CONCERT GUIDE & LIVE MUSIC RESOURCE VOL. 2 / N0. 4 / July-August / 2019
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CONTENTS 04 10 16 18 20 22
Show Calendar The Berlin Festival Guide Summertime Fun History Witch Shows of Note Fake News
What is this filth? This is a free, monthly resource to help you navigate Berlin’s textured music scene. Within these pages you will hopefully find something useful, interesting, or amusing. What you will not find is any place for bigotry or intolerance of any kind. If you like what you see here, consider visiting our beautiful website: schmutzberlin.com
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CONTACT
Wordsmiths
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Gabriel Dunn, Mark Byrne,
schmutzberlin.com
Emily Gale, Kevin Chow
Wenhui Zheng
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Mail hallo@schmutzberlin.com
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Ingrid Bittar - OMA @ibbritta
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Don’t be a turd. Please recycle this when you’re done with it.
Dearest Reader, I think it’s time that we take a break. It's not me, it's you. I love you, but I've just been feeling smothered lately. But don’t fret, we’ll be back in September feeling refreshed and ready to pick up where we left off. In the meantime, we’ve lumped the next couple months of fun into this single issue to keep you entertained.
XOXO, Schmutz
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Recommended Shows
Schmutz Presents
JULY
04 20:30
CHEESY COD QUARTETT Donau115 Jazz MEN AT WORK Huxley’s Neue Welt 80’s | New Wave
€TBA
01 19:00
AMBER MARK Kantine am Berghain Pop | Soul
€21
04 20:00
02 18:00
DEF LEPPARD Zitadelle Spandau 80’s | Rock
€68
05 22:00
GBH | RADIOCRIMEN GREAT Wild At Heart Punk
03 18:00
NEIL YOUNG Waldbühne Berlin Country | Folk | Rock
€86
05 21:00
KIRIN J CALLINAN Urban Spree Anti-pop | Experimental | Kitch
03 20:00
GOUGE AWAY | SLOW CRUSH | EAT MY FEAR Zukunft am Ostkreuz Hardcore | Noise
€TBA
05 21:00
€TBA
03 20:00
THE MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES Huxley’s Neue Welt Brass | Ska
FABIOLA | MARCELLO BUSATO | AMELIE LEGRAND | THIEBAULT IMM | EMEME West Germany Experimental
€38
J MASCIS Festsaal Kreuzberg Garage | Indie
GORGASM | CENOTAPH | UNBIRTH | IN DEMISE Cassiopeia Death Metal | Gore
€15
03 21:00
05 20:00
€24
03 20:00
UY ZONE Berghain Experimental | Performance
€22
RADIO MOSCOW Lido Psychedelic | Rock | Stoner
05 19:00
€22
03 21:00
PHILM + GRISCHA LICHTENBERGER Donau115 Jazz
€TBA
DIAGRAM | A.S.S. Loophole Electronic | Experimental | Improvisation
05 20:30
€TBA
06 19:00
LINIKER E OS CARAMELOWS Yaam Brazilian | Pop | Soul
€TBA
03 19:00
TANYA TAGAQ: ‘SPLIT TOOTH’ Berghain Avante-garde | Throat singing
€20
06 18:30
GOSSIP Tempodrom Dance | Garage | Punk
03 20:30
MUSINA EBOBISSÉ/ BERNHARD MEYER DUO Donau115 Jazz
€TBA
06 19:00
METALLICA Olympiastadion Metal | Rock
04 20:00
ORKAN Schokoladen Prog | Psych
€TBA
06 20:00
MARKY RAMONE & GREG HETSON | BAD BRIANS Bi Nuu Punk
04 20:00
KING BUFFALO & CHILD Badehaus Blues | Psych | Stoner
€17
06 22:00
04 20:30
SARA HEBE Cassiopeia Hip Hop
THE ADOLESCENTS + BERLIN BLACKOUTS Wild At Heart Punk
€TBA
06 21:00
FLOFILZ & BARNEY ARTIST Gretchen Beats | Hip Hop
04 20:00
REGGIE WATTS Astra Comedy | Performance
€30
06 23:59
ARABS DO IT BETTER • SUMMER EDITION Urban Spree Electronic | Fun | Funk
€TBA
04 21:00
THOOL + PAUL ARÁMBULA Loophole Dance | Electronic | Tropicalia
€TBA
06 15:00
SWEATS SITUATION ! Loophole Electronic
