a deal: if they let me play, I'd get Matthew over with a DJ set. They said yes. Then the schedule came out and I was on at five o'clock on a Saturday. Young and arrogant, I gave them a proper earful. I wanted the prime slot at NASA, where the stars were. They said people would start their day there and then get steadily sloshed into the night – it was a great slot. I thought those were lousy reasons and was absolutely fuming. Then the day came. Lunch at mum's, the bus into town, and we set up in a corner at Pravda. I was a scared-shitless pop guy wallowing in an inferiority complex, sure the journalists were all so hungover they'd barely be up by dinner time. But just before the show people started pouring in, endless journalists and fun people, and the place was packed. I felt like I was at my grandma and grandpa's, endless love in the air. At the end I played [[08 - Poke A Pal|Poke A Pal]], the last song on my first album, and everybody sang along like it was a village singalong. I was on cloud nine. Then came the reviews, in papers abroad and on blogs, a whole heap of them. I emailed them to promoters all over Europe and got booked for the rest of the year. That's when my career shifted into another gear, and I ate my hat: Airwaves was right, it was the best slot. Everybody with fresh ears. I'll always be grateful for that chance. ![[myndir/Fréttir/2026-11-10 Airwaves 1 - Ráðhúsið.jpg]] *On the LinnStrument at City Hall, 7 November* This year, 23 years later, I looked back a little. I played a few songs I hadn't played at Airwaves in ages and ages, like Poke A Pal, which I hadn't played at the festival since 2003 – I did a new version on the LinnStrument. Airwaves is such a positive shot in the arm for us musicians – everyone rehearses something new and exciting and gives it everything – that's the magic of this festival. Huge congratulations, Iceland Airwaves, and thank you so much for having me. I'm begging you on my knees to book me again soon, I'm your man ❤️ ## My Airwaves years - **2003** · Pravda, with Matthew Herbert - **2004** · NASA - **2006** · Listasafnið (Reykjavík Art Museum) - **2007** · NASA - **2010** · Iðnó (with the Mirstrument + band and a girls' choir) - **2011** · Norðurljós in Harpa – with the band - **2012** · Harpa – stepped in for [Swans](https://thequietus.com/news/iceland-airwaves-sigur-rose-review/), who couldn't make it because of Hurricane Sandy - **2014** · Silfurberg in Harpa - **2020** · Live From Reykjavík – streamed, the covid year - **2023** · Listasafnið (Reykjavík Art Museum) with a 10-piece band - **2025** · Eldborg – with the [Iceland Symphony Orchestra](https://www.sinfonia.is/tonleikar-og-midasala/mugison-og-sinfo-ia25-partner-event), two nights - **2026** · City Hall – [Grapevine wrote about it](https://grapevine.is/music/live-music-review/2026/11/08/day-three-iceland-airwaves-2026-reykjavik-grapevine-coverage/)