The Reykjavik to Foundation is proud to be able to look back on the success of Reykjavik to Rotterdam. The best critic on how the festival was experienced came from Shain Shapiro from the Reykjavik Grapevine: "Reykjavik to Rotterdam made the two cities feel like neighbours, as if they where just across the river from each other..."
This is exactly the way I had dreamed this event to be, for a moment bring Reykjavik to Rotterdam.
Another proof of success was the amazing totally sold out saturday night.
Part of the reason why we organize these festivals is to enable unknown bands to play in front of a new audience. One of those bands – Rökkurro – experienced their first performance outside of Reykjavik. Playing in front of the biggest audience in their career. And ending up selling all their cds at the 12 Tónar festival store. Without a festival it is impossible to let unknown acts experience anything close to this.
I like to thank the following people:
The sponsors and funds: Icelandair, Samskip, Icelandic Ministry for Trade, Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs, VSB Fonds, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, Rotterdam, Reykjavik and Icelandic Music Export.
All the volunteers for their hard work and for being a unmissable part of it all.
All the performers for being there and giving it their all.
All of the staff from Lantaren/Venster, for their involvement and enthusiasm from start till finish.
And a special thanks to Helga for standing by my side, and guarding over r2 finances.
And to you, the audience, for being there.
On
www.flickr.com/photos/reykjavik_to you can look back upon it all.
The Reykjavik to Foundation is already working on the next festivals taking place in the end of may in Berlin and Copenhagen. Again will many new bands be part of the program.
Marcel Edwin Deelen
President Reykjavik to Foundation
