[srahman24]

He's coming back to the US! No word on gigs yet, but recording will continue in NYC.

Damien Rice to Plant Trees in Reykjavík

Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice is currently in Iceland to record songs for his new album in secret small-scale concerts. Recordings finished yesterday, and today Rice plans to visit a kindergarten, plant trees and discuss the environment in Reykjavík City Hall.

Reykjavík City Hall. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.

Kári Sturluson, who has helped Rice organize his Iceland trip, explained to Morgunbladid that the musician is keen on leaving something behind besides music in the cities he visits. Since he is a devoted environmentalist, he often plants trees.

Today’s program begins with a visit to the Laufásborg kindergarten. There Rice will join the children for lunch and maybe play some songs before they head over to Hljómskálagardurinn Public Park.

At the park, Rice, the kids, Mayor of Reykjavík Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir and chairman of the city’s Environment and Transport Council Gísli Marteinn Baldursson will plant trees in a so-called Laufásborg Grove.

The tree planting begins at 12:30 between Hljómskálinn concert cabin and Hringbraut. It is part of the city’s agreement with the kindergarten to increase the children’s environmental conscience. Rice and Kristjánsdóttir will serve as protectors of the grove.

At 4 pm, Rice will participate in a special nature awakening event in the City Hall along with Baldursson and Andri Snaer Magnason, the author of Dreamland. Rice will present his involvement with environmental protection and play a few songs.

“Those songs are part of a certain project, called Project G, on which Rice and his friends from the music and theater scene work together,” explained Sturluson. “An album with that material will be published next year.”

The program in the City Hall is open to everyone. Rice said he intends to make the most of his Iceland visit this year. He first came to Iceland in March 2004 to promote his album O and has since returned on many occasions both in private and public visits.

Tomorrow, Rice is leaving for New York to continue recording his new album.