€TBA
4
€60 €TBA €18
€50 €TBA €22 €TBA €18
07 19:00
CRO-MAGS (JM) Cassiopeia Hardcore | Punk
€25
07 20:00
CATT Kantine am Berghain Electronic | Pop | R&B
€22
08 20:00
YAWNING MAN + KALEIDOBOLT Toast Hawaii Heavy rock | Prog
€TBA
08 20:00
CÜNEYT SEPETÇI - TURKEY’S KING OF THE CLARINET Urban Spree Clarinet | Turkish
€TBA
10 21:00
ZIG ZAGS + The Victorious Secrets Toast Hawaii Punk | Thrash
€6
10 21:00
THE ESSEX GREEN Schokoladen Folk | Indie | Pop | Rock
€6
11 20:00
SIAMESE | THE ARTIFICIAL Cassiopeia Alternative | Rock
€TBA
11 20:00
RAYS Ziegrastrasse 11 Garage | Indie
€TBA
11 21:00
FABÍOLA BAED DREAMONS Loophole Experimental
€TBA
11 21:00
NARCOSATANICOS TIEF Doom | Experimental | Jazz | Noise Rock
€11
11 20:00
MALLRAT Auster Club Electronic | Pop
€18
11 20:00
THE ROOTS | YASIIN BEY Verti Music Hall Hip Hop | Soul
11 19:30
BEIRUT Zitadelle Spandau Folk | Indie | Singer/Songwriter
11 22:30
CARNERA | THE NE-21 | NO NATION & EVROPA | ERRATA PARANOIA OHM Industrial | Techno
12 20:00
THE UNDERGROUND YOUTH | THE GLUTS Lido Fuzz | Post Punk | Psych
12-14 12:00
HEROINES OF SOUND FESTIVAL 2019 Radialsystem V Composition | Experimental | Fun | Noise
EDITION NO 5
SACRED GROUND FESTIVAL LINE UP
DATE
€70
12 — 14 JULY 2019 CURATED BY
€43 €TBA €15
RY X AND FRANK WIEDEMANN
AXEL BOMAN • DJ TENNIS DUENDITA • HVOB MATHEW JONSON & FRANK WIEDEMANN NABIHAH IQBAL (DJ SET) PEREL (LIVE) • RY X THE TESKEY BROTHERS VAAL AND MANY MORE...
ACHTUNG! Shows often get cancelled or added at the last minute. For the full listing and latest info, check the dang website: www.schmutzberlin.com
€TBA 5
Recommended Shows
Schmutz Presents
€TBA
16 20:30
CKY Cassiopeia Rock
€TBA
€31
16 22:00
NEGATIVE APPROACH + BLADES Wild At Heart Hardcore | Punk
€TBA
17 19:30
THE SOFT MOON | IMPERIAL BLACK UNIT Berghain Electronic | Goth | Techno
17 21:00
METH#21 Loophole Experimental
€TBA
17 20:30
STEREO HEART Donau115 Jazz
€TBA
18 22:00
D.I. + FRIDA Wild At Heart Punk
€TBA
€15
13 14:00
SONREAL Kantine am Berghain Electronic | Hip Hop | R&B
€20
URBAN 80’S FESTIVAL VOL. II Urban Spree 80’s | Dance | Fun | Synth
18 20:00
€TBA
PRIZM NIGHT – SUMMER TRILOGY Eschschloraque Electronic | Techno
UNIFORM | TREPANERINGSRITUALEN Kantine am Berghain Hardcore | Industrial
€14
13 20:00
19 20:00
€TBA
13 20:00
SCHOKOLADEN HOFFEST Schokoladen Hip Hop | Indie | Punk | Rock
€TBA
STATE FAULTS | SHIROKUMA | ORBIT CINTA BENJAMIN | FLIRT Ziegrastrasse 11 Post Hardcore | Screamo
19-21 19:00
€TBA
19 20:30
DEVIN GRAY’S HURTS OF GOLD Donau115 Jazz
€TBA
13 21:00
FORCE FIELD LIVE W V. SINCLAIR | KIRSTINE ELISA KJELDSEN & MORIT Loophole Electronic
€TBA
20 21:00
SHIT FACE FriedeNOW Electronic | Experimental | Psych
€TBA
15 20:00
FOREIGNER Zitadelle Spandau Classic Rock
€TBA
20 23:30
DJ MARKY & FRIENDS Gretchen Drum n’ bass
15 21:00
DONNY BENET Kantine am Berghain 80’s | Kitch | Synth Pop
€15
20 20:00
REMISSION | FAIM | TIME AND DISTANCE | PROTEIN K19 Hardcore | Punk
€TBA
15 20:30
BLOODYWOOD Cassiopeia Metal | Rock
€16
20 20:30
€TBA
15 20:00
OHRKNACKER: MIKEL URQUIZA / TRIO CATCH Radialsystem V Composition | Experimental
DONAU CONVERSATIONS W/ HAMMER / BERKMANN / RUPPNIG Donau115 Jazz
€TBA
21 21:00
EMERGE | FUKTE | DAVE PHILLIPS Ziegrastrasse 11 Drone | Electroacoustic | Noise
€TBA
15 20:00
GRINDHOUSE + THE BEATMASTER-M-ALLSTARS Schokoladen Rock
€7
22 20:00
GRUESOME Slaughterhouse Death Metal
16 20:00
FULL OF HELL | THE BODY Zukunft am Ostkreuz Doom | Grindcore | Noise
€16
22 18:00
KRAKE FESTIVAL DAY I: AMBIENT OPENING Silent Green Composition | Experimental
