Fete de La Musique Tips

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The weather being what it is, I haven't made any serious plans to check out Fete de la musique today. Yesterday I received a request from a reader for free, cheap & 'genuine' techno party tips though and the need to create an entry about this event became unquestionable. After Mayday and CSD, FDLM is the best day for free techno in the Berlin club year.  The eclectic musical celebration that takes place every year on the summer solstice, June 21st (for those of you with jetlag and/or a hangover, that's today!) I've dubbed this festival the Long Night of the Clubs, as it offers everyone a free or cheap taster of Berlin's  party venues. It is a great chance to get the full techno experience at legendary venue Tresor for free. But an event that is more representative of the Fete's raison d'etre is the openair Neurocomic party at Schillingbruecke from 14:00 today. Later in the day check out hard acid party queen DJ Alienata at 's Griessmuehle.
Irish/German hybrid club Kleine Reise will also be partying al fresco at Spreewaldplatz 8 today. And if it gets rained out you can always dash to
Cafe Mano on Skalitzer Strasse. Another Kreuzberg institution & magnet for hip expats, Mano will be converting the small patch of green outside their door into an openair party but the bohemian, cushion strewn interior offers a cosy space to dry off.
For a genuine Berlin experience, the Eschloraque bar in Mitte is worth eschewing techno for an evening to check out.  Today the indoor venue in an ex-squat features live music by  Francesco Passantino plus the usual hydraulic sculptures by Berlin scrap art collective Angry Chickens.

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