Rob Moura

On an evening in early June, inside the cranberry-hued orchestra hall of Iceland’s Harpa, a sold-out crowd of hundreds held their breath for Hildur Guðnadóttir to take the stage. When she does, introducing herself informally as the 2026 Reykjavik Arts Festival’s Artist-in-Residence, the pressure of anticipation bursts, and the hall floods with applause. Here she is, undisputed inheritor of Iceland’s classical mantle, finally back on an Icelandic stage after over a decade.

Chances are, by now, you’ve heard of Sonic Guild. Founded in Austin but with a beefy Seattle presence, the Guild has made it its mission to offer Northwest musicians validation, stages, and (in the case of a few lucky, hard-working individuals) $10,000 in grant money. Previous winners include Dean Johnson, Deep Sea Diver, Shaina Shepherd, Thunderpussy, Sol, and so many more. Here's how it works: Every year, the Guild puts out a call for grant nominees.

“Bzzzzt!” The sharp squeal of a screw being driven into wood punctures the air, splitting our ears like amp feedback. In a dusty backroom, Joel Myers is hard at work securing plywood sheets to a frame and tracing hand-drawn cartoon skeletons over them. After a few blasts of sound, Geoff Joynes pulls down his sawdust mask and calls out, “Hey! Pipe down, will ya?” He’s jesting, but Myers obliges and drops the drilling.