12 21:00
DER SCHWUND | HYSTÉRIE | VIA TIRANA Urban Spree Lo-fi | Post Punk | Synth Punk
12 20:00
TALIB KWELI Yaam Hip Hop | Rap
12 20:00
„ L I C H T U N G “ – 6. ZEITGENÖSSISCHER TANZABEND DER S R & COMPANY Theaterforum Kreuzberg Dance
12 21:00
CURRENT AFFAIRS + JETTES Loophole Indie | Pop | Punk | Rock
13 13:00
THE MOST WUTHERING HEIGHTS DAY EVER - BERLIN 2019 Location TBA Dance | Fun
Free
13 20:00
TRIPTIDES Privatclub Neo Psych
6v
€12 €TBA
€25
€8
€18 €TBA
22 20:00
KELSEY LU Kantine am Berghain Electronic | Pop | R&B
Sold Out
23 20:00
TORSÖ | WAKE OF HUMANITY | DISAVOW | CLEARXCUT | GREG BENNICK Cassiopeia Hardcore | Straightedge
€TBA
23 20:00
TOO MANY ZOOZ Gretchen Brass | Dance | Fun
€23
23 21:00
THOU & MOLOCH Zukunft am Ostkreuz Doom | Sludge
€12
24 22:00
POISON IDEA Wild At Heart Punk
24 21:00
WEEDEATER Zukunft am Ostkreuz Doom | Sludge | Stoner
€17
24 23:59
KRAKE FESTIVAL DAY II: NOISE MANIFESTO / WARNING Griessmuehle Dance | Noise | Techno
€50
24 20:30
MASKED INTRUDER Cassiopeia Pop Punk
€15
24 20:00
SHO MADJOZI Gretchen Dance | Hip Hop
€17
25 20:00
NEUROSIS | YOB | KOWLOON WALLED CITY Huxley’s Neue Welt Doom | Stoner
€24
25 22:00
TOTAL BLACK X AOP13 OHM Dark Techno | Experimental | Noise
26 14:00
KRAKE FESTIVAL DAY III: UNDERTOW & LABEL BOUTIQUE Urban Spree Electronic | Synth | Techno
€50
26 20:00
JUNGLE ROT | CARNAL TOMB | CALL OF CHARON Cassiopeia Metal
€14
27 21:00
YC-CY West Germany Experimental | Noise | Punk
27 21:00
NAÂMAN Yaam Pop | Reggae
€17
27-28 22:00
KRAKE FESTIVAL DAY IV & V: THE KRAKEN Griessmuehle Dance | Fun | Techno
€50
€TBA
€TBA
€TBA
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Recommended Shows
Schmutz Presents
27 19:00
AN ORCHESTRAL RENDITION OF DR. DRE: 2001 - BERLIN Huxley’s Neue Welt Hip Hop | Orchestra
27 15:00
MARINA DI NEUKÖLLN SUMMER MUSIC FEST Marin Fisch und Fleisch Restaurant Dance | Fun
27 20:00
D.R.I. | REACTORY Bi Nuu Punk | Thrash
€23
27 20:00
GRAF ORLOCK | SPORT | BAYONE Zukunft am Ostkreuz Hardcore | Punk | Thrash
€11
27 22:00
PARTY IM HOLE Loophole Dance | Electronic
28 13:00
BUSHWIG BERLIN 2019 Festsaal Kreuzberg Dance | DJ | Queer
€20
29 21:00
IMARHAN Urban Spree Funk | Rock
30 22:00
SLAPSHOT Wild At Heart Hardcore | Punk
30-31 20:00
SUNN O – LET THERE BE DRONE Festsaal Kreuzberg Doom | Drone
30 19:00
AUGUST
€30 01 21:00
COVEN | DEMON HEAD Bi Nuu 70’s Rock | Occult | Psych
€25
01 20:00
WHITE FANG Zukunft am Ostkreuz Fun | Garage | Kitch | Punk
€12
02 19:00
SCHOKOLADEN HOFKONZERT: TURBOSTAAT & DEUTSCHE LAICHEN Schokoladen Post Punk | Punk
02 20:00
WILL FREDRIC | JESS BISHOP Deriva Folk | Singer/Songwriter
Free
03 20:30
PHUM VIPHURIT Kantine am Berghain Pop | Soul
€19
03 20:00
SHIGETO LIVE Gretchen Dance | Jazz | Percussion
€17
€20
06 20:00
PRONG | ALL HAIL THE YETI Zukunft am Ostkreuz 90s Rock | Grunge | Thrash
€23
€TBA
09 20:00
VOIVOD Bi Nuu Metal | Punk
€24
€30
09 22:00
FÓRN | ARDE TIEF Black Metal | Doom
€TBA
THE ALLMAN BETTS BAND Lido Blues | Southern Rock
€36
10 22:00
KARSK + NIGHT DIVE TIEF Heavy | Stoner Metal
€TBA
30 21:00
BOOGARINS Kantine am Berghain Kraut | Psych | Shoegaze
€17
12 21:00
TOMMY GUERRERO Festsaal Kreuzberg Jazz | Lounge | Surf
€31
30 21:00
BIRDS IN ROW | LIFE IN VACUUM | BYSTANDER Urban Spree Hardcore | Punk
€10
12 20:00
LUMERIANS | ED FRASER Kantine am Berghain Kraut | Neo Psych | Space Rock
€18
31-03 18:00
A L’ARME! FESTIVAL VOL. VII Radialsystem V Avante-garde | Composition | Experimental | Jazz
TAME IMAPALA | BLOOD ORANGE | YEASAYER Parkbühne Wuhlheide Indie | Pop
