Icelandic-duo VÆB brought the vibes to Manchester Academy 3 on 21 March. The pair, composed of brothers Hálfdán and Matthías Matthíasson, are known for their electronic-dance/pop track ‘RÓA’ (Row) which reached the final of Eurovision 2025. Despite not making monumental waves at Eurovision, their popularity has not waivered, with a largely dedicated, mostly younger, fan base showing up to support the pair.
Opening the show came GULLI, Icelandic rapper and resident DJ for the night. Performing a few of his own songs, including from his latest album HÚSIÐ OG ÉG, VOL. 2 (The house and me, vol. 2), he also incorporated a mix of Eurovision songs.
Credit: Caitlin Embradura @ The Mancunion
Bounding on to thunderous cheers and screams, bedazzled head-to-toe in silver and donning their signature VÆB glasses, the pair debuted to a remix of their Eurovision entry. Almost immediately the elephant in the room was addressed; the fact that their songs are almost all in Icelandic yet they were performing to a non-Icelandic speaking crowd. Asking for a show of hands to see who was from Iceland, there was a lone cheer.
However, the pair were quickly shocked when the undeterred crowd sang along to their songs in somewhat fluent Icelandic. The opening tracks came mostly from their upcoming album VÆBOUT: ‘ÞETTA REDDAST’ (loosely translating to ‘It will work out’) about living life and being easy-going, ‘DR. SAXOPHONE’ about someone who is an expert with a saxophone, and ‘GAMERBOI’ aptly about gaming.
Whilst this may only be a taste of their discography, it is evident that all of their songs are just as wonderfully nonsensical, focused on arbitrary subject matter, crafted with ridiculously catchy electronic beats, and often diffusing a hidden positive message; ‘RÓA’ may be, at a surface level, a song about rowing boats but there is a message of self-determination and resilience that lies underneath its surface.
Credit: Caitlin Embradura @ The Mancunion
Not long into the concert, they shed their large, silver jumpers to reveal, still silver yet more breathable, overalls. The room was on fire by this point, with one of the pair quipping how it is not the best idea to do put on a concert when “you are wearing a microwave”.
Then came the segment of the show during which the brothers elect a member of the audience to spin a wheel and whatever the arrow lands on would be the random song they would sing. Manchester got ‘Old Town Road’ by Lil Nas X, joyous response from both the duo and audience. It had only been around 15 minutes since VÆB had come out and the room had already descended into hilarity; the next hour was sure to be a ride.
Covering two 2025 Eurovision songs next; Tommy Cash's ‘Espresso Machiato’ and KAJ's ‘Bara Bara Bastu’, the latter showed that Manchester is apparently not only fluent in Icelandic, but seemingly Swedish too.
Following an audience request which the pair happily obliged, then came a debut performance of the first song they ever released, 'ARON CAN (BORÐAR KÁL)', translating to 'Aron Can (Eating Cabbage)', which enthused rapturous excitement. This energy continued when GULLI returned to the mic with VÆB, venturing into the audience to a circle formed in the middle of the room for them, but not before a quick reminder to the rabid crowd to remain respectful and aware of their surroundings.
Credit: Caitlin Embradura @ The Mancunion
There was another surprise when the brothers spontaneously attempted a ‘Wonderwall’ cover; emphasis on attempted as everyone, including them, sang their cue too early initially. At this point I am at a loss for words for the sheer mayhem happening in the room. Throughout the show DJ GULLI had a soundboard, playing soundbites whenever he saw fit, and it was truly a comical moment when he spammed popular TikTok sound effects, receiving audible laughter from the younger crowd.
Their set ended with ‘RÓA’, which they encored again due to crowd demand, with the choreography remaining almost exactly the same as in Eurovision, despite the dramatically smaller stage.
VÆB flourished in the unpredictable atmosphere and organised chaos, made possible by the zealous crowd. The duo seemed to have the time of their life performing, made sweeter by the admittance that they “never expected to perform outside of Iceland”, with their positive vibes being a highlight of the overall experience, triumphing over the, at times, intense audience.
If VÆB ever decides to row back to Manchester, I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to jump on board again.
Credit: Caitlin Embradura @ The Mancunion
https://open.spotify.com/album/4T7nf5DQXQ4Ohpzrjdy9JV?si=WJlilt6zSASQe0TU1ybe4Q
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