Sigur Rós, Iron & Wine, and Lightspeed Champion

Another three great acts have been added to the Øya 2008 bill. Sigur Rós from Iceland are not only an amazing live band, but also among the artists that are most frequently requested by the Øya audience. On Thursday Aug. 7 they’ll play their only gig in Norway this year, and it’ll take place in the Medieval Park. American melancholics Iron & Wine are also coming, as well as the new NME faves Lightspeed Champion.
Day Passes for Thursday Aug. 7, the date on which Sigur Rós will perform, are now available.
More artist releases are coming up soon, folks!

SIGUR RÓS (IS)
IRON & WINE (US)
LIGHTSPEED CHAMPION (UK)

SIGUR RóS (IS)
Sigur Rós from Iceland have created a universe of their own, a universe best described as cool post-rock mixed with Arctic pop. They bring Icelandic nature and mysticism into their music. Their material has been referred to as symphonic and progressive, but above all they’re steady suppliers of musical magic. Comparison-wise, suitable references would be bands like Radiohead, Mogwai, Spiritualized, and Godspeed You Black Emperor!
The band was founded in the Icelandic capital Reykjavik in the mid 90s. Round about the turn of the millennium, the band gained increasingly more attention internationally, and they also managed to acquire a large fan base in the US, not least due to the album ágætis byrjun from 1999. David Bowie, Moby, Metallica, Foo Fighters, and Radiohead reportedly count themselves as Sigur Rós fans. Today, the band is one of the Saga Island’s most important export commodities.
The guys in Sigur Rós have not been afraid to do their own thing, either, as the album () from 2002 is a great example of. All the lyrics are sung in “Hopelandish”, a language they invented themselves.
Their latest releases so far are the sampler Heim/Hvarf (2007), a collection of previously unreleased recordings and live material, and Hlemmur (2007), a band documentary accompanied by a soundtrack. Sigur Rós fans will be happy to hear that a new studio album is due for release late 2008.
Sigur Rós will perform in the Medieval Park on Thursday Aug.7, and this will be their only performance in Norway this year. Come, and let Sigur Rós work their magic on you!

Sigur Rós on MySpace

IRON & WINE (US)
The Øya Festival is proud to present yet another of last year’s biggest critic and audience faves: Iron & Wine.
During only a few years, Sam Beam, a.k.a. Iron & Wine, has established himself as one of the most unique voices within American folk pop, and even though the length of his hair and beard would indicate otherwise, it is not primarily as part the much-discussed freak folk scene. His acoustic, quiet guitar-playing and the whispering, velvety vocals have made many people think of the legendary Nick Drake, but Sam Beam has nevertheless created his own distinct sound, with obvious musical traces of his Southern upbringing and his current place of residence, which is Austin, Texas.
After two albums and several EPs, last year’s album, The Shepherd’s Dog, must be regarded as a breakthrough for Iron & Wine, what with all the attention that followed in the wake of his participation on the soundtrack for the successful indie movie Garden State.
The languishing and hypnotizing music of Sam Beam & co. will definitely work well against the backdrop of a lazy, late-summer evening in the Medieval Park, and we can’t wait to experience it!

Iron & Wine on MySpace

LIGHTSPEED CHAMPION (UK)
The Øya Festival hereby brings you an artist of whom much is expected in 2008. Lightspeed Champion is the new project of Dev Hynes, the guitarist of the now dissolved Test Icicles, a band that gained a lot attention a few years back with their explosive mix of screamo, punk, metal, and a timely dash of danceable rock. The only audible residue from those days, however, is the tendency to experiment with genres and sounds like they were costumes from a theater dressing room.
With the debut album Falling Off the Lavender Bridge, London-based Hynes has returned to his American roots (he was born in Houston), both physically and musically. The album was recorded in Nebraska, under the skilled leadership of Saddle Creek’s house producer Mike Mogis, also known as a member of and producer for i.a. Bright Eyes. This association is easy to hear, because the Americana-inspired sound is sprinkled with steel guitars, organs, strings, brass, and vocal harmonies.
British music mags like NME and Uncut have taken a fancy to Lightspeed Champion, and Mojo even included the band on their list of eight acts to watch out for in 2008. Come to Øya in August and find out just why!

Lightspeed Champion on MySpace