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Why A.D.H.S Deserves Your Attention – Birgits Weekender 4

20/7/2021

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A.D.H.S. (the German acronym for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) has that special, intangible, almost indefinable ability to give a crowd exactly what they want, what they need, to come together in a moment. To put it another way, he knows exactly how to turn a summer open-air into a rave. And it's about time that he started getting the attention that his skills deserve.
The DJ, A.D.H.S.
Michael Groß, the man behind the acronym, brings an infectious energy to the DJ booth that is undeniable and straight-up irresistible. This is the main reason why we were so keen to hear that he was headlining Birgits Weekender 4 last Friday. After months of not being able to dance, the sheer joy in his performances was exactly the cure needed for the Covid blues.

Birgit has been a staple of Berlin nightlife for years, situated in the heart of the centre of Kreuzberg's party scene on the Lohmühlinsel. It is around the corner from the likes of Club der Visionäre, IPSE and next door to the newly opened ÆDEN.

Like everywhere else, the pandemic has forced the venue to change its setup somewhat. Sandwiched between the rickety wooden buildings and shaded under a giant blue tarpaulin-cum-circus tent, the refitted open air dance floor is nicely intimate. There’s room for a crowd just about large enough to lose yourself in. The walls are high enough to give a sense of isolation from the outside world. And the giant speaker hanging over the DJ booth adds to the atmosphere somewhat too.

First on the decks on Friday were Dachgeschoss and Schmitzkatzki. Opening parties is never easy. There’s always the risk of getting a pretty quiet crowd and lots of awkward dancing, no matter what the music is like. But this duo managed the mood well, offering up some chunky bass and wall-of-sound style layered synths, along with more laid-back cutaways to keep things relatively mellow. A particular highlight was ‘Close Your Eyes’ from Shadym and Tximeleta.

Things ramped up a few notches in the runup to the changeover and the space filled up nicely (within the limits allowed by the hygiene concept in place, of course). With A.D.H.S taking over the decks, however, there was an almost palpable change in the air.

From the first to the last in his two-and-a-half-hour set, A.D.H.S. played nothing but high-energy, whoop-inducing tracks back to back. And throughout all of it, Groß was dancing as hard as anyone, as you can see in his Insta post below.
A set can’t be judged on individual tracks. It’s made or broken in how it flows and how it moves the crowd. We’re not going to argue on that one. But we will share a couple of specifics for any of you who are now regretting that you missed this one.

A sweet combo of Weska – ‘This Time Around’ and Dimi Mechero’s ‘Feel the Impact’ gives you a decent idea of the style that A.D.H.S. stuck with for much of the set. It was full of the kind of ripple-distorted synth and full bass that you might expect from a Victor Ruiz or Joyhauser set.

The last half hour of the evening was set up beautifully with ‘Dance Escape’ from Julian Jeweil & Popof. A little injection of acid and midnight-dark tonality synchronised with the storm that set in for the night. This was followed by the resounding beats of ‘Comet’ by Thomas Hoffknecht. In this section, as throughout each set we’ve seen by A.D.H.S., there was a beautiful mix of styles, creating the ideal backdrop for one hell of a dance.

There’s a word in German, that we should really adopt into English: feiern. It means both to party and to celebrate. It’s a word that sums up why these events exist in the first place, but it also perfectly describes the atmosphere of the open-airs in Berlin right now. People aren’t just out to dance and party. They are also there to celebrate the fact that they are able to.

As the music faded on the dot of 10pm – in line with the curfew and noise rules in place – we had to take a minute to catch our breaths. It was one of those perfect end of party moments when you look around and realise that every single person around is as elated, exhausted and grateful as you are.

The DJ, A.D.H.S.
A.D.H.S. will be playing at this year’s Praerie Festival in August. If you aren’t lucky enough to have tickets to the number-limited festival, or you simply don’t want to wait that long, you can check out some killer sets on A.D.H.S.’s SoundCloud. We especially recommend his closing set from Sonne Mond Sterne 2019.

Birgit opens its doors again this weekend for Birgits Weekender 5, featuring TiM TASTE, Jake the Rapper, Weska and Shlomsen across three parties from Friday to Sunday. Tickets are available on RA.

Fraser Bonar

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Berlin Clubs and Covid-19 – Interview with the Clubcommission Berlin

28/5/2021

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On the 13th March 2020, all clubs and cultural locations in Berlin were closed as part of national restrictions to curb the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic. 14 months later, the beer gardens and outdoor spaces are beginning to open up once again from a second national lockdown.
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Berlin is beginning to wake once more.


For cities and citizens around the world, the effects of the pandemic go almost beyond description. Our safety has been threatened, freedoms have been restricted and life and culture put at risk by the virus and the necessary measures put in place to combat it.