€50
€30
13 16:30
31 20:00
METH # 23 Loophole Experimental
€TBA
BEYOND THE EVENT HORIZON | MARTIM MONITZ Schokoladen Post Rock | Prog
13 21:00
€TBA
31 21:00
JULIAN ERDEM TRIO FEAT. CAN OLGUN & KEISUKE MATSUNO Donau115 Jazz
€TBA
JAM! / ANALOG JAM SESSIONS BERLIN Loophole Electronic | Experimental
15 20:30
€TBA
19 20:00
SKEGSS Musik & Frieden Indie | Punk | Rock
8
€TBA
€TBA
€TBA
€19
20 21:00
BUSY SIGNAL & BAND Yaam Hip Hop | Pop | Reggae
€28
20 20:00
FLIPPER | HEADS Bi Nuu Noise Rock | Punk
€24
21 20:00
MONSTERS OF RAP FESTIVAL 2019 Yaam Hip Hop | Rap
€41
21 19:00
VUELVETELOCA + FIREFRIEND Urban Spree Fuzz | Kraut | Psych
23 20:00
HARVEY SUTHERLAND Urban Spree Dance | Funk | Synth
23 19:30
ROY AYERS Gretchen Jazz | Soul
24 21:00
THE BETHS Ziegrastrasse 11 Indie | Pop | Punk | Rock
24 20:00
THE WARLOCKS | THE STEVENSON RANCH DAVIDIANS Privatclub Garage | Psych
€18
24 12:00
ITALO FESTIVAL BERLIN 2019 Urban Spree Disco | DJ | Electro
Free
25 19:30
JMSN Bi Nuu R&B
€15
28-01 18:00
BERLIN ATONAL 2019 Kraftwerk Drone | Electronic | Experimental
29 20:00
LAURYN HILL Tempodrom Hip Hop | Soul
29 20:30
OSCAR KEY SUNG Ziegrastrasse 11 Dance | Pop | R&B
29 21:00
COM TRUISE Burg Schnabel Chillwave | Electronic | Experimental
30 18:00
MORBID CATACOMBS FEST Zukunft am Ostkreuz Black Metal | Death Metal | Thrash
31 21:00
PSYCHE + RATIONAL YOUTH Urban Spree Dark Wave | Electronic | Synth
31 21:00
THE DEAD SOUND + YAGOW TIEF Garage | Post Punk
31 21:00
MARY LATTIMORE & ELI KESZLER Kunsthaus Dahlem Ambient | Composition | Percussion
€TBA €16 €34
IMED RECLA D LE RECYC OWN GR HOME ACH
APPRO OMY AT I V E V O STRON N A N I G S N U A ONIO HARM li n 49 Ber 7 , 1 2 0 f e e b e r li n 3 . tr s f nn H e r m a .c o m / is la c o ok facebo
€TBA
€TBA €60 €TBA €20 €TBA €17 €TBA €10 9
THE BERLIN FESTIVAL At long last, it’s finally that time of year when we can transition from complaining about Berlin’s grey, dismal weather to complaining about it being too hot to drink indoors. Summertime signifies a variety of things, like how it’s now socially acceptable to eat ice cream between every meal. Apparently, it also means that festival season is upon us. As a publication of the people, we sympathize with those of you who don’t have the bankroll to skip town for Fusion Festival. Even if you didn’t spend all your money on ice cream, why bother? There’s plenty to keep your attention here within the city limits, plus you don’t have to sleep in a borrowed tent that probably smells like mildew and rat pee. In what is now officially a yearly tradition, we’ve done all the legwork and compiled our must-attend festival listicle (commonly referred to as a ‘festicle’).
HEROINES OF SOUND
July 12 - 14 | Radialsystem 10
Photo via Heroines of Sound
Only in its sixth year of existence, Heroines of Sound Festival is making waves by representing an important niche of the music scene. While there is definitely some overlap with genres celebrated by other festivals on this list (A L’ARME, Atonal), HoS specifically hones in on the female contributions to the experimental music community. The festival hosts concerts, installations, performances, videos, and discussions of various formats to showcase female electronic music artists at the highest levels of avant-garde pop, experimental and classical electronic music. Full details about what to expect so far are in the works, but this year’s guest curator is internationally renowned composer, lyricist, performer, and activist Antye Greie / AGF. We trust her judgement.
