Five must-dos at Sónar Reykjavik

Wherever you are in the world, it’s always good to find some local talent. And you won’t go far wrong checking out rapidly rising Icelandic techno talent Bjarki at Sonar. Signed to Nina Kraviz’s трип label (pronounced Trip), ‘I Wanna Go Bang’ was one of the biggest techno records to drop last year, and we knew his label boss was seriously smitten with his work when nine out of 17 tracks she played in a Radio 1 mix were his productions. This is techno as breathtaking and uncompromising as the Icelandic landscape that spawned it and will have you locked from start to finish.

Reykjavik is world renowned for its thriving nightlife and food scene, but you’d be seriously shooting yourself in the foot if you didn’t get out of the capital during your stay. Geological wonderments like Strokkur, the boiling water firing geysir, or the iconic 40-metre plummet Gullfoss waterfall are just short car or bus rides from the city. And if there’s a better hangover cure than an afternoon at geothermal spa the Blue Lagoon (pictured above), we’re yet to find it.

Even your mum’s mate Sheila is aware grime made something of a comeback in 2015, thanks in large part to the crossover success of artists like Skepta and Stormzy. But for us, it was London producer Mumdance who really pushed the sound forward sonically, especially on his excellent collaborations with Novelist. This is a chance to catch a producer and DJ in action, really at the peak of his powers.

With the likes of Holly Herndon, Squarepusher and Oneohtrix Point Never littering the bill, at points the Sonar line-up can veer towards the abstruse. But thankfully, they’ve pulled in some unremitting party starters to keep the balance just right. And our pick of the bunch is The Black Madonna’s set on the festival’s opening day. The Chicago DJ dropped the set of the weekend at last month’s Bugged Out Weekender, with her ability to flip effortlessly between face melting techno, ecstatic house and disco and stone cold classics winning her legions of new fans. Not to be missed.

Sonar Reykjavik takes place this weekend in the city's Harpa concert hall