Electric Brixton seems a million miles away from Eivør Pálsdóttir’s birthplace of the Faroe Islands. But tonight, in hushed reverence, every one of the souls in the south London venue were transported to a land so utterly different from the busy and loud streets just outside of these doors.
Eivør – Ásgeir – Elinborg
Electric Brixton, London – 23 September 2025
Words: Paul Monkhouse
Photography: Ash Nash
Tonight, Eivør’s intoxicating blend of ethereal traditional folk and rock saw the all-age audience, some with Faroe and Icelandic face paint, transfixed by the singer and hanging on her every word.
For those who caught her Download appearance this year knew that she was able to command a crowd, her set the towering highlight of the weekend for this writer. But to be so immersed for a whole show on her terms bordered on a truly spiritual experience.
Before Eivør hit the stage there was the not insignificant matter of support slots by Elinborg and Ásgeir, both perfectly suited to weave a perfect musical tapestry that invited those present to bask in their warm glow.
Elinborg
As Eivør’s younger sister, Elinborg was received with open arms, a warmth conferred on her not just through the familial connection but through her own work, having built up her own band of admirers through previous live shows as a headliner.
Certainly, there are going to be some similarities but this sibling brings her own sensibilities and flair to her material, her sparse arrangements and backing paring things down to the minimum.
Displaying her pure, clear vocals on opener Til Myrkurs, Elinborg cast a spell that was hard to break as the ethereal met some subtle dance beats and Vatnsins Verur was equally striking, the effect one of swimming in the ocean and looking up at the sun-dappled surface.
The sweeping drama of Troyst, beauty of Sjórok and otherworldly cry into the wild of Kræleikin seemed to rush past, the set over before it could be realised. Her time on stage may have been swift but the impression Elinborg made still lingers long past that night and marks her out as a very great talent in her own right. Definitely one to watch.
Ásgeir
Equally impressive, Icelandic singer/songwriter Ásgeir stamped his own mark on the evening and when matching his rich, distinctive voice, fluid piano and guitar playing and a set of outstanding songs, this was something to behold.
Embracing spiky yet warming electronica, the plaintive and quirky pop edges and beyond, the eight numbers showed the artist’s range and the haunting Dream and fragile Julia are a mark of class and quality.
New song Ferris Wheel displayed a perfectly crafted grasp of melody and when you can follow something like that with a soft, jazz touch you know there’s plenty more here to explore.
The long, snaking queue at the merchandise desk to meet him and grab a signed album told its own story loud and clear, another triumph for the evening.
Eivør
Eivør walks the tightrope between the thunder and angels, an always delicate balancing act deftly performed as she seems to channel something as ancient as the very earth itself. This seamless juxtaposition of the primal and the otherworldly is an almost overwhelmingly heady brew as her vocals sweep from the depths to fly up to touch the stars.
Turning a show in Electric Brixton on a grey Tuesday night to a near religious experience takes no end of skill but by the end of first number Jardartrá those who were even the most casual observers became converts as even the bar staff seemed almost transfixed.
With very little being said during the first section of the set it truly was the case of the music doing the talking and where tribal throbs are followed by Kate Bush meets Bladerunner soundscapes there is nothing to do but surrender to the dazzling power of it all.
With much-loved pieces like Gullspiunnin and Í Tokuni received like old friends, Last Kingdom soundtrack medley Threads Of Life / Main Theme / Hymn 49 was a trip to an epic realm of fantasy, Eivør’s skill as a composer another string to her bow that doubtless will open up even further.
From distant imagined lands to chasing ghosts left behind when moving home in the affecting Boxes, the range of emotions and sonic tapestries are breathtaking, a seductive So Close To Being simmering with violence just under the surface as it twists this way and that.
Announcing “I don’t do covers often but I really wish I’d written this,” the shimmering opening chords of Us And Them were the start of something truly showstopping. Joined on vocals by Ásgeir, the song climbed higher and higher, its intensity at times almost unbearable as they brought their own stamp to the Pink Floyd classic, the whole nothing short of spine tingling.
A riotous and perfect Upp Úr Øski Ni sees Elinborg duetting with her sister, both in high spirits and enjoying every minute as the night leads up to the unbeatable climax of an earthshaking Falling Free, the last vestiges of resistance shredded and thrown to the winds.
Unassailable in all she does, Eivør is a stunning artist with the ability to change lives and conjure worlds in ways that most can only dream of. This is music like no other.