GUIDE Krake Festival is just one of the various outstretched tentacles of Berlin label, promoter, and tastemaker, Killekill. The marathon event that they’ve put together is yet another on this list that caters to our fellow experimental weirdos. It largely restricts itself to the realm of all things danceable, but the weeklong festival will make use of the spaces at Silent Green and Urban Spree for their more experimental performers, before wrapping up at Griessmühle for the 48hour boogie. One of many pulls this year, is Dopplereffekt, a Detroit duo whose spooky and strangely sexual electro sound has come to define the genre and give them true legendary status. For a harder dance, aufnahme+wiedergabe veteran, Schwefelgelb, are definitely not to be missed. Our last brush with them at Urban Spree can succinctly be described as“beefy”: it’s loud, dark, heavy, and will
Photo via Krake Festival
KRAKE
probably leave you with a tummy ache. If you’re not much of a hip-shaker, look towards Moon Armada. Though it doesn’t seem that these noise-freaks from Austin, Texas have released any music, what they do have is various uploaded videos of synthesizers they made out of doll heads. We’re sold.
July 22 - 29 | Multiple venues
A L'ARME! We’d be lying if we said we’ve heard of most of the artists on the A L’ARME lineup, and that’s exactly what makes this festival so good. It is a genuinely boundary-pushing weekend that brings together artists from the fringes of jazz, experimental, ambient and noise music. With a lot of acts making their Berlin debut (for some, world debut) and some entirely improvised performances, you are guaranteed to be exposed to something new and unique every year. As far as what we are familiar with, we highly recommend checking out the warm and crisp tones of Giovanni Lami, a musician and soundscape artist from Rovenna, Italy.
ANGUISH, a collaboration between Dalëk, an experimental MC from New Jersey, kraut-rockers Faust and Mats Gustaffson, a Sweedish Saxophonist “ known for his tonal belligerence and intensity when improvising”, is set to be as memorable and challenging as the name suggests. And on the more playful side of things, we recommend checking out Golden Oriole, a guitar and drums duo whose sound brings to mind a combination of Lightning Bolt, Hella, and the soundtrack to Donkey Kong Country on the SNES. Most of all, we suggest bringing an open mind and ears, and letting the event’s curators do the rest of the work.
July 31 - August 3 | Radialsystem & Holzmarkt 25 11
POP-KULTUR Pop-Kultur consistently manages to be the highlight of the summer for a couple of reasons: their lineup curation is nearly all killer / no filler, plus they turn the Kulturbrauerei into a place Berlin residents would actually want to hang out for once, rather than the suburb bro-fest that normally ensues on weekends there. On the concert side, this year boasts the following acts that you would be foolish to miss: French bubblegum punks, The Decibelles, who were last in town tearing the roof off of Urban Spree at a Schmutz Presents show; Belarusian synth-post-punk
and Detriti label member, Molchat Doma, making a rare appearance in Europe; the extraterrestrial hip hop stylings of Shabazz Palaces; and Hamburg’s political art-punk legends, Die Goldenen Zitronen. Damn. There’s actually not enough space to properly talk through everyone we think you should see. Also look for Karies, Repetitor, Mykki Blanco, Deerhoof, Voodoo Beach, at the very least. The docket is also chock-full of lectures, films, exhibitions, and DJ sets, so check the website for the full details.
August 21 - 23 | Kulturbrauerei
BERLIN ATONAL Photo by Camille Blake for Atonal
It is with equal parts trepidation and excitement that we once again look towards the impending darkness of Berlin Atonal. It’s like the looming dark cloud in the distance, heralding summer’s drawing to a close. At the time of this printing, we have but one offering of artist announcements, but with it are enough heavy-hitters to already guarantee our attendance. Among them: the queen of Cascadian drear, Liz Harris (aka Grouper aka my soulmate)’s new project, Nivhek; Tunes of Negation, an experimental trance project comprised of Berlin resident, Shackleton, and his rotating cast of
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musicians; and no stranger to the Atonal stage, Alessandro Cortini will be returning with the world premiere of his latest project, Volume Massimo. It has taken us three years of recommending this event to finally learn that it’s nearly impossible to predict which performances are worth your attention. We’re consistently and pleasantly surprised by artists we had previously been ignorant of, while sometimes comically disappointed by the exercises of ego from the household names. This of course comes with the territory of an experimental festival and is what ensures our attendance of all five days every damn year.
August 28 - September 1 | Kraftwerk
MORBID CATACOMBS Photo via Morbid Catacmobs Fest
The Necronomicon has been read aloud, the tomb has once again been unsealed. Purveyors of evil and darkness the world over have been called to a gather in the subterranean* chambers of Zukunft am Ostkreuz. Whether you’re into death, doom or deathdoom, the last weekend of August is laid out for you. With bands from Europe, the US, Israel and Australia, this year sees Morbid Catacombs fest stretching its claws further than ever before. With such a wide variety of countries representing, we reckon every band is worth checking out, but we’re particularly disgusted to see Galvinizer, the fast n’ heavy deathshredders from Finland, and the epic doomscapes of Tchornobog on the lineup. Don’t forget your earplugs. *event is actually above ground
August 30 - 31 | Zukunft am Ostkreuz
BERLIN BEAT INVASION ‘Bummed out’ by the present? Not so ‘jazzed’ about the future? Well listen up, hush pup, for one weekend this September you can leave your millennial woes in 2019 and let Berlin Beat Invasion time-warp you back to the care-free, swingin’ sixties*. Picking up where the now-retired Beat Explosion festival left off, this weekender is running for the first time this year and promises to provide the best in Beat, Psyche and Garage from around Europe. After an opening party on September 5th, the main event will take place in MarieAntoinette - one of Berlin’s lesser-known
and totally underrated venues. Tucked away under the Sbahn archways, just a stone’s throw from Jannowitzbrucke, it’s got a great vibe and idyllic view of the Spree. The perfect place to “freak out” to the psychedelic sounds of Normandy’s Les Synapses or Spain’s Los Malinches. It’s bound to be a groovy time. *An alternate 60s where everything in Berlin was totally fine.
