Update: Hallbjörn Hjartarson passed away in 2022.
Last week I met Hallbjörn Hjartarson, famous all over Iceland as the “Icelandic Cowboy, in Skagaströnd. Now 76 years old, he graciously showed me around his Kántrýbær studio.
From Frommer’s Guide to Iceland.:
The youngest of 16 children, Hallbjörn Hjartarson developed his mania for country music in the late 1950s, while working at the American military base in Keflavík. In 1963 he returned home to tiny Skagaströnd, and in 1983, after singing in various bands, founded Kántrýbær (Country Town), his restaurant, bar, radio studio, and all-around country-and-western shrine. (He lives across the street, and is rarely seen without a ten-gallon hat.) He has only visited the U.S. once — in 1988, to record an album in Nashville — but never ventured outside Tennessee. For several years he organized a C&W festival in Skagaströnd, complete with barn dancing, rodeo stunts, and can-shootin’ competitions, but unfortunately it’s been on hiatus since 2002. Hallbjörn’s 24-hour radio show, usually hosted live from 2 to 6pm and 8pm to midnight, airs on FM 96.7, 102.2, and 107.0; it can be heard from as far as Akureyri and the Strandir coast. On air he insists on thanking Johnny Cash, Dwight Yoakam, and other favorites each time their music is played.
The youngest of 16 children, Hallbjörn Hjartarson developed his mania for country music in the late 1950s, while working at the American military base in Keflavík. In 1963 he returned home to tiny Skagaströnd, and in 1983, after singing in various bands, founded Kántrýbær (Country Town), his restaurant, bar, radio studio, and all-around country-and-western shrine. (He lives across the street, and is rarely seen without a ten-gallon hat.) He has only visited the U.S. once — in 1988, to record an album in Nashville — but never ventured outside Tennessee. For several years he organized a C&W festival in Skagaströnd, complete with barn dancing, rodeo stunts, and can-shootin’ competitions, but unfortunately it’s been on hiatus since 2002. Hallbjörn’s 24-hour radio show, usually hosted live from 2 to 6pm and 8pm to midnight, airs on FM 96.7, 102.2, and 107.0; it can be heard from as far as Akureyri and the Strandir coast. On air he insists on thanking Johnny Cash, Dwight Yoakam, and other favorites each time their music is played.
A sample of Hallbjörn‘s music –
That’s a very cool article. Hallbjorne seems like quite a character. I’ve never travelled outside the states except one time to Mexico. I hope to see Iceland before I am planted in the dirt.
Hallbjörn was convicted in 2014 for molesting his grandsons.
https://www.mbl.is/frettir/innlent/2014/05/20/hallbjorn_i_3_ara_fangelsi/
My meeting with him took place years before this sad episode came to light.
Hi,
Forgive the presumption, but my son, age 21, and I are traveling to Iceland this summer and wanted to meet Hallbjorn Hjartarson. Might you be willing to advise how to make contact? Also, do you know a B&B or hotel either in his town or nearby to stay overnight?
Any help would be much appreciated. Beautiful photos, by the way.
PS: Our interest is that both my son and I love music; I’m more involved in country, particularly alternative country, but my son loves it all.
Dave
David R. Levine, MD
Rockford, IL 61103
trabendikate@mac.com
Ph: 815.965.3139
Hallo!
The photos are amazing
Hallbjorn is singing about, lonelyness after chasing away son and wife, and how much he misses them and how he wants to start all over again with them.
All the best to you
Magnus