Gljúfrasteinn – Icelandic Folk Songs in a Literary Setting

We just performed at Gljúfrasteinn, the home of Nobel Laureate Halldór Laxness, with a program that explored Icelandic folk songs in our own arrangements and original compositions. Our focus was on material from our album Bjargrúnir alongside new work inspired by medieval texts and oral storytelling traditions. The intimate setting (Halldór’s living room!) allowed for a deep connection between music, poetry, and audience. Reflecting on the power of stories and the lyrical tradition in Iceland, both ancient and contemporary, it was a pleasure to perform in such a meaningful place, surrounded by nature (beautiful Mosfellsdalur valley) and literature.

Our Germany Tour 2025 – A Memorable Journey

We just embarked on a wonderful concert tour in Germany, presenting our programme Mystical Folk and Ballads .The tour took us to eleven cities including Düsseldorf, Gelsenkirchen, Paderborn, Gütersloh and Kempen, where we performed in theatres, town halls and cultural centres.

Our aim was to share some of the mythical and poetic elements of Icelandic culture through music. The audiences were warm, curious and engaged, and most venues were well attended.

We truly enjoyed playing in Germany. Each concert brought something different and we felt welcomed wherever we went. It was inspiring to connect with new listeners and see how our music resonated in different places.

This tour marked an important step for us as an ensemble. We are grateful for the opportunity and look forward to returning to Germany in the future – and to bringing our music to new stages across Europe and beyond. We are especially grateful for the wonderful team at Klangkosmos NRW, a special thanks to Birgit and to Kim who took so good care of us during the tour, and to all the great hosts around the Nordrhein-Westfalen area.

Hallgrímur celebration at Hvalsneskirkja – Exploring the great poems of Hallgrímur Pétursson

We recently performed in the beautiful Hvalsneskirkja, a historic church where the Icelandic poet and pastor Hallgrímur Pétursson once lived and worked in the 17th century. His daughter’s tombstone, who passed away too soon, was found at the site and is kept by the altar. In this programme, we explored both the sacred and secular poetry of Hallgrímur through traditional melodies and new compositions. Drawing on sources like the Icelandic Folk Song Collection, we created arrangements that connect the old with the new. Performing this music in the very place where Hallgrímur lived gave the concert a unique depth. It was a special afternoon in a remarkable setting.

Upcoming conferences

The members of UMBRA have many functions, as is common, and will be present at the following conferences/festivals, representing the band. Please don’t hesitate to contact us or send a message if you’d like to organise a quick chat/meet-up.

• March 20-22 Babel Music, Marseille (FR)

• April 3-5 Nordic Folk Alliance, Uppsala (SE)

• October 20-26, WOMEX 25, Tampere (FI)

Sur Jahan 2025 - India tour

We had an unforgettably warm and adventurous time at the Sur Jahan World Peace Festival 2025, organized by the groundbreaking Banglanatak association that is building societal bridges all across India using cultural-based approaches. We are deeply thankful for the kind hospitality, for the many new friendships and for the opportunity to get to know Bengalese and Goan culture.

A few select images here from our performances and experiences in Kolkata, The Bannabagram Baul Ashram and Goa. Substantially more can be found on our social media sites.