September 05 - 07 | Marie-Antionette 13
TORSTRASSEN FESTIVAL Photo via Torstrassen Festival
Do you want to to experience all the glitz of a summer fest but only have one day to spare? Then get yer booty down to Mitte and waltz through the epic pillars of Volksbühne (roughly translates to “People’s Bühne”) for the 9th edition of TSF. The lineup curation is a bit all over the map, with London-based soulful hip hop from Shunaji, sassy glam garage from local sweeties, Jealous, and the cinematic kraut-space jams of Swoosh. As if this all isn’t enough incentive, we highly recommend the Indie Label Market so you can personally meet and support the countless unsung heroes responsible for this city’s vibrant music scene.
September 7 | Volksbühne
Photo via Berlin Swamp Fest
BERLIN SWAMP FEST
Trying to wrap your head around metal sub-genres can be exhausting. Rather than limit to any one in particular, BSF decided to include all of them in this year’s lineup. If you still haven’t had your fill of Death Metal from Morbid Catacombs, Canada’s Tomb Mold will be doing their first ever German show. Still riding the success of
2018’s Manor of Infinite Forms, and with a new album due in July, they are set to put on a killer show. Also representing team death is Of Feather and Bone, whose crushing punk-influenced sound has devastated venues across the Americas. Probably the most extreme band on the lineup is Germany’s own Sanitys Dawn - a goregrind outfit catering for those who like their beats blasted and their squeals piggy. If you prefer something slower and generally more high, Cannabineros, Alligator Rodeo, and Iron Walrus* will be testing out the lower frequencies with some classic stoner Doom. For something a bit different, Dÿse, a guitar/drums duo from Germany, will be providing a break from the metal to provide some math noise rock. On top of all the music, there will also be a cinema, art sale, record shops and “delicious” food. All boxes ticked. *This band actually wear little walrus masks on stage
September 19 - 22 | Zukunft am Ostkreuz 14
Illuminating Hospitality. Breakfast in Mitte.
FATHER CARPENTER Coffee Brewers
WWW.FATHERCARPENTER.COM 15
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HISTORY WITCH with Emily Gale
History Witch celebrates voices that are all too often left out of musical narratives and simultaneously provides historical context for why discussions of gender and sexuality in music continue to matter. Each month the column spotlights historically significant albums or tracks by women, queer, trans, or non-binary musicians. On 27 July, an estimated half million people will gather to celebrate Berlin Pride at the 41st Christopher Street Day. Like many pride events this year, the Berlin CSD dedicates the gathering to the 50th anniversary of the June 1969 demonstrations at the Stonewall Inn in New York’s Greenwich Village. The parade follows a 6.43km route through the city and culminates in a closing rally complete with live music. This historic anniversary provides an occasion to revisit the earlier years of queer musical activism. In 1971, gay rights activist, Madeline Davis (b. 1940), penned “Stonewall Nation.” Davis began performing music in the mid-1950s in the coffee house scenes of Buffalo, New York City, Seattle, San Francisco, and Toronto. A decade later, she began writing music with gay and lesbian themes. Davis was a founding member of the Mattachine Society of the Niagara Frontier and she says that she wrote “Stonewall Nation” on the way home from the first march she ever attended in Albany, NY. The Mattachine Society produced 500 45-rpm records of Davis’s recording. Queer music historian JD Doyle refers to “Stonewall Nation” as the “first gay liberation record.” “Stonewall Nation” sounds quite disparate from the soundtrack likely to be heard at this year’s CSD; however, it fits squarely within the folk revival/singer songwriter milieu, often conjuring Davis’s contemporary Judy Collins. The track opens with the slow strumming of an acoustic guitar. Davis’s voice enters the sparse texture; it’s a low voice, but she spends most of the song striving determinedly for her higher register—an apt musical metaphor for the struggle.
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The first two verses articulate the desire to no longer witness violence and stigmatization. Davis addresses her “brothers” and “sisters” to establish the familial bonds so critical to queer kinship. The last verses call for community participation; a sense of urgency marks repeated phrases. The chorus features harmony singing; two female-presenting voices weave—sometimes rough and imperfect. Varied in timbre and contour, they independently cross in a dynamic push and pull. The effect is a rather queer duet that claims liberation for the stonewall nation. The use of “nation” offers a powerful shorthand for the possibilities of sovereignty: rights, belonging, self-determination, freedom. Desire then becomes an admonition: “You can take your tolerance and shove it/We’re going to be ourselves and love it.” Although it may not sound particularly anthemic by today’s musical standards, “Stonewall Nation” asserts a sense of queer hope—a future promise that we must continue to fight towards. / EG Recommended Reading: JD Doyle, Queer Music Heritage, www.queermusicheritage.com Dr. Emily Gale is a feminist pop music scholar who lives in Berlin. Email: emily@sentimentalmuseum.com
22.-29.
