Árstíðir – Cstlefest, Lisse; August 4th, 2024

Castlefest is always nice, for people watching as well as the music. I was there for three days, but really cared to see only one band, Árstíðir. They played in the last day in the afternoon and their show made it all worthwhile. It was a pretty much perfect setlist and a lovely concert overall.

The festival started on my birthday, but I skipped day one, because I wasn’t interested in any of the bands playing then. Day two and three were nice, even though I never managed to meet my friends (we were hindered by terrible cell service). I enjoyed walking around, looking at all the market stalls, admiring people’s costumes and listening to music here and there. Ran in to Guillaume and Jean-Samuel on the third day and chatted for a while, but did not meet anyone else I knew until Sunday. Finally, with the prospect of Árstíðir soon being on stage, everyone gathered in front of it. I was happy to meet G. and talked to her until showstart. Ragnar said hello during sound check and soon it was time for the guys to hit the stage.

“Hello Castlefest!” Gunnar greeted us and told us that this was one of their favorite festivals to play, but first he noted that they used to be more in this band, because inexplicably, Ragnar was missing. Jokes ensued about the backstage being really big and wondering where he got lost until he finally arrived. The started with three short, “medieval sounding” a cappella songs and after the first one, Ragnar apologized for being late and told us about a saying in Iceland that means if something starts of bad that everything after would be great. He also explained that the first sog was a romantic one, but didn’t sound like it and the second one was a lullaby, but didn’t sound like it either.

They ended with a drinking song before they called Guillaume and Jean-Samuel on stage. It was a great start and a preview of the a cappella album they are currently working on. A beautiful version of ‘You just have to know of me’ followed and I found myself sighing deeply. I had really missed them and loved every second of it. ‘Ljóð í sand’ was next and anyone in the audience, who had not been fully attentive yet, was drawn in by that song. It has some special magic. 🙂

Daníel told us about writing the next song in Karlovi Vary and how they stayed up until it was finished. It was ‘Someone who cares’. I remembered when they first played it all those years ago. Still one of my favorite songs. The instantly recognizable piano into told me it was time for ‘Nú gleymist ég’ – another one I can never get enough of. <3 All of their music has a special place in my heart. but some songs even more so.

Ragnar asked who spoke Icelandic and a few people raised their hands. He spoke about how at Castlefest all languages blend together and with bands form many countries playing there, he can always tell the meaning, even if he does not know the meaning. For him music speaks the language of the heart and ‘Passion’ is a song about the heart. It was lovely. ‘Mute’ followed, feeling intense with the underlying heartbeat and creating an eerie mood. It fit the feeling talked about in the song.

Ragnar mentioned that their name means seasons and they chose it because in Iceland life differs with the seasons and how winter is the time for writing songs, when one alway wonders when the sun comes back. Of course ‘Hvenar kemur sól’ followed. Such a soothing and beautiful song. Danél told us they were having a horrible summer in Reykjavik and how the summer right here was perfect in comparison.

Guillaume and Jean-Samuel left the stage  and the rest of te band gathered arond one central microphone. Then Ragnar told us how they played a song backstage and the cows in the field came and listened. We were later to see a video of that on Instagram. They continued with the lovely ‘Glitský’. The others returned and joined them for ‘Land míns föður’ and did a great job. They ended the acoustic set with ‘Góða veislu gjöra skal’, always a fun one.

Back at the piano, Ragnar told us that Icelandic songs tend to be dramatic, as the nature of their country is, and all in minor key too. It was the perfect introduction for ‘Endatafl’ and they played beautifully. I could not help but sing along in the end and felt a few tears in my eyes too. ‘You again’ came as a surprise. I could not remember the last time I heard it. It was nice having it back on the setlist. ‘Shine’ followed and I liked that even better. What a great choice and what a great version of the song! <3

There is nothing I haven’t said about ‘While this Way’ yet. It is probably my all time favorite Árstíðir song, perfect in every way. <3 ‘Himinhvel’ was next and for a moment I could not remember the song, even though I recognized it and knew the first line. Either way, it was wonderful. Daníel asked us how we were doing and everyone cheered. Then he spoke about the pandemic and how they used the time for writing songs. They were gonna play us a happy one now, ‘Bringing back the Feel’. I smiled the entire time – it is just so much fun.

Another one from the pandemic session, ‘Sanity’ followed and I loved everything about it. It felt as if they were pulling out all stops now. Ragna told us how to say “cheers”, “Hi” and “thank you” in Icelandic, saying those three would get us a long way. From the newest material, we came to the first album with ‘Heiðin’ – I loved it. Every song seemed just right that day. They thanked us for the amazing day and ended the show with ‘Things you said’. That too, was fantastic. What a great ending.

Afterwards at the merch, I told everyone, how much I had enjoyed the setlist and how I loved that each album was represented. It was perfect. Only when Jean-Samuel mentioned it, I realized they had not played ‘Shades’. 😀 I hugged everyone who wanted to be hugged, talked with Linda and Tom, who were selling merch and spoke for some time with Daníel about playing guitar and ukulele and how I like watching his guitar work. It was all really lovely.

Said goodbye to a few people, spent some time hanging out with G. and finally returned to the merch to see who was still there. Hugged everyone goodbye and went home. It was a great day, I did not need to hear any more music.

Setlist

Ísland farsældafrón
Krummi Svaf í Klettagjá
“drinking song”
You just have to know of me.
Ljóð í sand
Someone who cares
Nú gleymist ég
Passion
Mute
Hvenar kemur sól
Glitský
Land míns föður
Góða veislu gjöra skal
Endatafl
You again
Shine
While this Way
Himinhvel
Bringing back the feel
Sanity
Heiðin
Things you said