While we are still a long way from feeling the fresh air on our faces as we exit the tunnel on the other side, things are clearly improving in much of Europe, as they have been in the UK in recent weeks.
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As of the 19th May, outside gastronomy has been permitted again in Berlin. This has sparked new hope that people may be able to enjoy some semblance of a normal summer, with beer gardens throwing open their gates and with tables and chairs spilling out onto the pavements on every street. There are even indications that open-air parties will soon be allowed, bringing dancing, glitter and bass back to a city that has felt sombre and eerily quietly for so long.
Disco balls seen over a fence.
“We would be fools if we were not optimistic,” Lutz Leichsenring, spokesperson of Clubcommission Berlin, told Just for Culture in an exclusive interview. “More and more people are being vaccinated, we see the summer is coming and the incidences are dropping significantly”. 

The Clubcommission Berlin has been around since 2000, supporting its 100-plus members, promoting the value that club culture has to the city and its people, carrying out research, and liaising with various stakeholders and political bodies.

With the summer months now upon us, many bars and clubs will be hoping to get as many people through the doors as possible, given the universally catastrophic financial impact imposed on them by 10 months of shutdowns.

In the spring, many reached out to fans and patrons, selling furniture and artwork from the venues through StartNext fundraising campaigns in a bid to survive the initial lockdown.

In addition, the Clubcommission and Reclaim Club Culture began an initiative called United We Stream, with funding from the Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Europe. This has raised money for the scene (and other causes, such as human rights organizations providing aid in Colombia as it faces a humanitarian crisis caused by tax reforms) by livestreaming DJ sets from around the world multiple times a week.

Leichsenring was complimentary about the support that the Berlin scene has received, saying that “especially on the Berlin level, we had exchanges with almost every senate that is related to us, from social to cultural, to economic to city development.”

The regular exchanges were critical to making sure that both sides were aware of the pressures and obstacles that the other was facing. As will come as no surprise to any Berliners, Leichsenring admitted that the Commission was “more aligned with the Berlin politicians than with the federal laws and regulations”, which have for many years been more conservative than the politics in the capital city.

There has clearly been a lot of positives in the interactions between Commission and the governments, with “a lot of individual support when some venues were in danger”. To the credit of all involved, the fear of mass closures has, to date, not come to pass.

But there is still genuine cause for concern. As restrictions continue to loosen and open-air parties are permitted, the reduction or removal of the essential state aid may still be fatal to some. The worry is that the reduced numbers of attendees at socially-distanced events simply will not cover the running costs.

On whether there was a list of member venues that were facing closure imminently, Leichsenring said that this is not being seen right now, but “there is a high chance that there will be some concerns when they are able to restart, just because it is unclear how artists can travel, unclear because some venues are depending on touring artists. We don’t know when they can start to tour through Europe”.

Studies carried out by the Commission have shown that the industry is reliant on tourism for up to 30% of its income.

However, it is not just a one-way deal. Almost a third of tourists who come to the city do so in order to experience its nightlife. In 2018, a Clubcommission study found that the scene had contributed nearly €1.5billion to the Berlin economy. Techno tourists paid, on average, more than €200 each while in the city. Added to the fact that around 9,000 people were directly employed by the clubs prior to the pandemic, the position it plays in the city is clear.

As well as lobbying for governmental support, the Commission has also worked in tandem with organisations around the world in order to create the Global Nighttime Recovery Plan (GNRP). This lays out in detail how clubbing and nightlife culture can be brought back safely and how it can better be integrated into modern city planning.

At nighttime.org, you can find information on various test events and studies from across the world. For example, a warehouse event was held recently in Liverpool featuring Jayda G, the Blessed Madonna and Sven Väth. Over 6,000 guests attended over the course of the weekend, with results showing that the event was no more dangerous than going shopping.

What appears clear is that open-air events are far safer than those held indoors. This fact enabled the clubs to hold dozens of open-air parties between the end of June and late October 2020. The same is certainly hoped for this year, especially given the Clubcommission’s ongoing efforts to promote events on available land.
​The events of this spring have intensified work already in progress. Since 2013, Berlin Clubcommission has been facilitating dialogue with event organisers, policymakers, researchers, and business associations to identify appropriate spaces for outdoor gatherings, educate organisers on best practices, and simplify processes for holding safe, legal, and sustainable events – Global Nighttime Recovery Plan, Chapter 1 
In addition to conversations about outdoor events, the Commission also recently ran a test event, in conjunction with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, performing to around 80 audience members. The value of this when added to the ever-growing data from similar ventures around the world is clear to the Commission.

