Seasoned expatriates are eternally sick and tired of new kids on the Berlin block looking all over-eager, dripping with enthusiasm and excitedly barraging them with questions about what to do and where to go (i.e cramping their style). By the same token, new kids on the Berlin block tire very quickly of annoying, jaded old expats lecturing them about the arduous difficulties of foreign country living and the dangers of becoming just another Berlin party casualty. Solution? Change of conversation! Skip the tedious puffing out of chests routine and jump straight to the fun; find a common interest in the luminous weekend schedule of good times in Berlin.
Tonight at Arena, Dystopian brings you a positively utopian DJ line-up to temporarily brighten your life outlook. Key figure in Detroit's so-called 'second wave' of significant techno producers, Kenny Larkin, infiltrates Berlin clubland once again after seducing Sunday evening partygoers with superb sounds in Panorama Bar last month. This time he's joined by the French division of Innervisions Records, Âme, in the old riverside Coca-Cola factory to pleasure you with hit-sprinkled deep house goodness.
Canadian indie-pop-club sensation, Azari & III, have been tickling the ears of a variety of listeners and letting their standout tracks slip through various elite remix hands, pushing the duo's infectious sound through the clubs and beyond. Danish group, When Saints Go Machine, have managed a similar exploration of mildly alternative niches while casually grazing mainstream pastures. Both acts received remixes from last year's electronic buzzkid, Nicolas Jaar, and both are on the menu of Azari & III @ Berlin, Gretchen tonight.
On Saturday night, US newcomers Sepalcure launch their debut album at SK Robinson. The pair's combination of "love for bass and 90s house acapellas is the culmination of a cathartic two week collaboration between Travis Stewart (Machinedrum) and Praveen Sharma (Praveen & Benoit)". Cool support from Braille is an extra reason to check out the event, as is winning FREE entry for you and a friend if you email us here in time.
A music and art combination is on offer once again at Stattnacht at Stattbad Wedding. The former swimming pool will combine the smooth sounds of Lawrence, Ewan Pearson and more with The Sunday Wisdom exhibition - a series of images which chronicles the entrance of 50 clubs in the cruel Sunday light (because god knows we could all do with a little reminder every now and again of the pitfalls of too much party!).
Delightfully dingy techno dungeon, Golden Gate, offers you locally brewed music to keep with dancing on Sunday with Tiffany, featuring Tom Clarke, Toby Deschamps and Rebecca Rotlicht.
Meanwhile, Berghain / Panorama Bar begins to exercise its grand winter prowess, with Klubnacht rolling out a huge line-up of high calibre music, including Detroit's modern godfather of house and techno, Carl Craig. Strong support from Steffi and quiet achiever / solid pbar resident nd_Baumecker, with Norman Nodge joining Klock & Dettman to take care of heavy business downstairs. Seasoned expats could even take a wide-eyed newbie home and give them private 'cool lessons'. New kids, old tricks. Same same.