JULY
ΔLIEПΔTA • ΔnD ΔRΔD • BEП SIMS CIO D’OR DΔSHΔ RUSH DOPPLEREFFEKT JEПSEП IПTERCEPTOR MΔD MIRΔП MΔRK REEDER MΔX DURΔПTE OTTO VOП SCHIRΔCH PΔULΔ TEMPLE REGIS • SCHШEFELGELB THE HORRORIST TIGERHEΔD
electronic music
a week of challenging
silent green • urban spree • griessmuehle
+ many many more
+ ПOISE MΔПIFESTO SHOШCΔSE
feat. SØS GUПVER RYBERG • FEMΔПYST • LΔDY MΔCHIПE
+ SΔMEHEΔDS SHOШCΔSE
feat. DIE ORΔПGEП • ΔN-I • BΔLΔПCE CREШ
+ ШΔRПIПG SHOШCΔSE
feat. DJ TΔBLEDΔПCE • UTΔ • S RUSTOП • MARIE MOПTEXIER
+ VIПYL & SYПTH M∆RKET
ШITH DJS, LIVE PERFORM∆ПCES & TOMBOL∆
krake-festival.de
tickets via RA and our website
Gefördert durch die Initiative Musik gemeinnützige Projektgesellschaft mbH mit Projektmitteln der Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien.
EXPERIMENTAL SET W/ GUEST
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SHOWS OF NOTE Not necessarily festivals, but still worth your time. GOUGE AWAY WEDNESDAY / 3.07
Zukunft am Ostkreuz Gouge Away has gone through a dramatic transformation since their first release, which was essentially just another hardcore / powerviolence album. Their sound has now landed somewhere near The Jesus Lizard or Daughters, which is suiting since Daughters evolved in a similar way. Scouring through countless bands often leaves us jaded and hard to impress, but this is a new discovery that has us genuinely stoked. FFO Fugazi, Daughters, Hole.
Urban Spree Coming in hot on the Australian wave of nihilistic anti-pop is Kirin J. Callinan. At first glance, you may be inclined to write him off as just some annoying Byron Bay Bogan trash – but boy are you wrong! He’s actually from Sydney. He’s also an extremely talented songwriter and performer, but squanders his talents on a very elaborate brand of piss-taking that is as captivating as it is confusing. FFO Alex Cameron, Tim & Eric
FULL OF HELL + THE BODY TUESDAY / 16.07
Zukunft am Ostkreuz Full of Hell are sort of like harsh music diplomats, in that they’ve bridged the gap between grindcore and electronic noise. They’ve ingeniously accomplished this through their various collaborative albums with other masters of noise, like Merzbow, Psywarfare, and The Body. While both they and The Body have their unique appeal, we’re hoping this show will be a sort of supergroup performance. Fingers crossed. FFO Magrudergrind, Pig Destroyer, Nails
Schokoladen Call us Augustus Gloop, because we love Schokoladen. The gang is opening up their Hof to the fine folks of Berlin for three days of the best punk, garage, and hip hop that happened to be available on this particular weekend. Catch the likes of Dead Kittens, Maske, and Empty Bones, hang with nice folk, and pay your respect to one of the longest standing punk venues in Mitte.
THOU + MOLOCH TUESDAY / 23.07
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KIRIN J CALLINAN FRIDAY / 5.07
SCHOKOLADEN HOFFEST FRI - SUN / 19-21.07
Zukunft am Ostkreuz Thou and Moloch didn’t invent sludge, but they may have perfected it. For the uninitiated, sludge is the grimier and heavier cousin of doom. Maybe it’s more like the unholy offspring of doom and crust, but I guess that would mean that doom was crust’s uncle, since sludge is doom’s cousin? Regardless, this show is going to be relentless heavy and shan’t be missed. FFO Bell Witch, FÓRN, incest
Festsaal Kreuzberg Some say that (((Schmutz stole its logo from Sunn O))) and changed very few details. Even if that were true, they stole their logo and name from the amplifier company, so we consider it fair game. While they weren’t the most novel in branding themselves, they are arguably the leading pioneers of minimalism and meditation in heavy music, connecting the distant communities of doom metal and soundscape composition. To experience them live is to surrender yourself to an immersive and overwhelming wall of sound, only to be reduced to a warm puddle on the floor. FFO Earth, Boris, brown notes
WHITE FANG THURSDAY / 1.08
Zukunft am Ostkreuz “White Fang Sucks:The Stupidest Band on the Planet” –Their website landing page pretty well sums it up. Originally from Portland, OR, White Fang is the epitome of stoned, teenage angst, despite all the members creeping into their thirties. Surely you know them by their smash hit “Drugs I’ve Taken” or their timeless love ballad, “Big Silly Baby.” There’s a good a chance you’ll hate them, but you may also find them as hilarious as we do. FFO Nobunny, Jacuzzi Boys
Festsaal Kreuzberg As if being a pro skater wasn’t enough, turns out Tommy Guerrero casually decided to become an accomplished musician as well. His relaxed noodling is eclectic with lounge-jazz influences across the board, but it decidedly makes me feel like I can pull off a Panama hat and smoke cigars. FFO Khruangbin, Gábor Szabó, Tom Jobim
FLIPPER + HEADS. TUESDAY / 20.08
SUNN O))) TUES - WED / 30-31.07
TOMMY GUERRERO MONDAY / 12.08