Leichsenring was of the opinion that “we do not need to do the same kind of event all over Europe. I mean, that is why we are in Europe and we can also learn from each other”.

As to the measures that may be used to keep any future events safe, he confirmed that rapid antigen testing is “one of the tools to make the safe spacer”.

Rapid testing is already used widely in Berlin, with all residents permitted to be tested at least once per week at state-funded centres. Negative tests are required to visit the hairdressers, enter most shops or to go to a bar or restaurant. It is helpful both for guests and employees “just to feel safer in the environment where you work and where you stay”.

The irony is that, since so many of the club employees have sought temporary work in vaccination and testing centres, finding staff for reopening clubs may be a challenge for many.

A graffitied concrete block in Berlin.
As will be no surprise to anyone who was awake during 2020, the plight of club culture has not been a simple and straightforward one.

Griessmuehle was forced to shut its doors for good at the beginning of the year after the land was sold on to a property development company, which refused to extend the lease. The support from the community and the securing of a new premises will go some way to making up for the loss. Nonetheless, the culture’s often precarious existence was brought home to many.

There has also been staunch resistance to parties being held during the pandemic, even with the appropriate safety measures.

A Pornceptual party, famous for its sexual openness, held at Alte Münze, was broken up by the police in October, with officers accusing the attendees and organisers of breaching hygiene regulations.

While the organisers and venue categorically deny that the rules were broken, reiterating that the event was entirely legal, the event was criticised by certain news outlets.

Allegations also arose from numerous attendees that police officers at the scene referred to guests as “disgusting” and “perverse”, while handing out individual fines to 13 guests. 

The following week, Salon zur Wilden Renate had its Overmorrow performance and exhibition event closed down by the police, who once again cited breaches of hygiene regulations. The club gave full details in a blog post, and have pointed out that while they were subjected to three previous controls by the authorities, not a single issue was found.

While public health and safety is absolutely paramount, these actions also appear as attempts to encroach upon the social liberality and often loudly and proudly queer culture on display in such spaces. This is made clear when the events are compared with the illegal party held in Soho House by Italian fashion company Bottega Veneta in April of this year. The now-infamous party was reported to the police and was widely criticised on social media. However, as of yet, there are no whispers of consequences for the organisers.

We asked Leichsenring whether the Commission was concerned that there may well be similar problems after reopening. His answer was that this is always a risk for the culture and that “we have to create awareness around it, because there is a lot of stigmatisation happening”.

However, he also said that it wasn’t currently a pressing issue for the Commission, as “everybody is positive of reopening, slowly but surely”. With the optimistic mood in the country, it’s time to look ahead once more.

There has been some good news this year for the future of clubs in Germany. On the 7th of May, the German Bundestag passed a motion in favour of categorising clubs as cultural institutions alongside opera houses and theatres. They are currently listed in the same bracket as cinemas, casinos and brothels.

The significance of this is potentially huge, with the legal status of clubs forever in question in densely populated areas like Berlin’s Kreuzberg-Friedrichshain district. 

The problems of uncommercial and counterculture in a capitalist society have grown more acute in these pandemic times. But Clubs have been swamped out of Berlin long before Corona. – Anias Meier, Spokesperson for Mensch Meier
The Clubcommission told us that “it was a process that was started really decades ago” with a hearing being held in front of the Bundestag last February. However, “during the pandemic, there was also a group formed in the Bundestag of parliament members from all political parties except the right wing, that was supporting this idea”.

It remains to be seen how effective the change would be once written into law, but it strikes as a symbolic win for the scene nonetheless and elevates its status in the national conversation.

Looking ahead, then, there is hope. There is reason to believe that we will get back to dancing together, smiling, laughing and living in those spaces that we love so dearly.

And to those who say that this is simply not a priority during the pandemic?

“The question is where you put your priorities at,” says Leichsenring. “There is definitely a big discussion. We are a pluralistic society and a democratic system, so I think it is definitely also worth looking into you know what are for instance people doing who don’t have a family here in their city? Or who are part of a community that is meeting in these kinds of spaces?

“Everybody has their own values and I think we should not start to judge over others. I think music and meeting and socialising is part of our human identity”.

Fraser Bonar

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Our Pick of the Best Lockdown Livestreams 2020

2/7/2020

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All around the world, the speakers have been unplugged. The drums are silent. The earplugs and glitter discarded. The festivals are cancelled for the summer. Berghain is even harder to get in than usual. And it seems like it's going to be some time before anyone but the cleaners will be out on a dancefloor of any sort.

Life is slowly opening up again, and there's a mad rush to the pub for that glorious heady pint. But we know that the sound of thundering bass from a basement club is still out of reach.

