Berlin is spoiling us again with three festivals running parallel; this time spiked with some kiez drama which makes it all the more interesting. Besides the festival craze, we have the 20th  edition of Polymorphism coming up with Diagonal Records celebrating their 5th anniversary, and another art scene's favorite - Trade series at OHM - throwing their 1st birthday party. As always, stay tuned for updates and some extra tickets we will gladly give away. 

TUESDAY 30.08

20.00 Die Neuen Schweden @ Urban Spree

WHY: Die Neuen Schweden is the new music showcase presenting fresh Scandinavian talent to the relevant players of the local music industry, and to anyone interested in discovering new sounds. Three up-and-coming acts -KHOE, Red Mecca & Julia Clara - will take over the Urban Spree stage, starting at 20h. Everyone's invited; entry free.

Urban Spree / Revaler Str. 99, 10245 Berlin, S+U Wrschauer Str. / free entry / more info

WEDNESDAY 31.08

14.00 Off-Kultur @ Various locations

WHY: Off-Kultur is a brand new 3-day festival showcasing Neukölln music, in Neukölln. In addition to celebrating what's good in the hood, Off-Kultur is a critical response to the state-run Pop-Kultur Festival. It aims to open up a discourse about Pop-Kultur Festival using Neukölln as a marketing gimmick without acknowledging the local scene.

Off-Kultur / ongoing until 03.09 / more info

18.00 Pop-Kultur @ Various locations

WHY: About 70 musicians and artists will be presented at this year's edition of Pop-Kultur festival, which is taking place at five Neukölln's venues. As the festival's neighborhood takeover provoked the local musicians & promoters to start a new festival – Off-Kultur – running parallel to Pop-Kultur and showcasing Neukölln's musicians only, we will now have a pretty amazing offer combining both sides. Music-wise, the audience wins. Nevermind the kiez politics & enjoy the week.

Pop-Kultur / ongoing until 02.09 / more info

THURSDAY 01.09

17.00 Mikromusik: Festival of Experimental Music & Sound Art @  St. Elisabeth Church & Villa Elisabeth

WHY: Mikromusik is a 4-day festival presenting concerts and installations at St. Elisabeth Church and Villa Elisabeth . The central focus is on outstanding and new works by the current and former guests of the DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Program. Various compositional modes oscillating between microtonal and microphoned works, harmonies and resonances, phonemes and articulations, mirrorings and reflections will be featured, with a special focus on experimental treatment of the voice.

St. Elisabeth Church & Villa Elisabeth / Invalidenstr. 3, 10115 Berlin, U Rosenthaler Platz / more info

FRIDAY 02.09

23.59 Polymorphism #20 x Diagonal @ Berghain / Panorama Bar

WHY: CTM’s and Berghain's Polymorphism series continues with an anniversary celebration for Diagonal Records, which has in the past 5 years come to be known for its intrepid, absurdist rhythmic innovations. Berghain stage will host live shows by EVOL, N.M.O., NOT WAVING, Powell + DJ sets by Conor Thomas, DJ Stingray x Haswell, DJ Stingray, Helena Hauff, Level Jezzlel, and Russell Haswell. In Panorama Bar, the Perlon crew will play together with guests Mara Trax and Soulphiction.

Berghain / Am Wriezener Bahnhof, 10243 Berlin, S+U Warschauer Str. / more info

WEDNESDAY 07.09

19.00 Shameless/Limitless: Evvol + Magic Island @ ACUD MACHT NEU

WHY: Since returning from European live runs with Peaches and YACHT, Berlin-based darkwave-pop duo Evvol have spent the past few months in their Kreuzberg studio writing the follow-up to last year’s critically acclaimed debut, „Eternalism“. „Physical L.U.V“is the result, which they will present at their next live show at ACUD. Magic Island will play support to round up the night.

ACUD MACHT NEU / Veteranenstr. 21, 10119 Berlin, U Rosenthaler Platz / more info

21.00 TRADE Birthday 1 YEAR w/ Lotic, Bill Kouligas, Zakmatic, Linnéa, Dan Bodan, Dis Fig & more @ OHM

WHY: It has been a year now since the party series Trade at OHM started bringing people, performers and DJs together united by music in a cozy place to stimulate encounter, eye-contact and shoulder-and-other-body-parts-rubbing. Join their birthday party to celebrate the talents, efforts and good vibes coming from this excellent team. Line-up includes Lotic, mobilegirl, Zakmatic, Ande Pramuk, Bill Kouligas, Dan Bodan, Dis Fig, LINNÉA, Konx-om-Pax, Nelson Bell, Ausschuss, Dj Ayo & Simon Kaiser.

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

SATURDAY 10.09

19.00 Deerhoof + Cowtown @ Bi Nuu

WHY: The strangely appealing combination of sugary pop and unrestrained noise, which Deerhoof perfected in their recognizable but always evolving 20-year-old sound, wins their fans' hearts again with the new album, „Magic“. The band is coming to town to present some new and old songs, this time at Bi Nuu stage, with Cowtown as the support act.

Bi Nuu / U-Bahn station Schlesisches Tor, 10997 Berlin / more info