Unscene Berlin

"Ugly Funk have been a continual thorn in the side of purists since their inception. Emerging from the UKs free party scene in the mid-nineties they organised groundbreaking nights with Cristian Vogel, Squarepusher, The Advent and Tobias Schmidt. The Ugly Funk credo gives their DJs and producers a platform to play what they like, free of perceived genre boundaries but fully focussed on the dancefloor." Yep, I remember these guys when they were still playing in Hackney dungeons. They're brimming with playful techno integrity and will surely blow some of the more conservative DJs minds this Saturday, when they co-host the Subhead party at Subland. But let's get one thing straight: they're a thorn in no one's side! (not even the cops). They're way too nice for that. All in all, it will be a good night for U.K. techno fans so do check it out if that's your bag, baby. Subland is a cool cellar venue & has an outdoor area too. Both good things in thi...

Last year, I wrote this blog entry about the ongoing commercialization of Revaler Strasse and the RAW Tempel. At the time, a couple of the area's cheap, busker-friendly cafes had just shut down and been replaced by trendier 'shabby chic' bars featuring cocktails and gourmet snacks at prices that buskers cannot afford. Over the past nine months, these new nightspots have contributed some culinary diversity to the RAW scene but little in the way of cultural diversity. Now, another new project in the area has ignited a glimmer of hope. Urbanspree is a gallery, bar and cultural space that has taken over the lot next to Suicide Circus. It is spread across two ramshackle buildings - one built in the 1800s, and the other built by the GDR - and has a sprawling, laid back yard that is perfect for hanging out in nice weather (if the nice weather ever arrives!). Urbanspree's owners also have an itinerary of inclusive, cheap and free cultural events planned for this summe...

The annual demo against Mediaspree is tomorrow, starting at Warschauer Strasse U/S-Bahn at 14:00. In case you are new to Berlin, Mediaspree is the development project which is threatening all Spreeside clubs. It has already been responsible for the closure of 'legendary' club Bar 25 and local favourite Kiki Blofeld, and it is currently endangering all riverside clubs from Jannovitzbrücke to Ostkreuz (the stretch of river where many of Berlin's best  & most popular venues are located). In a public referendum on the project, more than 80 percent of Kreuzberg/Friedrichshain residents rejected it. The annual demonstration is a reiteration of Berlin's opposition to Mediaspree,which is being pushed ahead regardless of public opinion. When completed, Mediaspree will restrict access to the river, close clubs and raise living costs for the entire area with fast-tracked gentrification. So if you live in Berlin or just love partying here, come along! Click here fo...

Friday the 13th is supposed to be one of those days when bizarre and inexplicable things happen.  But, if the day should fail to live up to your expectations, you could do worse than to drop in to Blitz #15: A Genderfucking New Experience at Horst. Photos from past events and flyers (left) suggest a veritable bazaar of the bizarre awaits you there. And at only six euros in before midnight, it's perfect for bargain hunters, too. Open air action seems to be picking up this weekend... come rain or shine. Griessmühle (right) and Neustockland will be putting on their regular summer events on Friday & Saturday , respectively. We went to Griessmühle last Friday expecting to have an early night but, as the hours got later the stoned house music drank a Club Mate and livened up.  At 12:30 a.m. the dance-floor was packed, glittery girls & boys bouncing around to the beats. They'd clearly been planning on moving on to a more hip nightspot after Griessmuehle, but the...

 "Loosely translated, a medium-sized club with 2 dance floors that has an average of 10 events per month with a cover charge of €8 would see its GEMA fees rise from €21,000 year to over €147,000 year.” Posted by Ocirats on ToytownGermany.com. What a year it's been for Berlin's club scene. First, Klaus Wowereit pledges 1 million Euros to help clubs displaced by Mediaspree with their relocation (cue gasps of surprised delight throughout the scene). Then the government-legislated GEMA decides to raise its fees to those same clubs by a factor of 10 (cue outraged ranting throughout the scene). Now two of the city's biggest independent venues, Berghain and Watergate, are threatening to close in protest of the fee hikes (cue disbelieving snorts throughout the scene). Just what exactly is GEMA? Ask around in Berlin’s club scene and you'll get an emotive response: “GEMA sucks.” “GEMA's bad.” “GEMA's evil.” Like so many other big political issues, GEMA has been r...