​You could go and find an illegal rave if you like. You could pretend that you never really liked going out much anyway and that you don't miss it.

But we have a much better idea. One that won't get you arrested, and doesn't require you to abstain from one of life's true pleasures. Stay home, stay safe and healthy, and party with some of the best lockdown livestreams of the year so far. Our list features some of the biggest names in electronic music, so text your neighbours to tell them that it might get a bit loud, and let's dive in.

For an Hour of Pure Joy
Sama' DJ set @ ReConnect | Beatport Live

Sama' is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most charismatic and infectiously happy DJs you will come across. It’s why, when we sat down to compile this list, there was nowhere better to start than right here. This set is the perfect antidote to some lockdown blues, we promise you.

First things first, the quality of the video isn't up to much, and the lighting effects are pretty lo-fi. But hey, in tough times like these, you have to have some imagination. So, turn on your £10 party light from Amazon and pretend that Sama' is DJing your own little private living room rave.

Much more importantly, this lockdown livestream showcases the two things that define Sama''s DJing: a delightful, kooky energy and a knack for lining up a seemingly endless queue of tracks that are so good we challenge you not to dance.

It is surely only a matter of time until Sama' is a household name for all ravers across the world, with her ability to pick a beat and her approach to track lists that sees big names perfectly coupled with an array of lesser known producers. Our picks here are Kebin van Reeken – 'Annihilation' and Carbon – 'Dirty Riot'. Skip to 27:00 to hear the latter and see Sama''s dancing at its best.

There's something for everyone. Tracks to recognise and new ones to discover, synth-heavy orchestral techno, and rhythmic Eastern dances. It's why we love her so much; she gives the people what they want and what they didn't know they needed to discover.

Oh, and we have absolutely no idea what is going on with the guy in the computer screen at the bottom left either…

For Some No-Nonesense, High-Energy Techno
Ellen Allien b2b Héctor Oaks Live Streaming, Griessmuehle Berlin 08.05

As part of the Save our Spaces campaign from legendary Berlin nightclub, Griessmuehle, Héctor Oaks and Ellen Allien teamed up for a b2b session. It's a meeting of two generations and proof that electronic dance music is best when different walks of life come together.

One of the comments sums up Ellen and her legacy in the industry pretty well: "Ellen Allien went into a club in 1991 and never left". With her skills on the decks, it certainly seems that way sometimes. Héctor may be the junior partner here in terms of age, but he does not get left behind. His signature intensity and love of hard bass twins beautifully with Ellen's never ending bouncing.

And let’s just take a moment to mention that this is a vinyl only b2b set as well, making it just that bit more special. It's no surprise that these two have the ability to pull off the challenging setup, but it does show you that you are in the hands of two masters of the craft.

There is a smattering of tracks produced by the pair throughout the set, with Héctor's take on Ellen's 'Free Society' showing you just why these two work so well together. Relentless pace and hypnotic spoken vocals layered over classic pounding bass. You couldn't ask for much more.
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The beauty of a back to back set is in the unexpected, unforeseen turns that the sets can take when two different spinners at are the helm. Look out for a glorious example of this around the 36' mark. Stick with it as two minutes of incessant and insistent drive (in the form of Ramirez – 'Hablando (Push Remix)') is smoothly interspersed with hints of melancholy vocals. A new bassline fades in, Ellen bends the pitches, and then suddenly drops the beat out entirely. We are treated to a moment of respite with 'Gallowdance' by Lebanon Hanover. It's a blissful and inspired moment amid such tireless and ferocious beats.

For Some Indie Disco and House
Perel Boiler Room: Streaming from Isolation

Next on the list is one of the industry's most captivating and most underrated DJs and producers. Perel brings her own brand of feel good disco, house, and indie dance music right into your living room. But as with all of her sets, you also get a large dollop of personality at least as big as her shoulder pads.

With a Perel set, you are bound to get a bit of everything, and this Boiler Room livestream was no different. From a lowkey opening with Bruce Springsteen – 'State Trooper (Trentemøller Remix)', the vibe shifts into that of a 1980s space-age dream. If you can tell us of a better mood for a party than that, we'd love to hear it.

20 minutes in, you get a taste of what really sets Perel apart from many of her peers, for her upcoming track 'Feuer+Wasser', she picks up the microphone and adds drama-infused live vocals to the poppy beat.

Her love for the 80s is really hammered home when she sticks on Kraftwerk's 1981 hit 'Computer Love'. We reckon there is little better in the world than watching a DJ loving what they do, dancing as though they were playing for themselves only. This moment captures that feeling perfectly.
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Her trademark singing returns for the last track, 'Spuistraat'. Named after a street in her new home city, Amsterdam, the track embodies everything that we love about Perel. It is camp, upbeat, beautifully layered, the vocals original and captivating. But above all, it has ludicrous danceability. 

