Ξαφνικά πολλά παιδιά που ξέρω, εκεί στα 10-15 χρονών ανακοίνωσαν ότι “θα πάμε στο φεστιβάλ”. “Τι φεστιβάλ είναι τουτ;” αναρωτήθηκα και κοίταξα την ιστοσελίδα του. https://www.colourdayfestival.com/ Όλα άρχισαν να γίνονται πιο σαφή. Περιέργως τα παιδιά που ήθελαν να πάνε ήταν αυτά που ξέρω που βλέπουν πιο πολύ YouTube. Προφανώς η καμπάνια εκεί έπιασε τόπο γιατί κανένα από τα συγκροτήματα ή οι dj που θα παίξουν δεν τους αρέσουν ως μουσική. Πάνε για την “φάση” για μια ιδέα ενός φεστιβάλ σαν αυτά που έχουν δει σε ταινίες και βίντεο κλιπ. Είναι το Woodstock της εποχής μας, εξημερωμένο για 12χρονα.
Και μπράβο τους. Ελπίζω να περάσουν καλά.
Έτυχε όμως ταυτόχρονα να πέσω πάνω και σε αυτό εδώ. Μια εταιρεία που ασχολείται με την μουσική (ακουστικά/ηχεία) και κάνει ενδιαφέρον Marketing γύρω από ότι έχει να κάνει με μουσική, κουλτούρα και κάποια αθλήματα που τους αρέσουν. Αν σας φαίνεται ενδιαφέρουσα η ιδέα ενός Cave Rave (πάρτυ μέσα σε παγετώνα) σε ηφαίστειο ή τα μεσάνυχτα σε πλοίο με τον ήλιο που δεν δύει ποτέ, διαβάστε τι Γράφουν λοιπόν για ένα φεστιβάλ στην Ισλανδία ως εξής:
THE SUN DOESN’T SET & THE PARTY NEVER STOPS
Words & Photos by Monti Smith
There’s a music festival that’s been going down in Iceland the past few years, and if you know of it, you might have heard of the rave in a glacier and the sun doesn’t go down at night. The stories are true, it’s called Secret Solstice Music Festival, and yes, it’s as good as the rumors suggest.
If you like the idea of traveling to a foreign country to see incredible live performances surrounded by landscapes that make you feel like you’re in a movie, then you’re in the right place.
Now in its third year, Secret Solstice Music Festival is non-stop music and events for three days straight. Featuring bands that range from iconic to up-and-coming, the gathering is starting to become more than just a blip on the music industry radar. It’s shaping the isolated country into a top travel destination. The festival is based in the 
city of Reykjavik, a city that is hard as hell to spell, and ten times as tricky to pronounce properly. It’s a place that we knew almost nothing about, except for Vikings and Bjork. But after experiencing it, and returning with lessons learned and good times remembered, we wanted to forward on our new found knowledge.
This time of year Iceland has 24 hours of sunlight, and since the sun never fully goes down, you’re free to dance, rave, explore, party or pretty much do anything you want — well, until you literally pass out. With a festival set in the heart of downtown in a city that never loses light, things are bound to get surreal. This brings us to our first tip.
IT’S NON-STOP MUSIC AND EVENTS FOR THREE DAYS STRAIGHT.
BEWARE THE LINES
Being a festival with some major acts including Deftones and Jamie Jones, some growing pains were to be expected. Early on each evening, massive lines began to form for bands such as Radiohead and DieAntwoord. These “lines” were more like 
unruly masses of people flowing toward their musical mecca. As the interior of the pavilion began to fill to capacity, it felt like the oxygen was thinning. With claustrophobia setting in, stage lights spilled over the crowd, the speakers started thumping and music consumed everyone.
Luckily, the main outdoor venue had plenty of room and great bands like Iceland’s very own Of Monsters and Men. The sun being up at all hours continually kept the energy going. It was also in this area that we caught Action Bronson’s set. As one of the most anticipated shows of the festival, he did not disappoint. He was a man on a mission to make all the bodies move, and they responded by shaking the venue along with the beat.
ALL OF THESE EXTERNAL ACTIVITIES ADD TO THE NON-STOP KALEIDOSCOPE OF GOOD TIMES.
SAY YES TO ALL THE WEIRDNESS
Secret Solstice Music Festival involves a stellar lineup of bands, but it also has a ton of other side spectacles provided such as a Cave Rave (party inside a glacier), a private volcano party, horizon parties, beach parties and midnight sun boat parties. All of these external activities add to the non-stop kaleidoscope of good times. But don’t forget to take advantage of the actual festival’s layout and lineup as well.
Upon entering the venue for the first time, our heads were swiveling from side to 
side with sensory overload. Between the army of food trucks filling the air with delicious, indiscernible scents and the crowds heading toward multiple stages, our noses and eyeballs fought for the attention of each of our brains. After seeing a sea of people flooding toward the main outdoor stage, our eyes won, and we followed the hordes of blond hair to catch an amazing performance by Kelela. With her soulful tinge and vocal range reminiscent of famed Icelander Bjork, she had festival-goers mesmerized throughout her set.
ONE MUST KNOW THE VALUE OF A LITTLE SELF-PRESERVATION.
STAY ALIVE. BUT HAVE FUN — BUT STAY ALIVE…
With the absolute possibility of something epic happening at any moment in time, one must know the value of a little self-preservation. First on the list is to have a place to call one’s own. Festival camping is available on site but the weather in Iceland changes rapidly so we recommend opting for Airbnb or a camper van. Going the camper van route also offers the added benefit of trekking out to the waterfalls, hot springs and other wonders of nature Iceland has to offer. P.S. Don’t forget a rain coat for the festival and an eye mask for sleeping, as it may rain quite a bit and never gets dark.
GET OUT AND EXPLORE
While the festival was the reason we made our journey to Iceland in the first place, we were exposed to stunning landscapes and culture that have us already planning our next trip. So, while Secret Solstice may be your destination, make sure to explore the seemingly untouched Icelandic countryside. From waterfalls and black sand beaches to glaciers and fjords, it’s nature and adventure on a scale that your eyes might not be ready for. With many of the best places just a quick day trip from Reykjavik, it’s the perfect complement to the music fest your ears couldn’t have prepared for.
ONE LAST THING — DO NOT EAT HAKARL
We repeat: under no circumstances should you eat Hakarl. It is shark meat that we were told had been cured in uric acid, the same type of acid found in urine. After trying Hakarl, we’d rather drink our own urine. The best way to describe it would be to say that you scrubbed a subway station’s urinal with the interior of a homeless man’s shoe and then were forced to eat it. But, if you are feeling truly adventurous, go for it.
