Blue Church concert series in Seyðisfjörður
Each summer, Seyðisfjörður’s Blue Church opens its doors to music. But not just any music – acoustic sets, experimental scores, and voices that carry differently under the church’s arched ceiling. The Blue Church concert series is a quiet ritual, shaped by daylight, fog, and the particular acoustics of a small wooden sanctuary.
A Stage of Light and Wood
The Bláa Kirkjan wasn’t designed to be a concert hall. That much becomes clear when the first note rises – and doesn’t quite stop. The wooden interior catches sound, delays it slightly, bends it around corners. For some performers, it’s a challenge. For others, a gift.
There’s no stage in the traditional sense. Just a raised area near the altar, often framed by modest lighting and a few stands. By 20:15, most of the seats are filled. Locals tend to sit closer to the front. Visitors, quieter than usual, hover near the back, coats folded on laps. Then someone dims the lights.
It’s not silent before the concert – not exactly. But the shift is audible when it happens. A child stops rustling. Someone finishes their sentence mid-word. And then, breath.
The Summer Program
The Blue Church concert series Seyðisfjörður runs through the heart of summer – typically July to August – and always on Tuesdays. The programming changes every year, curated with an ear for contrast. One week might feature solo jazz trumpet, the next – minimalist string duos or electronic drone artists from Reykjavík.
There’s no dominant genre. Instead, the common thread is the setting: intimate, immersive, with no separation between player and audience. No green room, no curtain. Just music and wood.
Some years, themes emerge – quietly, without being declared. A season of water-based compositions. Or one where most acts used field recordings. Whether that’s coincidence or curation is hard to tell.
What to Expect
Before each concert, visitors often stop by the gallery adjacent to the church. It’s small, with rotating exhibits – but sometimes that’s all you need. A sketch, a photo series, something wordless.
Tickets aren’t really tickets. You arrive, take a seat, and make a donation – if you wish. The suggested amount is modest. The expectation is honesty. Concerts begin promptly at 20:30, and those who know this tend to arrive early – not for the best seat, but for the stillness beforehand.
During intermission, doors open. Some step outside to smoke. Others just breathe in the mountain air. And then, as if nothing happened, everyone returns.
Highlights of Past Years
Some concerts stay with people longer than others. A few recent highlights include:
- A vocal improvisation trio using only breath and harmony
- Icelandic guitarist performing a 30-minute loop without pause
- Chamber group playing works by Pauline Oliveros in total darkness
- A singer who forgot lyrics mid-song – and turned silence into applause
There was one summer – the first after the pandemic break – when the church was full before sunset. They kept the doors open that evening. Light and music spilling out, together.