For Fans of the National Trust or Those Who Just Really Want to See a Castle
Charlotte de Witte 'New Form' II: Return to Nowhere

It was maybe the most anticipated livestream of the lot, with teasers going all across social media for weeks before it dropped. The second so-called "New Form" set from Charlotte de Witte didn't fail to live up to expectations, either.

The set was actually the launch event of her new EP, 'Return to Nowhere', turned into a livestream event in the absence of a massive world tour. With those plans put on hold for next year, and her many adoring fans without the chance to see her live at a festival this summer, it's no surprise that she went all out for this set.

The Gravensteen castle creates a dramatic backdrop for the stream, offering commanding views over her home city of Ghent in Belgium. The black and white Xs of her record label KNTXT are flying from the flagpoles and she stands alone on the ramparts (save for a couple of camera crew). To many, she is the new Queen of techno, so where would be more fitting for her to play?

In contrast to her first lockdown livestream, the tone of the music is austere, and the style is almost brutally minimalist. It all works to complement the atmosphere of the 'Return to Nowhere' EP, which takes inspiration from the sacred vocal music of the renaissance.

The vocal-synth riff on 'Return to Nowhere' shows de Witte at her best as a producer. It is hypnotic, its simple layering drawing you deeper and ever deeper into the beat as you listen. She offsets this with ten minutes of high-energy bass drive before dropping the lead single from the new EP.
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'Sgad Li Mi' is the high point of the set, its soaring vocal lines perfectly suited to the backdrop. It is utterly haunting and enchanting, filled with a longing that only Eastern music and the melodic minor can conjure. But before you go away thinking that this no longer sounds like techno music, Charlotte's signature TR-808 bass drum and a beefy bass lead kick back in.

For Some Truly Stunning Scenery 
The Blaze at Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix, France for Cercle

While lockdowns have hit the world hard this year, halted parties and brought clubs to their knees, there have been a small handful of events that aim to bring the joy and beauty of electronic music to people's homes. None do this better than this set from The Blaze for Cercle.

Cercle is potentially the best in the world at creating jaw-dropping videos of techno, house and EDM sets, often filmed in unlikely and spectacular locations.

The usual crowds aren't present, but Cercle certainly pulled off the dramatic with the setting for this concert by French duo The Blaze. The cousins stand on an observation deck on a rocky outcrop high up in the Alps above Chamonix. It really does not get any more beautiful than this.

It would be easy to focus entirely on the visuals, with smooth drone and 4K footage of the mountain scenery and an azure sky. But aside from everything else, this is a top-quality set.

Playing solely their own music, each track flows easily into the next. If you are looking for something relaxing, this is the perfect digital destination. Lie back and let the soft vocals and swooping, silken synths wash over you.

The highlight comes after 42 minutes, with the duo's biggest hit, 'Territory'. As the hypnotic piano line kicks in, it feels almost like the holding of a breath. The camera pans out and up once more, showing the crystalline sky. Then Guillaume sings into the mic, the vocals heavy with reverb, "We’ve waited for this day". We can only hope that we won't have to wait very much longer before we can finally meet again on the dancefloor.
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It's hard not to be poetic about electronic music and the effect it can produce in you when viewing this set. Here, even with no live audience, everything combines perfectly to create a mesmerising final product; one that will stick with you long after you have finished watching.

For Some Adorable Dad Dancing and Homemade Signs
Thomas Schumacher DJ Set @Drumcode Indoors II | Beatport Live

If you have not heard of Thomas Schumacher, we won't blame you. But we will tell you to go and listen to this set. Immediately.

Schumacher is a German techno veteran, he's been DJing since the mid-90s, his skill as a producer and his knack for reading crowds ensuring his consistent popularity over the best part of three decades. Although he tours extensively and has released a series of massive tracks in the last few years, his name doesn't tend to appear on massive festival lineups, hence his relative anonymity outside of his home country.

The rest of the world is beginning to wake up to his talent at long last though. He released his first EP on Drumcode earlier this year and created a track with Victor Ruiz, inspired by The Terminator's 'Reese Dreams of Future War', which was released on Drumcode's 'A-Sides, Vol 9'. His next venture with the label was his appearance at the Drumcode Indoors II event in association with Beatport Live.

There are a couple of technical glitches on the video, which is a real shame, because - and we cannot overstate this – it is quite simply superb. He seamlessly weaves together several of his latest tracks, combining exhilarating acid leads with fuzzy synths and resounding bass.

