Kria Brekkan
Donaufestival Krems, 2011
Once upon a time there was an Icelandic musician called Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir (also known as Kría Brekkan) making a fairylike appearance in an Austrian tavern on the countryside. In this artless setting Kría’s performance felt even more other-worldy – in the most wonderful way! She did a haunting cover of The Paris Sisters’ „I Love How You Love Me“ and played her „very unofficial“ song „Creator“, before giving the camera a heart-melting smile. And if you are wondering, why you only get to see this enchanting session now, a few months after the artist paid us a visit, then her belated note might win you over as well: „I had made a new yahoo folder called FIRST AND FOREMOST, where i had put this letter so to reply it in time. I must have never again check out my FAF -folder. Anyway. If i never gave permission for you to put these videos up, I greatly apologize. I´m a shy one but this is well shot and recorded and you’re welcome to put it up!“
- Photography
- Marcus Varga
- Artist
- Kria Brekkan
Donaufestival Krems
Donaufestival is a festival for advanced pop music, theatre, film and performances in the Lower Austrian town Krems. The festival significantly changed its artistic orientation in 2005, when the “new” Donaufestival started with Tomas Zierhofer-Kin as artistic director. Since then it takes place annually on two or three weekends in spring, presenting and celebrating the most relevant popcultural movements. 2008’s motto is “Angst. Obsession. Beauty.”, which gives space to noisy avant-garde-pop acts like Liars, The Go-Team and Health as well as to numerous queer artists like The Hidden Cameras, Scott Matthew and Xiu Xiu. Contrary to all those common summer festivals music is only a part of the Donaufestival, as there are performances, film screenings and exclusive commissioned works shown on several locations all over Krems. Apart from the Donaufestival, Krems is rather known as a destination for tourists than for its popcultural scene. It is situated right by the river Danube and in the because of its beautiful landscape very popular Wachau region. Krems is particularly famous for its vine-yards located picturesquely on the hills ascending from the Danube (the town even has its own viniculture college) and the Old Town with its narrow cobblestone lanes. The city of Krems dates back more than 1000 years as first settlements of Germans and Slavs were documented in 995. Apart from tourism Krems is known as a place for trade fairs and industry, has a University specialising only in post-graduate-studies and is home of the biggest penal institution in Austria. With almost 30.000 inhabitants Krems is the fifth biggest town in Lower Austria, which is the province around Vienna.