Upprásin
Concert series dedicated to the grassroots of Icelandic music across musical genres.
Upprásin is a concert series hosted by Harpa, in collaboration with Reykjavík Music City, Rás 2 and Landsbankinn. It forms part of Harpa’s programme policy to improve access for grassroots and young people across all musical genres, while also increasing diversity. The aim is for music enthusiasts to be assured of hearing a wide variety of new Icelandic music, directly from the grassroots of the music scene, performed under ideal conditions in the nation’s concert hall.
Upprásin is now taking place for the third year in a row, with a total of 27 bands set to perform — three at each concert evening throughout the 2025–2026 winter season.
More about Upprásin
The grassroots are flourishing in Harpa with the concert series that began in the fall of 2023. One hundred thirty-four applications were received in the first year, and 26 musical acts were selected for the winter of 2023/24. For the winter of 2024/25 and 2025/26, 27 acts were chosen.
The concert series takes place in Kaldalón Auditorium, located on the ground floor of Harpa. It is held on one Tuesday evening a month from September to May. Three acts are performed each evening. Admission is kept to a minimum to give as many people as possible the opportunity to attend.
Harpa supports the concert series by providing facilities, equipment, a technician, and management. The Reykjavík Music City pays the musicians' salaries, and Rás 2 promotes them, including in the programme Ólátagarður. The musicians who perform each time receive a recording of the concerts, and Landsbankinn supports the sound production. Stúdíó Sýrland also supports the event, and students studying sound engineering are invited to come to Harpa for an internship.
Nominations
Upprásin was nominated for the Icelandic Music Awards in the musical event of the year 2023 and for the annual Grapevine Music Awards in the category "Shout out," which are awarded to those considered to have improved the world of music during the year.
The application process
Applications are accepted in May each year and are announced separately when the application process begins, along with instructions on how to apply.
All musicians who identify as grassroots in the Icelandic music scene, regardless of gender or nationality, are encouraged to apply. A selection committee reviews the submitted applications and selects the musicians who will perform in the concert series, with three bands performing each night.
The selection committee is composed of Einar Karl Pétursson and Björk Magnúsdóttir on behalf of Rás 2, Guðmundur Birgir Halldórsson on behalf of the Reykjavík Music City, Sóley Stefánsdóttir on behalf of the Harpa Programme Council, and Elísabet Indra Ragnarsdóttir, Project Manager of Programming at Harpa.
Upcoming concerts