In the second half of the set, there are smooth transitions between 'The Fuzz', 'Feist' and his remix of the Cherry Moon classic 'House of House', each of which have become guaranteed crowd pleasers and staples in Schumacher's sets.
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Although you can never recreate the atmosphere or have the synergy of a club set in a livestream setting, there are some real gems in this set. And you will still get the treat of watching his trademark dad-dancing, which makes the whole thing worthwhile in itself. If you watch to the end, his daughter Stella also makes an appearance, dancing along with her dad to a track named in her honour. Who doesn't love good wholesome family content after all?

For A Chilled Sunday Afternoon
Pan-Pot Berlin Boat Ride

The longest set on this list comes from the German techno duo Pan-Pot. Take a trip with Tassilo and Thomas on a five-hour boat ride down the Spree river in and around Berlin.

Pan-Pot's mix is perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon, with most of the tracks being melodic and atmospheric techno rather than the bass-heavy, punishing sort of tracks for which the German capital is famous. The pair (reunited after Thomas had to cut a round-the-world-trip short because of Corona) keep the tempo and atmosphere chill, while Berlin floats slowly by.

There are tunes from fellow Berliners FJAAK ('Breath') and Paul Kalkbrenner ('Der Buhold') through to the Marco V remix of the 1990 classic 'Age of Love'. It's an eclectic mixture of straight up techno and funky offbeat summer jams.

With this long a set, you'd be forgiven for having assumed that things might drag a little. Certainly, it's not an all-out energy filled affair, but there is plenty of rise and fall. Pan-Pot show that they can pace things nicely, even without a crowd to feed off and read. After a fleet of lighter beats, a stand-out moment comes just past two hours into the set, with Thomas sliding from Len Faki's remix of 'Death' by Humano into the darker and grittier tone of Farrago's remix of Under Black Helmet - 'Mute'.
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If you have a few hours spare, we can't think of much better to do than to enjoy this masterclass in summer music from two of the best in the business. 

Fraser Bonar

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Planet Earth II - Live in Concert Coming to the UK April 2020

4/3/2020

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From Namibia to the Northern Lights to the highest mountains in the world, Planet Earth II was a sensational display of exactly why we love our wonderful world. And the score isn't half bad either. So we're stoked that they're going on tour in the UK with it - and they've got some extra bonuses.

Dr. Mike Gunton, Executive Producer of Planet Earth II and Creative Director of the BBC Studios Natural History Unit, will be appearing as a special guest on the forthcoming UK & Ireland arena tour to offer insight and stories from behind the scenes.
 
Mike Gunton has been producing natural history programmes for over thirty years and has worked very closely with Sir David Attenborough on many documentaries, including Planet Earth II.

Mike says: “Planet Earth II is particularly special because it did reset how we make wildlife films and it really engaged the audience reaction with wildlife film making. The number of people who watched the series globally was huge and it changed the way people think about the environment and our natural world. Planet Earth II has effectively become the ‘mother ship’ of a whole series of projects that are now being made and we’re delighted because it has rebooted the public connection with the environment and wildlife. I can’t wait to take part in the UK arena tour and share special stories and insights with the audience.”
 
Following on from the recent success of the 2019 Blue Planet II Live In Concert tour, these not-to-be-missed live concerts feature breathtaking, specially-selected footage shown in 4K ultra high-definition on a gigantic LED screen. 
 
In this spectacular arena event, audiences get to rub shoulders with our acrobatic primate cousins in the steaming jungles of Madagascar, race alongside fearsome hunting lions in the remote sandy deserts of Namibia and feel the raw tension as a baby iguana tries to escape the clutches of deadly racer snakes.


Planet Earth II Live in Concert comes to Glasgow on 4 April 2020, with further dates and tickets all visible here: https://www.planetearth2live.uk/
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Nightlife Review: Famous First Words (Preview Show), 4 August, Gilded Balloon Teviot, Edinburgh Fringe, 11pm

5/8/2017

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Truth be told, we fucked it.

We could’ve been in the final. 

All we had to do was sing the famous first words of Total Eclipse of the Heart into a microphone and we would’ve been in the final. But we got too excited. We counted our metaphorical chickens before they had metaphorically hatched. We got too excited that we knew the words to the song, and forgot to actually sing the words to the song.

“Get off the stage,” said presenters Tim and Gendle, as Bonnie Tyler jumped in to sing her part perfectly on time, what with her being a recording and all.

The stage was exited. A chance to become a legend and reach the final of Famous First Words, destroyed.

Famous First Words is exactly that - the opportunity to become a legend for about 15 seconds, or slightly longer if the audience like the song. It's described as the boozed-up lovechild of Don’t Forget the Lyrics and X-Factor. And it's not karaoke.

