Festivals & events – All our local tips

CUE is a mobile and open platform where one can improvise, meet other artists or just have a drink and watch the work of others. Interdisciplinary jam session is an improvisation of video, sound, light and performance. Imagine visuals projected over a musician playing the saxophone and an actress performing a pantomime. One is free to add to the composition. Every square of the location can become a stage. And it does.

These improvisations take place every first Friday of the month and the location differs: during summer CUE happens also outdoors, but this is an exception. Generally, one can count on an indoor location, with some video equipment and many visual artists, actors, and musicians. Best is to bring your own equipment and to be spontaneous.

Last year CUE took place a couple of times in Tacheles (check the Tacheles article) as well, the graffiti art house in Oranienburgerstr. The platform could not have been a better choice, the whole art house is an improvisation of its own.

If you are curious, take a look at the CUE website for a video featuring the mixture of music, visuals and people. Keep in mind that CUE is a jam session, and like all improvisations, it can always be different – this time, it depends on you!

TIP: Next CUE – 5th of February 2010, in Schwelle7 (UFERSTR. 6, back house, 1st Floor, 13357 Berlin, U8 Pankstr / U9 Nauener Platz / Sbahn Gesundbrunnen)

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CUE Berlin | Art & culture, Festivals & events | Free
Adress varies | Mitte
Every 1st Friday of the month, starting time see website

Since 1964 the JazzFest Berlin is one of the big constants in Berlin’s Jazz Scene. Every year the festival presents Jazz dinosaurs and newcomers in different locations.

Since last year the festival has a new chief: the jazz musician Nils Landgren.

The next JazzFest will take place from 4 to 7 November 2010. The programme will be published in autumn 2010.

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JazzFest Berlin | Music, Festivals & events | Concerts minimum € 10.00
Schaperstraße 24 | Charlottenburg | +4930254890
November 4th – 7th 2010

As if Maria am Ostbahnhof didn’t offer us night trawlers and music junkies enough to sate our insatiable appetite for Berlin nightlife and music , the old bird has roped her hubby in on the deal too.

Josef am Ostbahnhof, which came to the fore in 2006,  is literally a club inside a club located within Maria and offering an intimate party/club environment with a slightly more underground edge.  Josef’s listings tend to be a bit ad hoc and irregular, but every two months, you are guaranteed the best in Dubstep and Grime, with the ‘Bass the World’ party series.

‘Bass the World’ is the longest running Dubstep night in Berlin, where party founders and dynamic duo Dj Maxximus & Mackjiggah, spread their musical gospel.

This April 16th marks the party’s 5 year anniversary. That being the case, the Godfathers of German Grime are hosting a spectacular birthday bash to celebrate. Expect performances from Newham Generals (dirtee stank) Ikonika (Hyperdub) and much much more.

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Maria & Josef | Bars, Music, Festivals & events
An der Schillingbrücke 2 | Friedrichshain | +493021238190
23:00 till late, days vary so refer to listings

Stattbad Wedding was a public swimming pool complex, but the story here is about what it is today. A place for site-specifc installations. A place for parties. A place for performances. A place for filming. A place for what you can imagine building there. Because the managers of the space are open for your suggestions.

Of this assured me Jochen Küpper, cultural manager at Stattbad Wedding. The first time I met him was for a short interview, or better say, he answered a curiosity call. We set down on a couch by the swimming pool. The light was warm and we were surrounded by fishing nets, which managed to provide intimacy to the conversation, despite the constant movement around us. The place was getting ready for a weekend event. Jochen works around the clock for the Stattbad, no wonder he has nights catching him sleeping there.

Stattbad Wedding is a contemporary cultural centre, so its definition remains open. There is however a focus on urban arts. One of the first exhibition openings I have attended there was a urban affairs show spread throghout the swimming pool and the lockers. Alive butterflies were flying everywhere. Incredibly cruel and beautiful. The second time I’ve been to the Stattbad was an underground experience – we were literally under the swimming pool. Imagine pipes everywhere, video installations, bars and music which lasted til the morning. The space does offer unfolding possibilities.

Go there to be surprised. Or to surprise.

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Stattbad Wedding | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Relaxing, Festivals & events | Ticket +/- € 4
Gerichtstrasse 65 | Mitte
Please make sure to check the website

Whenever I feel active to do something I go to my favorite park “Friedrichshain” For me it’s simply the best place to relax and retreat from daily life.

This park is the second oldest in Berlin after Tiergarten and was first completed in 1848 but had to go through times of war when the Nazis erected two Flak towers here which were blasted after the war and piled up with rubble. Same two little “mountains” are still there. Over the years flora and fauna grew back on here and now the F’hain is one of the most diverse parks in Berlin.

There’s no time of the day when you don’t see people jogging, going for a walk or letting their children play or being active in sports. Speaking about which, there is plenty to do here: Tennis courts (€ 12.00 / hr), half pipes, a nice little climbing rock, soccer and basketball courts,…

Also, where there used to be a swimming stadium (you can still see the former shape of it in the park ground) people love to go for beach volleyball (in summer) or roller skating on the surrounding 800 meters asphalt track.

Whenever it’s warm, barbecue and picnic are extremely popular, too, next to sitting in Cafe Schoenbrunn, in the adjacent beer garden or having cones of ice cream while wandering about at famous “Märchenbrunnen” (”Fairy Tale Fountain”, see picture) in the very western corner of F’hain.

On top of all that, there is a popular outdoor cinema (next season: May 19th – Sep 19th).

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Volkspark Friedrichshain | Cinemas, Relaxing, Festivals & events | Tennis € 12.00
Volkspark Friedrichshain | Friedrichshain | +491706344007
Tennis court: Tue – Sun 11:00 – 19:00

Berlin is not only a historical city of the long 20th century but holds also relicts of an anterior time. For example the Zitadelle Spandau which is one of the most well-preserved Renaissance forts in Europe. The old medieval castle was rebuilt in the 17th century in a “neo-Italian manner” by the elector Joachim II. In 1839 it was changed again in a neo-classical style.

The oldest parts of the Zitadelle are the donjon Juliusturm and the Palais which were built in the 13th and 15th century. During World War II the area was used for military purposes.

The fort’s form is an architectonic specific: It is a square which is entirely surrounded by water. As a venue for many different events like concerts, medieval festivals and exhibitions the Zitadelle is an insider tip for those who want to escape from the city’s hustle and bustle for one day.

The ancient arsenal houses a nice museum and it is definitely worth it to climb the wooden stairs of the Juliusturm. On the top you have a beautiful view over the west of Berlin where nature and city are close to each other. At the end of the day you should have a break in the historic tavern where you can enjoy the rustic atmosphere while eating with your hands (opened every day from 11:00, Sunday from 10:00).

The Zitadelle Spandau offers also many activities for kids, especially in the summer: Discovering the Middle-age, art classes in the Kunstbastion (School of arts), puppet theatre and many more events. Just have a look at the programme.

They are going to present many classical concerts in the next months. The next big open air event will be the Easter market with knight spectacle (3.4. – 5.4.2010)

In summer the Citadel music festival is taking place there (as every year). From 30th May until 31st August bands like The Gossip or Buena Vista Social Club will play in this gorgeous  scenery.

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Zitadelle Spandau | Art & culture, Music, Festivals & events | Entrance € 4.50
Am Juliusturm | Outer – South&West | +49303549440
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 17:00