The Iceland Airwaves festival is close, and getting closer. Let's face it, it's a month away now. And with more and more names being announced, or secretly just placed on the artists list iceblah is getting pretty exciting. Iceblah is also getting fairly worried one two counts,

1) I'm not going to be able to see all of these bands, choices will have to be made. Where will the clashes be?
2) What about the acts that aren't listed yet? I'm trying not to think about this too much just yet, but as it stands Airwaves will be without Mugison, My Summer As A Salvation Soldier, Petur Ben, Minus, Jan Mayen and others. That ain't right surely? Please?

So, who's been added now? And do we have the usual array of great band names? (yes, we do)…

First up, Slugs – described on the official site as having "made something of a cult reputation for themselves for being
incompetent, sweaty drunks on stage, and dedicated professionals offstage", that sounds like it's worth a look. Downloads from myspace show them to be a noisy characterful guitar band with shouty singing, and I like it. They announced their addition to the Airwaves bill by describing it thus, "Iceland's most over-hyped bullshit event (and that's saying something)". Awesome. Swords Of Chaos, another one of those bands whose name gives away much of how they sound. Yep, here's another addition to the already large hardcore scene in Iceland, expect to have a sore neck if you go to this show. The Fist Fokkers, another splendid name and I believe (but please correct me) that they share a lead singer, and quite a bit more, with Swords Of Chaos.

Danish band, Munich (confusing isn't it?) have a history of success in Iceland. Brilliant 2007 single "The Young Ones" was a huge hit and successful live dates followed. Their debut show at Airwaves is sure to be a big draw and if you like your Indie rock on the melodic side then you should be there too. Also on the international side, Norwegian singer-songwriter Ane Brun is added. I only know her from a great duet she did a few years back with Ron Sexsmith which lurks on the ipod somewhere. Faroese Boys In A Band have been on the bill for a while now, but I wanted to single them out as an act with real potential for breakthrough, iceblah can't sum it up anywhere near as well as Clash magazine, "They sound like The Strokes without that crushing pretension ruining it all or Jet with some balls and talent". I have a couple of demos from a couple of years ago, and the progression to the new songs on the myspace page is startling. Very high on the list.

Back to Iceland, and I'm pleased to see We Made God on the bill again, as I've never managed to see
them yet. They have that Sigur Ros style soundscape thing going on but then add to it with their chunky guitar riffs making them different, interesting and other descriptions which can be good or bad. In this case, mostly good and worth a look. They've been reviewed very favourable in Kerrang and Q magazines in the UK and their album gets a UK release in October. Atomstation are less complicated (see picture!), but no less good, this is proper old fashioned 80s hard rock, with enough melody and humour to entertain. They recently played in a tent in a car park next to what used to be Sirkus bar in Reykjavik, have a listen to the new tracks on the link above, their show will be a fun one.

Naflakusk are very intriguing, I have never heard of or seen them before, but described as "the freshest sound of Reykjavik City's music scene right now" they merit more than a quick look. They describe themselves as "Emotronic, Tropical, Christian Rap" and
whilst their style is tricky to pin down, I'm pretty sure that ain't
it! Well to me they sound a little like the legendary band (does anyone else think that?) Runk, they sound insanely young, they have 11 members, the music is catchy, poppy, lunatic and will make you smile. What more can we ask, remember the name! Another pop (their word, not mine) act added is BB & Blake who have just released a debut single, "Mustang", in the UK. It's more dancy than pop, but again, it is the sound of fun. Another band I've not come across before are DLX ATX (Deluxe Attacks) – this matches up the drummer of Skatar (also confirmed for festival) with a singer who has been in bands including Joan Of Arse. Hard to tell you much about this one, there's no music to hear on myspace, we'll have to rely on their description,"Psychedelic, phychobilly, shoegaze". Got that? 

It's going to be fun isn't it…