Basically, Tim and Gendle stand on the stage and play the introduction to a song. The first one in the audience to shout out that they know the song then raises their hand and gets to go up on stage. Tim and Gendle then restart the song, and then the person who raised their hand gets the chance to try and sing the famous first words.

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Travel: ​5 Things to do in Hamburg, Germany

1/6/2017

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What To Do in Hamburg, Germany

Planning to nip across to the continent for a weekend?

We managed to fit in a quick trip to Hamburg recently and thought we should share our newfound wisdom on what to do in the German city known for its history and nightlife.

5. Go for a walk along the Elbe

Having been a country in its own right not that long ago, Hamburg's port is still a strong               economic centre, and you can't miss this fact. You can get tours around the port and harbour (some are even included in day tickets for public transport - 11.80 for a group of up to five people) but we recommend you just spend a couple of hours taking in the sights from the shore. In particular look out for the Elphie (a striking concert hall built on top of an old warehouse).

4. The Five Main Churches (Hauptkirchen)

A strongly Lutheran state, Hamburg has five Cathedrals, known as the Hauptkirchen, which served the entire city up until the 19th century. Four still stand in their entirety, but all five are worth a visit.
  • St. Jacob's (St. Jackobi)
  • St. Catherine's (St. Katherinen)
  • St. Paul's (Petrikirche)
  • St. Nicholas's (Nikolaikirche)
Damaged badly in allied bombing raids during WW2, only the tower of St. Nicholas's still stands. Briefly the world's tallest building, the tower now acts as a memorial to those who died in the bombing raids, and in atrocities carried out across Europe.
  • St. Michael's (Michelkirche)
Possibly the most striking of the churches, and certainly the largest inside, 'Michel' has the grandeur of a concert hall. It's the newest of the five churches, and is in the town's new town. But don't let that put you off, it's only a fifteen minute walk from the town hall, and well worth it.

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Live Review: Bongo's Bingo - Canal Mills, Leeds, 24 May 2017

25/5/2017

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Photo: Justin Gardner / Bongo's Bingo
We had heard a lot about Bongo’s Bingo before we went along. If you’ve never heard of it then let us enlighten you. It’s the bingo meets cross-dressing meets disco rave night out that you never knew you needed. So we decided to head along and check it out for ourselves.
 
With regular nights organised across the north of England, we went along with some Bingo-veterans to try out the now infamous extravaganza.
 
What followed was one of the strangest yet most enjoyable evenings we have had in a long time. Starting ludicrously early, we got to Canal Mills at 6.30pm to make sure we got a seat. By 7pm I was glad that I was with folk who knew what they were doing, because the place was bouncing - literally. Far from the intense and silent bingo your Gran plays, Bongo's is basically a rave on benches, with two fluorescent transvestites reading the numbers.

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Opinion: Is Everyone Just Fed Up With Nightclubs?

24/10/2016

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“Wow, I haven’t been out out in ages.”
 
“Yeah, me neither.”
 
“No. I mean literally AGES.”
 
This is becoming a familiar conversation in certain circles. Saturday night comes around and you’ll find yourself at a pub, a friend’s house, at the cinema… but not at a club. Are we just getting older and more boring, or is everyone just a bit fed up with clubbing?
 
This year the government has stopped including nightclub entry when working out the official inflation figures. Now before we lose our readers completely by mentioning inflation, it’s actually not that complicated. Every year the government makes a “What’s Hot” list (officially known as the Consumer Price Inflation Basket of Goods) and checks if the prices are going up or down. It’s a good way to see what people are spending money on, so you can also figure out what’s popular. The list for this year added items that we’re now spending more money on, like nail varnish, coffee pods and microwavable rice. It also removed things from the list that people aren’t spending as much money on anymore: CDs, rewritable DVDs and nightclub entry.
 
Take a moment to think about how miserable that is – nightclubs are being replaced by microwavable rice.
 
Of course, nightclubs have been a hot topic in the news recently after the closure of London superclub Fabric. Officials are arguing that Fabric was creating a dangerous environment after two drug-related deaths occurred in the club over the summer. There’s been uproar in the clubbing community and a lot of people believe that the tragic deaths are being used as an excuse to get rid of the club so that the site can be turned into a high-profit property development. Less dancing and music for us, more money for the big corporations. DJs, fans, the major of London and numerous drug charities have spoken out against the closure. Drug awareness groups are worried that closing big clubs will just drive people to poorly regulated clubs or house parties where drugs will be a far bigger problem.
 
Whatever the real reason for closing Fabric, it’s true that there are almost 1,500 fewer nightclubs in the UK now compared to ten years ago, and a global research firm recently found out that only 25% of millennials go to a club more than once a month. So it’s pretty obvious that we are all staying in more, or going for a few quiet drinks at the pub instead of going out dancing. But why?