Bi Nuu You ever look at a flower and hate it? Flipper is the band you scream along to while your head is enveloped in a trash bag full of spray paint. You have the chance to witness unforgivable slop, the kind of shit your parents hate with guitars tuned in the drop key of Fuck You. In support are local grunge-noise torchbearers, Heads. You weird? You wanna see art-punk incarnate? Come on down. FFO Big Black, Hüsker Dü, huffing glue
HOME
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FAKE NEWS/FAKE NEWS/FAKE
Dudes Wearing Same Obscure Band T-Shirt Share Most Beautiful Moment of Their Lives by Louie Aronowitz
Friedrichschain — Local new, potential best friends Mark Hughes and Brady Walker confirmed that they shared the most beautiful moment of their respective lives yesterday after passing each other on a sidewalk and noticing they were wearing the same obscure band T-shirt. “It was glorious — walking to the subway, I passed this dude in a Vacant Andys T-shirt… while I was wearing the same exact fucking shirt. Like, who even knows the Vacant Andys?” gushed Hughes. “I looked up from my phone, saw the shirt, and stared into the eyes that truly brought me into heaven on Earth. It was better than my wedding day and the birth of my children, combined!” Walker was equally elated, following years of trouble making new friends as an adult. “I knew we’d just shared this beautiful moment, but I was terrified to try to actually speak to him. I didn’t want my flawed humanity to ruin something that can only be described as ‘divine,’” Walker commented, his eyes welling with tears. “I’m so glad he said something first… otherwise, I’d just imagine forever what could have been with
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‘mystery T-shirt dude.’” “Making new friends in your 30s is one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do in my life,” he added, “so this was a nice respite.” However, the duo’s respective families seemed surprised by their newfound, lifelong bond. “Wow, Mark said wearing the same band T-shirt as some stranger is his meet-cute?” asked Hughes’ wife, Anna. “Because we met at our company’s Christmas party, when I accidentally slipped and fell into his arms, and made him spill his drink, and we had to go find a dryer for my sweater in the middle of the night… and then he later found my phone randomly and returned it to me after I texted it and we chatted a little, which was all before we were paired up to walk down the aisle at a mutual friend’s wedding and then got set up on a blind date by different mutual friends. But, sure: the T-shirt thing is the meet-cute. Sure.” When reached for comment the ex-lead singer of The Vacant Andys, simply responded, “Yeah, I get it… I’ve been responsible for a lot of special relationships.”
Quality music journalism provided by thehardtimes.net
NEWS/FAKE NEWS/FAKE NEWS JUST THE TIPS with Kevin Chow
Frugal (where it counts) Set your priorities straight: do you stay out all night drinking natural wine? Or do you save for a RyanAir ticket to Greece and some food for the two surviving turtles you found under your bed? Staycation
Yo, what’s up it’s your boy Kevin again.
If money is an issue, take some time off
Back here in Berlin, the concrete jungle
from work and explore parts of the city
where dreams are made of, once again
you normally don’t, or just relax at home
with some hot, hot fiery tips to help you
and try to artificially inseminate these
have another solid month of pursuing
turtles who just will not have sex no
your dreams, out there in Berlin, the
matter what, god dammit.
city where anything and everything can happen. Aight, let’s get into these tips.
Don’t be afraid to use that credit card “A penny saved is a penny earned” is
After the tragic failure of my Turtle Farm
what they used to say. But two pennies
in the spring, I’ve really been pinching
certainly do not buy a bigger terrarium
pennies. But with summer in full swing,
for all these damn turtles. One minute
I don’t want to suffer just because all
you’ve barely got enough turtles to get
those dumb turtles couldn’t survive the
through the summer and the next you’re
one weekend that I was out of town.
up to your eyeballs in iceberg lettuce.
Rather than doubling down on these goddamn turtles and going broke on a
Cheap hobbies
second Turtle Farm with one of those
Why splash out on an expensive
automatic turtle feeders, I’ve made some
vacation when you’ve got a turtle-sized
slight changes to my lifestyle that can
coliseum in your apartment and a bunch
help anyone who wants to have a cheap
of lil costumes and you and your buds
(but fun) summer in Berlin. Let’s go!
can smash turtles together and make it sound like they’re fighting and even come up with like, backstories and have voices that you make for each turtle?
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Soundbar
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Purchase the AMBEO soundbar at the Sennheiser Store Berlin and get an exclusive gift
Sennheiser Store Berlin TauentzienstraĂ&#x;e 17 10789 Berlin Monday to Saturday 10h to 20h @sennheiserberlin
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Hear the Difference