And what does it mean for Iceland
Airwaves!? This is a long way from being an economics website, although
your correspondent does have impeccable credentials (honest) but it is
getting harder and harder to ignore the state of economies everywhere.
And Iceland is no different, and the concern is that just as when the
world economy boomed they super-boomed – now they may suffer more than
anyone else on the down slope.

There's evidence of this already, the government are expected to announce a budget deficit of ISK60bn, Glitnir, one of Iceland's biggest financial institutions has been nationalised to protect it and Baugur [LINK], seemingly owner of most of Britain's high street shops (seriously, click the link on Baugur, do they own everything?), is rumoured to have begun trying to sell them off.

All of these are worthy concerns but
what really panicked me was when a great friend of iceblah pointed out
yesterday that the official Airwaves site had disappeared.
Firstly, does he (does anyone?) visit that site more often than me?
Secondly – has the Icelandic economy imploded? Is the festival off?
Disappeared? Oh my God, Airlines are going bust too, what if Icelandair
doesn't last until mid-October?

OK we can relax a bit. Firstly – the
Iceland Airwaves website is now back in all it's glory, phew, so
perhaps we'll concentrate on what latest news we know. Firstly, they
have a nice new poster (as you can see to the left), and secondly… no new names
have been announced over the last few days. However, I have a few
tit-bits. A week or so ago I worried that a few of my favourite names
weren't on the list of artists. After top detective work, the good news
is that the splendid Nick Cave-loving Jan Mayen will definitely be
playing at Airwaves 2008. Petur Ben will not be, and My Summer As A
Salvation Soldier will not be playing any official shows, but may well
turn up at an off-site show – and will be on stage with his other band,
Gavin Portland, at one of the main venues.

Lastly, and very very luckily for us
early starters – there is a Kimi records night on the Wednesday at
"what used to be Gaukur".

Yes, Gaukur has gone and been
replaced by something called Tunglið. Gaukur was definitely the best Airwaves
venue. It's a huge shame. Let's hope that Tunglið (described in the Reykjavik
visitor guide as a dance club) has kept some of the old Gaukur atmosphere.
Anyhow, Kimi Records has popped up in the last 12 months and is home to a
fine array of Icelandic talent and how is this line-up to get us going on the
Wednesday night?

Hellvar
Morðingjarnir
Borko
Benni Hemm Hemm
Retro Stefson
Hjaltalín
Reykjavík!

See you there?