Brek

BREK was formed in the fall of 2018. The band mainly plays original, folky music with influences from various sources, folk, jazz, classical, storytelling and more.
The members of the band focus on creating an interesting atmosphere in their playing, witch on its own could tell a story. In addition, there is a focus on the multifaceted use of the Icelandic language in the band’s lyrics.
BREK has made one full length album, released in 2021.

Band members are:
Harpa Þorvaldsdóttir - piano and lead vocal
Jóhann Ingi Benediktsson - guitar and lead vocal
Guðmundur Atli Pétursson - mandolin and backing vocal
Sigmar Þór Matthíasson - upright bass and backing vocal

The band was nominated for the Icelandic Music Awards in the category of folk music two years in a row and won the Icelandic Music Awards for Folk album of the year in 2022 for their self-titled debut album, as well as being featured as Album of the week on Iceland National Radio - Rás 2 in early 2022.

BREK has been diligent in playing concerts in Iceland and plans to be active in playing concerts both in Iceland and abroad as well as working on new material.

In 2022 BREK developed a program for kids that they called Bernsku-Brek (bernska transl. to youth) for the Big Bang festival that was held in Reykjavík that year.
The program is based around the band’s music incorporating storytelling, participation and listening. Bernsku-Brek was developed and directed by artistic director Wouter Van Looy the founder of the Big Bang Children's Festival.
Bernsku-Brek has since been performed for children in Reykjavík a few times and has gotten a great feedback from the schools that have attended.

In 2023 BREK played official showcases at Folk Alliance International in Kansas City, USA in February, Nordic Folk Alliance in Roskilde, Denmark in April, Folkelarm in Oslo Norway in November. BREK also played an official showcase at Your Roots are showing in Dundalk Ireland in January of 2024.