Looking at the concert list for the next two weeks makes us giggle like little girls. After one more week of CTM events, the month continues festively with great shows day after day. The downside: you might hear us repeating "sold-out" far too often, so if you care to see all these brilliant musicians playing live, do a few clicks and transactions asap to secure entry to the shows. Another way is to keep an eye on our facebook page, and be the first one to spot our ticket giveaway.

 

CTM Festival tips / 02.02 – 07.02

TUESDAY 02.02

15.00 "Deep Web" by Christopher Bauder & Robert Henke @ Kraftwerk

WHY: "Deep Web" is a monumental immersive audiovisual installation created by light artist Christopher Bauder and composer and musician Robert Henke. Sublimating the industrial architecture of Kraftwerk, Deep Web plunges the audience into a ballet of iridescent kinetic light and surround sound. The work will be presented daily within CTM Festival, and closes with the presentation of a special enhanced live performance version on Sunday 07.02 at 19h.

Kraftwerk / Köpenicker Str. 70, 10179 Berlin, U Heinrich-Heine-Str. / more info

 

WEDNESDAY 03.02

19.00 Coordinates III: Keiji Haino, Kazuhisa Uchihashi, Rully Shabara & Wukir Suryadi (of Senyawa) @ HAU2

WHY: Keiji Haino is a Tokyo-based noise-, improv-, and drone musician and guitarist whose career has navigated a wide array of styles and instrumentations. Kzuhisa Uchihashi is a guitarist and free-improvisor; founder of the band Altered States, the label Innocent Records, and the festival Beyond Innocence. As Senyawa, Rully Shabara and Wukir Suryadi embody the aural flavours of Javanese music while exploring the framework of experimental music practice, pushing the boundaries of both traditions.

HAU2 / Hallesches Ufer 32, 10963 Berlin, U Möckernbrücke / more info

 

THURSDAY 04.02

19.00 Coordinates IV: Pauline Oliveros w/ Mazen Kerbaj & Karen Power // Sharif Sehnaoui w/ Omar Rajeh & Malek Andary // Takuya Taniguchi @ HAU2

WHY: Pauline Oliveros, one of the most important voices in avant-garde electronic music, will perform on Thursday together with Lebanese trumpet player Mazen Kerbaj and Irish improviser and composer Karen Power. Besides this evening, she will perform on Friday, joined by word/sound artist Ione (more info), and on Saturday when she invites the audience to “Listening for Piece”, a one hour long musical meditation (all proceeds will be donated in support a neighbouring refugee shelter; more info). Besides Oliveros, this Thursday HAU2 hosts guitarist and free improviser, pioneer of Arab free-improv music Sharif Sehnaoui, whose collaboration with Omar Rajeh and Malek Andary will have its world premiere at CTM. To close this special concert night, Japanese musician Takuya Taniguchi performs a solo piece for Taiko drums.

HAU2 / Hallesches Ufer 32, 10963 Berlin, U Möckernbrücke / more info

 

FRIDAY 05.02

21.30 Still Be Here @ HKW

WHY: Following an idea initiated and conceptualised by artist Mari Matsutoya, "Still Be Here" is a unique collaborative performance collectively created with music producer Laurel Halo, award-winning choreographer and visual artist Darren Johnston, virtual artist LaTurbo Avedon, and produced by digital artist Martin Sulzer. This project presents a unique arrival of aesthetics between the participating artists, in their search for the identity of Hatsune Miku, the cyber celebrity developed from a vocal synthesizer product. Second performance takes place at HKW on Saturday at 21.30h.

HKW (Haus der Kulturen der Welt) / John-Foster-Dulles Allee 10, 10557 Berlin, S+U Brandenburger Tor, Bus 100 / more info

 

See the full CTM 2016 Festival program here

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MONDAY 08.02

20.00 Mulalu Astatke @ YAAM

WHY: Mulalu Astatke is considered the father of "Ethio Jazz", a combination of classic jazz, Latin American influences, and the traditional music of Ethiopia. These different ingredients melt into a rich, hypnotic sound that gets you hooked instantly. Due to high demand, the sold-out concert on Sunday is followed by another one on Monday. If you care to see the master at work, make sure to get a ticket before all are gone.

YAAM / An der Schillingbrücke 3, 10243 Berlin, S Ostbahnhof / more info

 

TUESDAY 09.02

21.00 Tortoise + Sam Prekop, Blondy Brownie, Jens Balzer & Tortoise DJ Team @ Berghain

WHY: Huge news for the fans of Tortoise's sound is that they're back with a new album, “The Catastrophist“, after nearly seven years of silence. The new material, exciting as ever, cemented the reputation of Tortoise as one of the most influential bands of the last two decades. In Berlin they will be sharing the Berghain stage with Sam Prekop, Blondy Brownie, and Jens Balzer.
Well worth bothering to find a ticket for this already sold-out gig.

Berghain / Am Wriezener Bahnhof, 10243 Berlin, S Ostbahnhof / more info

 

WEDNESDAY 10.02

19.00 Islaja + Any Other @ Schokoladen

WHY: Islaja (aka Merja Kokkonen) is a singer-songwriter and musician from Helsinki. Her music is notably psychedelic and intimate, using a large variety of instruments.Her new album on Gudrun Gut’s Monika label marks a radical transition from folk into electronic music domain. Any Other is a trio with an indie rock attitude that will lauch you back to the 90’s sound of the bands such as Modest Mouse and Built to Spill.

Schokoladen / Ackerstr. 169, 10115 Berlin, U Rosenthaler Platz / more info

 

THURSDAY 11.02

19.00 Feed Frequencies 021116: Alec Empire & Rafael Anton Irisarri @ KW

WHY:Rafael Anton Irisarri is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, electronic music producer, interdisciplinary artist and curator. Predominantly associated with ambient, drone, post-minimalist, and modern classical music. At the February edition of Feed Frequencies, audience will get the taste of his latest record, „Unsaid“. Berlin’s favorite anti-hero, Alec Empire, presents his new mini album, „Shivers“, that serves up as a teaser for his highly anticipated new album out later this year.

KW / Auguststr. 69, 10117 Berlin, U Rosenthaler Platz / more info

 

SATURDAY 13.02

20.00 Tindersticks @ Volksbühne

WHY: Everything is in its right place this year on Valentine's day: the most romantic band on Earth arrives to Berlin over the weekend for two shows, on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th, making it a perfect Tinder-date (wink wink) - or two, if that is how you roll. Initially it is organised as a musical addition to Berlinale festival that runs parallely, in a theatre setting where their dramatic music truly belongs. Treat yourself and someone special with a night you will not forget.

Volksbühne / Linienstr. 227, 10178 Berlin, U Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz / more info

 

SUNDAY 14.02

16.00 Sunday Funday w/ Novella, Fake Laugh, DJ Lui Voetton + Karaoke, Tattoos & Tasty Treats @ Monarch

WHY: Sunday Funday is back, conveniently scheduled on Valentine's day, which makes for a perfect afternoon date for you and your darling. NOVELLA and Fake Laugh will occupy the stage,  while other fun things to be seen and done include karaoke with Johanna and Dayna, stick and poke tattoos, tasty treats, and probably a few more to be added. Claim it a Tinder date on the entry and you might get in for less!

Monarch / Skalitzer Str. 134 (1st floor), 10999 Berlin, U Kottbusser Tor / more info