The concert, which was partly inspired by the actions of the SavingIceland protest camp last summer in the Icelandic highlands at Kárahnjúkar (see www.savingiceland.org ), is an excellent boost to the fighting spirit of Icelandic and foreign environmentalists who are in a desperate struggle to preserve the last great pristine wilderness of Europe. It is also a major crack in the domestic and international conspiracy of silence when it comes to the terrible environmental and social repercussions that the Kárahnjúkar dams and other similar projects that are in the pipeline would will bring with them.

The focus never drifted from the cause. Images of the areas to be destroyed, footage from years of protest and damning cartoons of the Icelandic government and ALCOA were played on huge screens whilst original SavingIceland banners lined the walls . Some of the songs were dedicated to the environmental threat. Anarchist punk band Rass (translates arse) screamed their song ‘Kárahnjúkar’ (which was a number one smash hit at the protest camp at Kárahnjúkar this summer)  http://dagskra.ruv.is/streaming/sjonvarpid/?file=4270068/4 whilst Damon Albarn sang ‘Aluminium’, written especially for the event with simple but powerful lyrics. Damon, who lives periodically in Iceland and has been a regular visitor since 1997 quite aptly described the heavy industry invasion into Iceland as ‘bad management´ on Icelandic national news  http://dagskra.ruv.is/streaming/sjonvarpid/?file=4270068/2 and suggested that the country could be developed in other ways rather than ’destroying the one thing Iceland has that’s unique”. Damien Rice said Iceland was ‘fucking beautiful and fucking inspiring”.

The gig was organized by the brand new ‘Stop the Dams!’ group. See www.this.is/nature

You can already see videos and photos from the gig at  http://www.damnation.tv/ which will also web cast an edited version of most of the gig in a couple of days.

Below is the News release from the Stop the dams! group.

Friday, January 6, 2006, 10:09 PM
Stop the dams!

A gig for nature in Laugardalsholl Stadium 7 January 2006
and many others.

Stop the destruction of the Icelandic highlands!
Multinational aluminium corporations, aided by the Icelandic government, are building massive dams to generate power for aluminium smelters. These dams are posing great danger to the pristine highlands of Iceland. Parts of the largest remaining wilderness areas in Europe will be irreversibly submerged. The Icelandic highlands include areas that are internationally recognized for their unique vegetation, geology and ecology. These areas are now doomed unless this vandalism is stopped. The battle has never been more important but time is running out with the planned filling of reservoirs this coming autumn and subsequent construction of more power plants in other precious areas. This is a desperate call for help to the international community.

Stop the dams! music festival

On January 7, Icelandic rock-'n'-roll's biggest guns join forces with international music stars in a Stop the dams! gig at Laugardalsholl Stadium. With the event the artists and organisers want to bring into focus a unique nature that is too valuable to sacrifice for hydroelectric power stations and aluminium plants. It is time to stop the dams!

This great opportunity to enjoy fantastic music while supporting an important cause has been widely appreciated; all 5500 tickets sold out in only a couple of days.

The musicians performing are Björk, Zeena Parkins, Mum, Damien Rice, Lisa Hannigan, Ghostigital, Damon Albarn, Ego, Magga Stina, Mugison, Rass, Sigur Ros, KK, Ham, Hjalmar, Sigtryggur Baldursson, plus surprise guests.

Other artists include Magnus Palsson, Roni Horn, Ruri, The Icelandic Love Corporation and Osk Vilhjalmsdottir.

All the artists, the organizers and the majority of staff donate their efforts to the cause. Any profit will be used to start a special fund for the protection of nature in Iceland.

For further information contact  nature@hive.is,
Website: www.this.is/nature