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Eistnaflug. Try to say that word after three pints of beer. We´ll make it easier for you and translate it. Ready? The literal translation is “Flying Testicles.” Yes. I really mean that.
This is how we experienced the 2015 festival
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Eistnaflug is the heaviest Icelandic music festival. This is a four-day maelstrom of heavy metal at its finest, and it takes place in the eastern village of Neskaupstadur, which normally is home to just over 1.500 souls. To avoid confusion, Neskaupstadur is part of the Fjardarbyggd municipality.
The population of this quintessential Icelandic fishing village doubles every year in July when a legion of heavy rockers descend on the town and take it over. Most of them are Icelandic, but the festival also attracts visitors from Germany, Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Great Britain, the US, Norway, and other countries.
The locals don´t mind the takeover of leather-clad metalheads, as the motto of the festival is “Ekkert helvítis rugl,” which literally means No F****** Bull****. This is an absolute rule which is followed to the letter and should be adopted all over the world in my opinion. The result is a friendly music festival featuring dozens of metal acts, both foreign and domestic.
How to get there and book tickets
If you are driving from Reykjavík, expect to be on the road for up to 10 hours. I would split that journey into two or three days and really enjoy a road trip in Iceland. If you take the southern route, you can drive past the infamous Eyjafjallajökull volcano, catch a glimpse of Iceland´s highest peak (and the magnificent but often forgotten Hrútfjallstindar Peaks), and check out the extraordinary glacial lagoon of Jökulsárlón.
So come to Neskaupstaður and let those testicles fly!
Eistnaflug online
So where is Neskaupstaður exactly?
Drive on highway 1 from Reykjavik along the southern coast. You basically follow highway 1 (often called the ring road) for ages until you finally reach the town of Egilsstadir. Then you turn to road nr. 92 and follow it to Neskaupstadur (AKA Nordfjordur, AKA Fjardarbyggd)
Pictures by Eistnaflug Metal Festival