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Coming Soon to Glasgow: Revolución de Cuba

15/10/2016

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We don’t know when, and we don’t know where, but the rum and cocktail bar Revolución de Cuba is coming to Glasgow.
 
Just a few days ago, our favourite South American themed bar announced that they are opening their very first Scottish venue. Ten Revolución de Cubas already exist across England, so we went and visited a couple to let the good people of Scotland know what’s up.
 
The atmosphere in the Revolución de Cuba in Manchester was electric, and this was 5pm on a Saturday. We’d been expecting a few quiet drinks, assuming that most people would be at home getting ready for their nights out – we were wrong. Unluckily for Scotland, the busy bar and amazing buzz might have been because Rev de Cuba offers generous happy hours six days a week (3-7pm Monday-Friday, and 5-7pm Saturdays) which have been illegal in Scotland since 2009. Never fear though, there is plenty to recommend these bars apart from their drinks deals.
 
The venue itself deserves some discussion first of all. While the bar is Cuban themed – the name is a bit of a give-away – it’s not tacky or in your face. Mosaic tiles surround the bar, and wooden barrels acting as tables are scattered between regular high tables and stools. Near the huge windows, a fantastic band plays salsa music and as it gets later a few tipsy couples get up to dance.


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review: Neu! Reekie! Celts - By National Museums Scotland

26/9/2016

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Evenings at the National Museum of Scotland are becoming quite the trend in Edinburgh. We decided to get along to check out the Neu! Reekie! takeover on September 23.

The evening and the line up were arranged around the ‘Celts’ exhibition on show at the museum, and included performances from the likes of Glasgow spoken-word maestro Loki, legendary Scots Makar poet Liz Lochhead, Ette, the solo project of TeenCanteen’s Carla J Easton and the headline act, Charlotte Church, bringing “The Late Night Pop Dungeon” – yup, it’s a weird name, but it was great. We’ll get onto that later.

First thing is first. The venue was a striking visual spectacle; acts performing with stunning exhibitions thousands of years old all around them. It brought an atmosphere unlike any other we’ve stepped foot. The Celts exhibition was fascinating; with everything from jewellery and weaponry to chariots on show and a range of other exhibitions also open on the first floor which design or fashion students might have found particularly intriguing.

While the main hall was stunning, there was a bit of echo on the acoustics when Charlotte brought her Late Night Pop Dungeon to the stage. But man, was that a crazy show. Picture a 10-piece band looking like they’ve raided a fancy dress clothing rack, stick Church at the front, and you’ve got what we’re talking about. 
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Charlotte Church sure can sing. She opened up with some opera-trained talents before changing the tone drastically – oh so drastically – to a cover of Nine Inch Nails ‘Closer’ and singing, however harmoniously, the lyrics: “I want to fuck you like an animal / I want to feel you from the inside”, before diving straight into David Bowie’s ‘’Girl Loves Me’.

IT WAS WEIRD. But that set the for the rest of the set. Clearly anything goes in Charlotte Church’s Late Night Pop Dungeon. And to be fair, what do you expect from an act with the words ‘late’, ‘night’, ‘pop’ and ‘dungeon’ back to back in their title?

Seriously though, it was an incredibly fun performance. The covers ranged from R Kelly’s ‘Ignition’ and ‘I Believe I Can Fly’ to Amelie’s ‘One Thing’, Neutral Milk Hotel’s ‘Holland, 1945’ and hits from Beyonce, Sugababes and a whole host of different acts from all sorts of genres.

The range of songs was as far and wide as you can dream up, and it was primetime for a sing-along. If you’ve ever been to Fingers Piano Bar in Edinburgh, imagine that but with a 10-piece band and fronted by Charlotte Church. It was great fun!

Our favourite act of the night though was hip hop artist Loki, a Glaswegian wordsmith tying together social truths and hard-hitting punchlines over a wonderful vocal and guitar-based backing from Becci Wallace.

Loki had the crowd gasping, laughing, and hanging on his every word. He’s sure got some stage presence. It was a powerful performance and it’s awesome to see such an act get such attention even after August.

On the downside though, it was awfully difficult to get into the Auditorium, where the likes of Loki were playing. The queue was huge and some had been in it for up to an hour, which for a three hour event is hardly ideal. A re-think of performance spaces may be an idea for future sessions at the venue, as we ended up forced to stay in the main hall for the latter half of the night as a result.

It was a fantastic event nonetheless though. A great line up as diverse as it was talented, and a stern reminder from Neu! Reekie! And NMS that culture doesn’t leave Edinburgh with the Fringe Festival.

Stuart Kenny

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