Iceland’s Eurovision 2019 representatives, techno-punk rock collective Hatari, are headed to the Netherlands in September, performing at two music festivals.

As Eurovision 2019 has settled down and the heat of the sultry summer months is rising, Eurovision’s artists are preparing to perform throughout their home countries and beyond. Among them is the controversial Icelandic group Hatari, who will bring their unique style to the stage of two festivals in this year’s victorious Eurovision country the Netherlands!

A warm welcome at Bloodshed Fest on 13 Friday

Hatari’s first Dutch gig will be at the 20th edition of the appropriately named Bloodshed Fest, a festival dedicated to all forms of “extreme music”, in Eindhoven on the ominous date of Friday 13 September. The Icelandic band will be joined by such names as Aborted from Belgium and From Ashes Rise from the United States, among many others. Luc Favié of the Bloodshed Fest is pleased that Hatari has been added to the line-up, stating in newspaper Eindhovens Dagblad:

With acts like Atari Teenage Riot and Otto von Schirach we have been flirting with more extreme electro in recent years. This addition fits perfectly with the Bloodshed image, we include every kind of extreme music. Hatari knows how to excite and trigger people with their punk, electro and techno with anti-capitalist elements. Exactly what Bloodshed Fest stands for.

BDSM at Baroeg Open Air

On Saturday 14 September, Hatari will head to the Zuiderpark (“Southern Park”) in Rotterdam for the Baroeg Open Air music festival. Festival director Leon van Rijnsbergen considers Hatari to be a logical and perfect addition to the festival, as he said to RTV Rijnmond:

Our festival focuses on a lot of different hard and alternative genres, such as metal, gothic, hardcore, punk, rock (n ‘roll), EBM, industrial and breakcore. This act fits in perfectly.

Other names that will attend the festival include Agent Fresco, BOSKAT, Dark Tranquillity, Cabaret Nocturne, Komatsu, PRSPCT Assault (Thrasher, DJ Hidden, The Satan, MC Mike Redman), Samael, The Prototypes and Wild Romance.

The rest of Europe

Besides the Netherlands, Hatari is also set to perform in Denmark, Germany, Finland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom and of course their native Iceland.

For more information about the group’s Dutch and other performances, please visit Hatari’s official website or Facebook page.

(Sources: ed.nl, rijnmond.nl)

Hatari at Eurovision 2019

Icelandic techno-punk rock band Hatari (“Hater”) consists of Klemens Nikulásson Hannigan (vocals), Matthías Tryggvi Haraldsson (vocals) and Einar Hrafn Stefánsson (drummer and producer). Additionally, choreographers and dancers Ástrós Guðjónsdóttir, Sigurður Andrean Sigurgeirsson and Sólbjört Sigurðardóttir are also part of the collective. Known for their extravagant looks and performances, Hatari hails from Iceland’s capital Reykjavík. The group incorporates outspoken and often satirical lyrics.

Hatari participated in Iceland’s selection for Eurovision 2019, Söngvakeppnin 2019. The group eventually won the contest on 2 March 2019 with the dark techno-rock song Hatrið mun sigra (“Hate will prevail”), composed and written by the members of Hatari themselves.

Performing in the first semi-final, the band placed 3rd and went through to the Grand Final. Hatari not only secured Iceland’s first Grand Final spot since 2014, but they also reached a respectable 10th place with 232 points.

Besides their top-10 finish, Hatari sparked controversy by showing Palestinian flags during the live broadcast of the Grand Final, going against EBU rules. If there will be consequences for either the group or Icelandic broadcaster RÚV is yet to be determined.

Enjoy Hatari performing Hatrið mun sigra during the Grand Final: