BangBangBerlin.com - THE WORD ON BERLIN'S FASHION, ARTS AND CLUB SCENE

Major Lazer at Astra = Major Good Time

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Major Lazer Review – Astra 16/05/2013

When Major Lazer announced that the hotly anticipated finale of its Free The Universe world tour would not take place in monolithic Berlin institution Berghain, rather barn dance-cum-assembly hall Astra it felt like a let-down. One reason would be that for some people having a ticket in their hand meant they'd actually get in to Berghain for a change, but also it felt like a downgrade for the sake of packing a few more Air Max 1’s and fake bling revellers into the gig.

But walking into Astra on Thursday night, flanked by derelict chic graffiti, on perhaps the hottest Berlin night so far, moving the gig felt like a great decision. Astra is a squat Tardis, stretching all the way from the swarming beer garden to the stage where a CDT-project mock sound system was being set up. Squint and this ramshackle set-up could be on the Norman Manley Boulevard, just outside Negril town centre. Berghain is too cool, and it's a super club – tonight Jamaica was setting up just next to Warschauer Straße.

If it was warm outside, the inside of Astra was hotter than a brotbackofen. The crowd, mostly white people in their mid-twenties to thirties, was buzzing and the atmosphere felt like it had more pressure than an Alan Sugar job interview. It felt like the place was about to explode. Which, as Diplo, Jillionaire and Walshy Fire walked on to the stage in black suits the Specials would have been proud of, is exactly what happened. This blazing dancehall hybrid is at times pure car alarm music, a cacophony of sound that is designed to make people do little more than jump up and down like their feet are on fire. Vuvuzelas were thrown out in to the crowd, two female dancers shook in rhythm and one neon bikini-clad woman just threw all manor of shapes as she buzzed around the others.

This is not a gig, it's a soundsystem. Aside from the odd cod-Jamaican shriek of 'shit is getting crazy' from Diplo, there was not much live anything going on, but did anyone care? No of course they didn't. Despite a brief moment of dubstep, this felt like dubstep should be if Skrillex hadn't wobbled it into oblivion. Before long Diplo had shed his shirt, and Walshy Fire was commanding everyone to do the same. A surprising amount of men then did as asked and started swinging their t-shirts around their head. Then Walshy Fire said he wanted to try something different and instructed everyone to throw their garments into the air as high as possible. They did, and the fact that very few actually landed back with their owners summed up where this spectacle of lights, lasers and speakers had got to right now. Everyone was going crazy, the atmosphere was unlike virtually any other gig on the planet. It was around this point Diplo was being carried across the crowd in a Zorb, I think.

After a poor attempt at a Harlem Shake moment (the crowd were too wasted), Get Free (from new album Free The Universe and a track that has probably brought a lot of people here tonight) is teased to the crowd before we go back to Pon De Floor, which sends everyone into hyperdrive. Pointless but fun tune Bubble Butt (also from Free The Universe) is cranked out once 12 girls have been invited up from the crowd to shake their stuff on the stage. They are surprisingly good, and some dressed as skeletons incidently, and mirror the madness that is going on on the dancefloor.

Quite simply it is a blast, and when, towards the end, Diplo attempts to get the crowd running in a huge circle, resulting in a pile up and near disastrous crushing incident, it is almost too much. As the strobe flashes, panting, sweat-covered faces flash everywhere, gurning possibly just from exhaustion, as a drum and bass remix of Get Free draws things to a close.

I decide to get a beer and manage to enjoy a Toots and the Maytals' 54-46 Was My Number encore from a more sedate part of the club. Part school disco, part Notting Hill soundsystem, part Sex Pistols gig, Major Lazer 'live' is deceptively simple - and a masterclass in how to have a good time.

Pictures: majorlazer.tumblr.com

Astra
Revaler Straße 99
10245 Berlin

Major Lazer at Astra = Major Good Time

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

The House Of Häagen-Dazs Presents Seduction In Its Most Tasty Form

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

The new ad campaign for Häagen-Dazs has just dropped, featuring object of our affection Bradley Cooper, and it's highly seductive and sesual viewing! Cooper is so hot he can make our heads spin, but not hot enough to melt our cup of Häagen-Dazs. In the TV spot he is charmed by beautiful Spanish model Jana Perez: sensual, flirtatious and determined to fulfill her most hidden desires.

The house of Häagen-Dazs is a setting beyond the ordinary, reveling in high class fashion and a glamorous good mood, where taste and sensuality are intense emotions dancing close together, to the sexy “Spoonfull” song by Selah Sue. In this world of seduction, the glowing characters play a captivating game of cat and mouse, where the ultimate desire lies in a Häagen-Dazs ice-cream cup. And it should be a great ice-cream since the lovely Jana Perez values it more than Bradley Cooper`s kiss!

The House of Häagen-Dazs is a great metaphor for exploring the taste of Häagen-Dazs ice-cream, a product with a strong name and history, brought into our contemporary world with the same naturalness as in 1921, when young Reuben Mattus was watching his mother selling natural homemade ice-cream in a converted horse-drawn carriage throughout New York. Reben followed his mother`s steps aiming to make the best ice-cream in the world. He creates Häagen-Dazs, a brand that starts to be a family business as his daughter followed him, opening another very successful shop in New York, in 1976. Now available in 50 countries, Häagen-Dazs seems to become people`s favorite ice cream today - and of course in Berlin, we love it too!

Check it out and let your taste explore all your senses. Tip: Great homemade ice-cream recipes on the Häagen-Dazs homepage!

Review: The Whole Earth at Haus der Kulturen der Welt

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

The next time Berlin enjoys a beautifully balmy summers day: get your friends together and cycle over to Treptow park. Keep going along the river until you come to the border of Plänterwald, and there you will find one of Berlin's best kept secrets: the Klipper restaurant. On board this Klipper ship is a fantastic restaurant with a huge sunny terrace on various levels, where you can easily while away an afternoon drinking Weißbier and ordering schnitzel and ice cream!

They do a fantastic big Frühstuck as well (like all good Berlin cafe-restaurants, they love a big breakfast) - which should not be missed.
The ambience is more mainstream and a little older (and Deutsch) than your typical Berlin-Mitte cafe but sometimes a change is nice right? Perfect for enjoying with a small close group of friends or with your family if they are visiting.

Klipper - Segelschiffrestaurant am Plänterwald
Wasserterrasse
Bulgarische Strasse
12435 Berlin
Tel: 030 532 16490

Klipper Restaurant - Treptower Park's Best Kept Secret

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

When you think about a good restaurant, you mostly think about food: is it tasty, is it fresh, is it fast served, are the waiters nice? How about getting the whole package? How about escaping in another culture, dare we say another country, right within lovely Berlin?

We had lunch at Mimino, one of the few Georgian restaurants in town, and the experience felt like traveling. It is not only the food that is diverse from anything you tasted before, if of course you are not Georgian, but the whole atmosphere is authentic, nothing induced or fake, nothing kitsch. The name and logo of the place are paved with history, after a soviet comedy from 1977, where Mimino is the main character played by Georgian actor Vakhtang Kikabidze.

With a glimpse of Balkan feeling, Georgian food is tasty without being too spicy or too complicated. The ingredients are original and their combination likewise. Georgian cuisine treats vegetables particularly, and the salad combinations are just beautiful, without tasting like from another planet. The plate arrangements are made with care, and the whole restaurant has an affinity towards details that approaches the Georgian culture.

Besides the usual friendly/nice staff, the people working at Mimino have a certain delicacy and warmth, and judging by a few Georgian guests around us, these are features of a nation. From the staff to the service we felt Georgians honest, gentle and distinguished. But like true Berliners, we stuck to some white beer to not get madly lost in this little corner of Georgia.

We highly recommend this great experience at the fantasy border between cultures. You can find Mimino Restaurant on Waitzstrasse 1, Charlottenburg.

Georgian Flavour In The Heart Of Berlin

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

How do we know if spring is here for real? We feel like working less and partying more! And since this would not be very productive, how do we keep spring in our hearts while being creative and focused on our projects? It seems like Platoon has the answer.

On April 18 took place the re-launching of Platoon Worklounge, space for work and relaxation. That’s right, the Worklounge proposes the perfect mix between working and chilling, all packed in a very cool bar and terrace that gathers Platoon members and not only. The lounge is supposed to trigger creativity as many great minds will gather for an afternoon cup of tea and a prolific chat. And we all know progress happens when creative minds meet!

For those who are not familiar with the Platoon concept, it is all about cultural development. Platoon embraces radical minds into an international network, focusing on culture, art and communication. Supporting itself from collaborating with important brands, Platoon encourages subcultural interventions, creates spaces for exhibitions and manages events and workshops. It consists of its members that get involved and stay connected.

The re-launch of the Worklounge introduces a great place for work, events or just having a cup of coffee in a great location (Schönhauser Allee 9). It has the typical hip tone of the Platoon crew and it looks like a very dynamic place, where something always happens. The opening was celebrated with live music and of course a big party and concert in the evening, Platoon style.

So do not miss exploring your creative side while enjoying a strong espresso at the Platoon Worklounge this spring. Special discounts for Platoon members!

Re-Launching Of Platoon Worklounge

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Let Them Eat Cake Presents Broken Line Exhibition

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Just in case we forget to look around us…

Berlin screams from its architecture. Almost every building has something to say, and it`s not a dull statement. Reinforced by their own history the buildings speak through people, in what defines a colossal street art project extended now in Berlin after its implementation in Cartagena, Shanghai, Los Angeles and La Havana.

The Wrinkles Of The City started in 2008 and it is a project about history, about cities and about people, about co-existence and community, about customs and cultures. Who`s behind it? Who other than the French artist, TED prize winner JR?
Controverted for his illegal art projects, JR thinks in large scale. His work captures essential emotions and strips them in public. Furthermore, he amplifies them. Women Are Heroes and Face 2 Face are enormous works that strike thru their clarity in expression.

Just in case we never saw the bright side of fine lines…

The Wrinkles Of The City is about historical buildings, highlighted by Berlin`s inhabitants. JR searched for wrinkled figures and photographed them, transposing the images in large scale on different constructions in Berlin. In this way, the project becomes a celebration of the city and its locals. JR worked with a variety of older people, some born in Berlin, others who moved here at a certain point in their life, all with a story to tell.

Striving for expressing life in this challenging way, JR is a master of re-shaping space and time. He works from human essence and travels outside the person into urban surroundings. The Wrinkles Of The City wonders thru the history of buildings and the history of people.

Just in case we didn`t think it was true…

On the 17-th of April JR puts up his solo show at Springman Gallery in Mitte. There we actually saw the people who inspired this amazing project coming down from the buildings into human size. These are people of Berlin, people that have something to say. Some of them were loving the attention, others looked slightly shy, but everybody was content and somehow surprised about their major contribution to Berlin`s pulse.

The Wrinkles Of The City is an exhibition supposed to be enjoyed in the most spontaneous way, while waiting at the traffic lights or heading for the metro. The entrance price? Just openness of heart.

The Wrinkles Of The City. Art Exhibition Throughout Berlin

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

New Monki Store Opens In Mitte

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

When a good mixture between visual stimulation, musical discovery and taste of nice drinks takes place on a Tuesday evening in a beautiful location, great time is guaranteed.

It happened at Direktorenhaus, and it brought together several very original artists exploring visual art and contemporary music, everything packed in a tasteful cultural event.

Polish illustrator Magdalena Wolan, reveals the depths of human insides, bringing out the soul of the characters into their physical form. Marylyn Monroe is unrecognizable when Magdalena catches her inner essence.

Juliana Wang, London based illustrator, is all about nature and color, exposing very vivid paintings. Life in its surprising variety of forms is a main theme, as Juliana has an ongoing curiosity for the world`s pulse.

Chieko Idetsuki, learned design at Tama Art University in Japan. She is also a seeker of the world in space, using interesting shapes and great use of colors to reveal her vision.

Parallel with the art exhibition took place a concert of experimental contemporary music. Andreas Trobollowitsch, Pierre-Antoine Badaroux and Pierre Bore accompanied the audience on a journey of self-exploration. Almost futuristic, if not for the classical instruments and objects used in the performance, the concert was foreplay for the Umlaut Festival happening this weekend, and was impressive in originality and musical standards.

The strength of feelings was a commune point for the exhibition and the concert, building up to an intense cultural evening in a rustic background, warmed up with Rose wine and cozy chimneys.

Direktorenhaus hosts artistic events every Tuesday night, find them on Am Krogel 2, 10179, Berlin

Multi-Sensorial Experience At Direktorenhaus

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Open Walls Gallery Presents: Rauminstallation mit Pumpe (und andere Sachen)

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Like a patch from another time, the empty swimming pool at Stattbad Wedding has a whole new purpose. It is hosting various cultural events including concerts and exhibitions, making us feel that here modern art is at home.

The space seems perfect for young artists Clemens Behr, and Nural Moser, who have chosen Stattbad to exhibit their imposing installation, powered by Behr`s cubist style along with Moser`s minimalist works. The piece took 7 days for Open Walls Gallery to put together. The show started on the 13th of April and will only run until May 11th - so catch it while you can!

Rauminstallation mit Pumpe is a large scale sculptural piece in four dimensions, meeting Clement Behr`s abstract approach, influenced by artists such as Gordon Matta Clark and Marcel Duchamp and by the animated series “Transformers” as he states himself.

The modality of using light, shapes, colors and re-construction of various materials creates a very catchy style that sticks to the viewer`s eye. Even more catchy is Behr`s particular usage of space that just occupies air where one could not imagine. This feature of his work goes beyond improvising and towards surprise and originality.

Nural Moser`s work is also based on improvised usage of space in a constructivist manner. The cherry on top is her sound piece for the installation. The location`s acoustic supports deep sounds that unexpectedly appear, adding suspense to the piece.

Static through its heaviness but at the same time in motion, the sculpture is defiantly moving in itself.

Surprising in a more subconscious way, Rauminstallation mit Pumpe is a complex art peace that defiantly attracts attention as we ended up not wanting to leave the place.

You can have your own experience at Stattbad, on Gerichstrasse 65, 13374, Berlin.

SOJEANS Review: Tommy Hilfiger Skinny Jeans

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

My new delivery from SOJEANS is in and I loveeeeeee them! This time I chose a really cool faded blue 'Nina Skinny' jean from Hilfiger Denim and I have hardly taken them off. Literally worn them every day for the past 4 days because they go with everything I own and I can dress them up or down!

Here I am below - just got in from work so looking a little wind-swept, not to mention geeky. I was going for a relaxed look that day so I paired them with my battered Chuck Taylors and an oversize cashmere jumper from Topshop. Comfy factor: 10.

By the way even though im usually a 34 inch leg I went for a 32 inch leg as I like the way jeans at the moment can come up a little shorter, just sitting at the top of the sneaker or ankle boot. It looks fresher and cleaner than having the jean go all the way down to the bottom of your ankle and then bag around there.

So - check out SOJEANS to freshen up your own wardrobes for the summer which is almost here. They still have a sale on so grab a bargain while you can! Im gonna check out a coloured pair next.....

Calling All Artists!

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Little Years is a new blog for cool young mums and familiies and it launched just last week in Berlin. Founded by two friends and young mums Isabel Robels Salgado and Marie Zeisler, it is THE new destination to go to if you want to see how other busy, creative and inspirational mums are raising their kids in Berlin! From record label manager Anja Schneider to photographer Lina Grun, stylist Lisa Burzin to actress Karline Lisk, there is already some awesome content to be found on LIttle Years.

The fresh and stylish look and feel of the blog is followed through expertly by photographers Julia Nitzschke and Bella Lieberberg and filmmaker Roddy Ziebel - together this fivesome form the core team of Little Years and really bring the nuances of a young family"s story to life.

The format is a little reminiscent of "Freunde von Freunden", (another popular blog where a photographer visits a Berlin mover and shaker at home in their apartment and talks about their work and influences.) On Little Years you will meet mums at home and either in a written interview and accompanying pictures (or sometimes in video format) get to know what life is like for them. The interviews talk about the usual stuff like the kids personalities and different hobbies, favoruite places to go and the usual worries that young mums have but they also make sure to ask the mums about their work, how they juggle parenthood with their careers and there is definitely a happily defiant independence running through the interviews.

Little Years is a beautiful blog that will surely provide a great platform for young mums to get to know each other on. The message subtley contained within this blog is also beautiful: Yes ladies, you CAN have it all! :)

Little Years - Anja Schneider & Rio - Berlin from Little Years on Vimeo.

Little Years Launch Party at BOLD from Little Years on Vimeo.

'Little Years' Launches: A Cool Berlin Blog For Cool Berlin Mamas.

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

The 63rd Berlinale finally came to a close at the weekend and – now that the dust can begin to settle on the red carpet for yet another year – it becomes clear just how prominent women were throughout the festival lineup. The Competition section poignantly featured narratives that depicted the plights of women at odds with a harsh, unsympathetic, and prejudiced world. Race, religion, sexuality, and old age were the central issues on the menu in this diverse selection of films with female protagonists.

‘Layla Fourie’ by Berlin-based director, Pia Marais, is a tense and tightly-wound drama set in Johannesburg that follows the titular character’s efforts to deal with and conceal her accidental ‘hit and run’ killing of a white man whilst on her way to begin work as a polygraph operator in a casino. The film masterfully builds tension and even gets away with the unlikely scenario in which Layla unknowingly finds herself at the dinner table of the white man’s family, until it seems to realise its own running time and disappointingly rushes to an unsatisfying end. We were waiting for a Shakespearean climax, instead we were left with ‘blue balls’.

Winner of the Silver Bear for a feature film that opens new perspectives, ‘Vic and Flo Saw a Bear’ is a bleak but realistic portrayal of two lesbian ex-convicts coming to terms with life ‘on the outside’ and their own tumultuous relationship. This was certainly an intriguing and well-shot film, with fully developed characters and a slow yet mysterious plot, but the tragic ending seemed a little pointless and we were left trying to work out what exactly the film was trying to say.

Combining destitution and suffering in the first half and a little eroticism and light-humour in the second, ‘The Nun’ manages to question religious fanaticism and hypocrisy whilst remaining entertaining throughout. Pauline Etienne steals the show as the ever-suffering, coerced nun (her parents can’t afford a dowry for her, so naturally she’s thrown into the world of religious servitude), even in the face of our favourite French actress, Isabelle Huppert, who plays the sexually-repressed mother superior infatuated by the visage of her disciple.

Following the relatively recent shift towards engaging leading roles for ‘women of a certain age’ (for which perhaps Meryl Streep is arguably the torch-bearer), ‘On My Way’ and ‘Gloria’ are relevant and realistic character studies of women who feel discarded by their husbands, families, and society, and so decide to defy old age and loneliness by whatever means they can. Featuring stellar performances from Catherine Deneuve and Paulina García (who won the Silver Bear for Best Actress) respectively, these films confront universal fears of aging and loneliness in a way that is accessible to any audience, regardless of age or gender.

Lastly, winner of the much-coveted Golden Bear award, ‘Child’s Pose’ is another film which relies on the strength of its female protagonist, the mother of a man who accidentally knocked down a 14-year old boy whilst speeding. This Romanian film is complex in its ability to ease the audience into a kind of sympathy for the mother, for whom the prospect of losing her son to a lengthy prison sentence is too much to bear. She embarks upon a morally vacuous parade of bribery and manipulation in an attempt to save her son from imprisonment, but in doing so infuriates her son, provoking him to seek his own liberation from her maternal clutches.

Although this was certainly not a flagship year for the Competition, with many commenting on some questionable entries and the comparison with a number of particularly strong Panorama films, for women in film this was their year.
________________________________________________
Jack Howard is founder and director of the Berlin Film Society.
www.berlinfilmsociety.com || Facebook

63rd Berlinale Roundup!

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

PRET A DINER Berlin Extend Stay To March 9th!

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Having survived a whole year, the Berlin Film Society has reached the grand age of one. They've teamed up with the folks at Pret A Diner to celebrate and have organised a cinematic and culinary event that combines fine food and a controversial film. The venue is an abandoned opera and theatre prop factory, so this will certainly set the scene for the film's black and white tale of an aging movie star.

Exactly 31 years after winning the Golden Bear Award at the 32nd Berlinale, the Berlin Film Society will resurrect Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s acclaimed film, VERONIKA VOSS, for this special event.

Expect free drinks (courtesy of Jameson Whiskey), top notch food, and a film that will linger long after the credits roll.

For more details check out the Facebook event here.
RSVP for dinner essential (before 12.02.12): rsvp@berlinfilmsociety.com
Online Tickets: EVENTBRITE

WED 13th & THURS 14th FEBRUARY 2013

6pm Drinks Reception
7pm Introduction & Screening
9pm Three-Course Dinner

The chef will be Matthias Schmidt, recent recipient of his second Michelin Star for his consistency, ambition, and innovative approach in the kitchen.

There are two ticket types to choose from on both evenings:Dinner & Film Ticket: €58 [Email to RSVP: rsvp@berlinfilmsociety.com]
Film Only: €12 [via Eventbrite]

___________________________
DINNER & MOVIE EXPERIENCE

This will be a dinner and movie night unlike any other! Following the film, Pret a Diner’s chefs will concoct an eclectic and exciting menu that will be finely tuned to some of the aspects of the film itself. Whilst reflecting on the film and the life and work of Fassbinder himself – the controversial German filmmaker who died only months after winning the Golden Bear (the pinnacle of his prolific, but tragically short career) – guests will be served an assortment of dishes that will certainly spark intrigue and tantalize their senses.Pret a Diner | Zinnowitzer Straße 7 | 10115 Berlin http://www.pretadiner.com/
____________________________
ABOUT THE FILM

'VERONIKA VOSS'
Germany | 1982 | 104 mins | B&W | German w. English subs

Once-beloved Third Reich–era starlet Veronika Voss (Rosel Zech) lives in obscurity in postwar Munich. Struggling for survival and haunted by past glories, the forgotten star encounters sportswriter Robert Krohn (Hilmar Thate) in a rain-swept park and intrigues him with her mysterious beauty. As their unlikely relationship develops, Krohn comes to discover the dark secrets behind the faded actresses’ demise. Based on the true story of a World War II UFA star, Veronika Voss is wicked satire disguised as 1950s melodrama.

BERLIN FILM SOCIETY

Berlin Film Society is ONE: Exclusive Film Screening and Dinner!

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

BERLIN FILM SOCIETY

Activists Invent 'Camover' Game Destroying CCTV in Berlin!

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Seems like performance artists and events organizers, Dimitriego Paragullo (a 2 man collective combining Dmitry Paranyushkin and Diego Agullo) feel the same way about Berlin as we do (ie: they like it a whole lot.)

At the end of last year they made a video (featuring Dmitry), documenting everything that makes up Berlin for them, repeating the word "Berlin" to camera in each new shot. They describe the video as an "obsessive-compulsive exploration of repetition, meaning, and polysingularity of word, gesture, and architecture".

The video compiles some of Berlin's best known locations as well as more underground spots - from sunny daytime scenes of Dmitry chilling/grilling/jogging/walking around Temeplhof Flughafen or Görlitzer Park or Paul-Linke-Üfer to Alexanderplatz by night to the cheap wine in supermarkets to countless döners, beers, bars and friends crammed into toilet cubicles. Staggering home wasted, random daytime afterhours and even some late night 'ficken' - this video literally has IT ALL - and accompanying it is that one constant word "Berlin". (Nice that the script was easy to remember!)

This video would make anyone who once lived in Berlin homesick like hell for it - its very evocative of all the lovely, beautiful and fucked up elements that make up one of the best and craziest city's on earth: BERLIN. Nice work, Dmitry! Hut ab!

Berlin! A Video Homage By Dimitriego Paragullo

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

So my new order from SOJEANS came through last week and I have to say im so super happy with what arrived. I ordered a pair of black slim fit jeans from Dr Denim and a pair of grey slim fit jeans from Cheap Monday. I also ordered a pair of dark blue slim-fit Lee jeans for my boyfriend. Within 24 hours of ordering online, the DHL man came knocking on my door with all 3 pairs inside; it felt like Christmas had come early.

Being tall I generally just stick to jeans from Acne because their 34 inch legs come up so long. I had become rather unexperimental which makes this collaboration with SOJEANS even more exciting for me, because its stopping me from being so boring when it comes to trying new jeans. I had never tried Cheap Monday or Dr Denim before and I was shocked to see how lovely and long their size 34 legs come up! I have been marching around the house in them and trying things on with them and they go with everything which is another major plus. I wore the Cheap Monday jeans to work yesterday and got some nice compliments on both the colour and cut of them. Having heard so much about this brand (its big with the hipsters) its nice to finally see what all the fuss is about - and they are really reasonably priced which is great when you are on a budget.

My boy has reported back that he's really liking his Lee jeans, which have some cool red stitching detail. They also come up really long and so he has turned them up, giving them an extra relaxed look (see picture gallery for the evidence!)

For those who don't know, SOJEANS are the first only denim online store, with more than 75 brands and over 1200 styles, delivering all over Europe for free and within 24 hours. The service is really amazingly good and there are some great new styles in store for winter - check them out as they make the perfect place to shop for Christmas presents.

Review: Latest Order In From SOJEANS

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

After a whistle-blowing exhibition at StattBerlin in June 2012, a shitload of press, discussions, online arguments, more comments than we can count and a packed gallery on opening night, ArtStars* is thrilled to announce the sophomore solo show of the New Berlin Painters at Someplace Berlin opening November 30, 2012 (Facebook event).

The New Berlin Papers is a group exhibition featuring the works of returning artists Paul Vogeler and Moritz Hoffmann shown alongside the latest painter added to the collective, Philip DuSel.

AN ART WORLD NEWSPAPER?

As part of exhibition, a newspaper created by the artists entitled The New Berlin Papers will be distributed around the city of Berlin beginning November 22, 2012. The newspaper will feature opinion articles about the international art world, the Berlin art scene and the New Berlin Painters. Writers, academics, critics, artists and photographers were welcomed to submit critical articles about the art world, the Berlin art scene and the New Berlin Painters. The newspaper features articles by Berlin art critics Jeni Fulton from BerlinArtLink, Matthias Planitzer from Castor-und-Pollux, curator Katharina Galla, New York art critic Katy Hamer and an interview with Marina Abramovic, as well as interviews with the artists themselves. 600 limited-edition copies have been printed and distributed internationally. The New Berlin Papers exhibition features new works by Paul Vogeler, Moritz Hoffmann and Philip DuSel.

THE NEW BERLIN PAINTERS

Moritz Hoffmann
http://hoffmannmoritz.com/

Paul Vogeler
http://www.paulvogeler.com/

Philip DuSel
http://www.philipdusel.com/

Read the manifesto: http://artstarstv.com/post/23236656295/manifesto
Join the discussion: http://thenewberlinpainters.com/

The New Berlin Papers: Exhibition + Newspaper Launch!

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

World Class Moments Don’t Just Happen Every Weekend.

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Every so often there emerges a film which treads that fine line between the grotesque and the comedic, horror and humour. For those out there who simulataneously love to laugh and to wince, Ben Wheatley's acclaimed new film, 'SIGHTSEERS' (trailer), is just the ticket. Set in the quaint and quiet countryside of Yorkshire, the film follows Chris and Tina as they embark upon an unexpected murderous rampage, whilst still finding time to stop off at such 'must-see' sights as the Pencil Museum and the Ribblehead Viaduct.

EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW SCREENING
08.11.12 @ Betahaus
The Berlin Film Society has obtained the rights to screen this film 3 weeks before its UK Premiere and 4 months before its German release! In addition to showing the film, they've also got the folks from FEELING GLOOMY to DJ before and the after the screening, as well as put together a very apt goodie bag featuring a bottle of Ginger Joe ginger beer, Grandma Wilds Yorkshire biscuits (specially imported for this event!) and a specially commissioned film poster!
Facebook Event
Website

Tickets are extremely limited and are on sale now via Eventbrite, click here.

*WIN TICKETS!*
BANGBANGBERLIN have a pair of tickets to giveaway. To enter the free prize draw, just email info@berlinfilmsociety.com with the subject header: BANGBANG.

FILM REVIEW
When the Berlin Film Society secured the German premier of ‘Sightseers’ – on the 8th of November at Betahaus, in case you were wondering – the responsibility was handed to me, in the form of an advanced screener copy, to take a peek and tell you all what I thought. Having fired up my DVD player utterly bereft of preconceptions (I’d tactically avoided all trailers despite the frenzied protestations of my colleagues) I found myself having to remove my jaw from the floor and return it to its rightful position on my face. Turns out this little British indie flick is quite the disarmer...

Pitcher than pitch black and mercilessly funny, your typical caravan holiday through the sleepy Yorkshire countryside this most certainly ain’t. A brummified cross between Natural Born Killers and Thelma and Louise would see you closer to the mark. Indeed, after a little ‘accident’ at the Crich Tramway Museum, protagonists Chris and Tina, equipped with a warped array of irresistibly quotable one-liners, embark on a murderous journey from campsite to campsite leaving dog walkers, Daily Mail readers and even brides-to-be laying mutilated in their wake.

Aside from its disarming eccentricity, graphic violence and sense of humour darker and sharper than an iron maiden, ‘Sightseers’ looks beautiful, all the way from its handheld camera work to its lingering panoramas of the English countryside. Furthermore, its soundtrack is undeniably ear catching; tempering the irreverent kitsch of 80’s bangers ‘Tainted Love’ and ‘The Power of Love’ with the eerie, ambient and oppressive jingles that bridge the moments of savage violence and the humdrum normality of sightseeing that follow. Not to be overlooked, also, are the star-turns of scriptwriters Steve Oram and Alice Lowe as Chris and Tina. Both are entirely convincing as small-town psychos and ward off the threat of pantomime that could so easily see the film descend into farce. My advice then? Go and watch it, feel more than a little uncomfortable, laugh yourself silly and appreciate a wholly refreshing, if not a little twisted, offering from contemporary British cinema. Better yet, and forgive the shameless plug if you please, come and enjoy it with us at Betahaus weeks before its UK release and months before any one else in Germany can get a sniff, let alone a peek. You won’t see anything else like it for quite some time!

_ Sam Bavin

Exclusive Preview Screening of New UK Film: SIGHTSEERS! Win Tickets

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

WYE Presents Danza Macabra: The Halloween Inspired Fashion Installation

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

If you're expecting an ordinary American perspective of Halloween, then you better skip right now as this is going to be much deeper. The WYE will spin off the Danca Macabra traditions that many cultures across the world share in honor of dead. Both fashion designers, Tata Christiane and Julian West will introduce a live-art fashion installation claimed as a space between the worlds — and you will play a performing role.

The icing on the cake will be given by a set of the DJ's and producers Voin and Aniaetleprogrammeur. Especially the kick-ass jawbreaker, a Berlin based band formed in Paris, is a name you need to know.

The event is open to the public, and accreditation wont be necessary. However there will be a limited number of entries: so first come, first served!

Location & time: The WYE at Skalitzer Straße 86, between 9pm and midnight.

Win Tix To Drop Dead Festival's Halloween Party

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Drop Dead Festival is celebrating its 10th year! The festivities start October 31st and last until November 4th, and take place at Cube in NeuKölln.

For those of you who don't know, Drop Dead is the longest running, independent, underground festival which brings together both up-and-coming and international artists from the new wave, post-punk and digital hardcore scenes.

Drop Dead originally started in New York City and since 2007 it has been a travelling entity, moving from Czech Republic to Portugal to Lithuania - howevr this will be the second year ina row its taken place in Berlin. Hey, we can understand why they love it in Berlin! Neukölln is the perfect place for such a festival with its alternative and creative communities being so prevalent. Spanning five days with over 40 bands, performers, DJs and artists from around the world. Taking place in Neukölln’s massive CUBE club, the festival combines multiple floors, art installations, vendors and music showcases each day.

Drop Dead’s opening night is October 31: Halloween. Therefore, the festival opens with a massive double-barrel party. The Berlin-based death-rave party PURGE brings aggression, fog and bass with live performances from Deathface (US) and CRIM3S (UK), while Leipzig’s gothic punks GPP keep it creepy with synth-punk and minimal electronics, and both floors feature a variety of DJs playing everything from Salem and Fad Gadget to Nguzunguzu. The aforementioned Unruh drum installation will also be supported by the ceremonial drone of Pharoah Chromium, as well as a haunted house presented by the Mindpirates collective.

BangBangBerlin have 2 pairs of tickets to DDFs opening party (on Halloween.) If you want to win, just tell us which city was Drop Dead Festival actually founded in? Entries to be sent here. Good luck!

Vladimir Karaleev Spring/Summer 2013 at Marsano

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Following the footsteps of renowned design institutions such as the Parsons School of Design in New York or the acclaimed University of the Arts in London - which run both fashion programmes and centres focusing on sustainability and environmental issues - Esmod Berlin can now be proudly said part of the rather exclusive list of schools in the world that offer a specific Master of Arts course in this very relevant topic for contemporary fashion culture.

As the eco-centric trend establishes itself with greater strength and ecological concerns rise, the need for such a degree was indeed evident. Even though Berlin can count already on successful eco-fashion events - such as the Ethical Fashion Show and The Key To including the recently added SCOOP platform - with the first M.A. students newly graduated, a significant contribution is to be made by bringing into the market a new breed of environmentally aware designers and fashion consultants determined - so we hope - to challenge our perceptions on these key subjects.

So take note: next weekend at the Platoon Kunsthalle in Berlin, be sure not to miss the opportunity to check the final works of the first Esmod M.A. graduates in Sustainability in Fashion. The exhibition will showcase an interdisciplinary range of proposals from 12 graduates, ranging from multifunctional outdoor garments to footwear design, textile production, marketing and some pretty elegant tailoring. We can't wait.

Platoon Kunsthalle Berlin
Schönhauser Allee 9
10119 Berlin

13th October - 12.00 - 18.00
14th October - 12.00 - 16.00

www.platoon.org

For further details visit the Esmod Berlin M.A. Sustainability in Fashion Graduate Show webpage here

Weekend Tip: Esmod Graduate Exhibition Show - M.A. Sustainability in Fashion

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

A short film is like a poem. Concise and punctual, it makes its point without stretching itself out of shape. Maintaining its story, the drama portrayed is intense, bite-sized, and meticulously edited. A short film is like a momentary glance, a few minutes of thought, upon a strange and foreign subject that flashes itself upon the screen, revealing, teasing, and fulfilling the viewer.
In a world in which we constantly need things faster, smaller, and ‘newer’, it comes as no surprise that short films have become worthy of the same attention and accolades as its big brother, the Feature Film. Garnering big name stars and even its own Academy Award category, the short film has come a long way since its twinned birth alongside the heavyweight feature.

In Berlin over the past couple of years, short film festivals have taken the city by storm. Boasting some form of short film festival almost every other month of the year, Berlin’s cinematic audience has certainly developed a fine taste for this fine, foxy film medium. Having presented the hugely popular Future Shorts Film Festival throughout the year, the Berlin Film Society has now set its sights on curating its own programme of critically-acclaimed shorts, chosen from the shortlisted entries of one of the UK’s most exciting short film festivals, The Smalls Festival.

On Thursday 11th October, the Berlin Film Society will present 11 international short films, many of which have already won awards on the festival circuit, at The Wye in Kreuzberg. Combining a diverse mix of genre and style, from comedy to drama, documentary to music video, this special, one-off screening will celebrate the ever-growing, yet forever short, world of this versatile and prolific medium. Following the film screening, there will be a Q&A with the Managing Director of The Smalls, Kate Tancred.

*WIN TICKETS*
We've got 2 pairs of tickets to give away for this event. To enter the free prize draw, just email your name to info@berlinfilmsociety.com and include BANGBANGBERLIN in the subject line.

Date: Thurs 11.10.12
Time: 19:00 Drinks & Canapés || 21:00 Films || 22:30 Q&A
Location: The Wye, Skalitzer 86, 10997 [U-bahn: Gorlitzer]
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/104225843064775/
Website: www.berlinfilmsociety.com
_________________________________
Other Short Film Festivals to look out for:

Interfilm 13 - 18th November 2012
British Shorts 11 - 14th January 2013

Berlin Film Society Presents the Best Short Films from The Smalls Film Festival - WIN TICKETS!

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Konzept86 - Fashion Concept Store in Kreuzberg

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Konzept86 is one of the latest concept stores that opened in Berlin to showcase young local and international fashion talent. Adequately located inside the recently launched WYE arts house in Kreuzberg, the shop acts as a physical foothold for the PR and events agency Fier Management brands portfolio. This business to consumer approach combined with Fier's brand management expertise is surely a smart strategy to be very appreciated from upcoming designers willing to gain the necessary exposure in an always difficult and saturated fashion market. Some of the appealing conditions offered to designers are for example selling directly to the public, not being bound to seasons and the possibility of garments being hired by customers directly from the shop for a fraction of the retail price. As this may definitely increase the labels awareness and the cash flow for further investment, it is as well, so we believe, a contribution to rethinking our consumer culture.

In what concerns the collections displayed, a sheer variety of design proposals were to be seen at the moment of our visit, and as we found out, not only is Konzept86 having an eye for Berlin based talents but also scouting beyond German borders. For further acquaintances we would recommend the clean and flowing silhouettes of Berlin based Swiss designer Laend Phuengkit, the charming and well constructed handbags from Italian accessories manufacturer 72 Smalldive and the plain yet very seductive aesthetics of Fabric Division.

Konzept86

Door C
C/O WYE
Skalitzerstr. 86
10997 Berlin

Opening Hours:
Sunday and Monday - Closed
Tuesday to Saturdat - 12.00 - 20.00 and by appointment.

http://konzept86.com

http://fiermanagement.com/

http://thewye.de/

Nike+ Runners Lounge - In Full Effect

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

A stunning new photography studio and multi-functional loft space has just opened up in Berlin - they're called Studio Chérie and they are putting on some really nice events of their own, from photography workshops to parties, as well as getting involved with other peoples events. We predict it will become quite the new hot spot of KreuzKöln. The loft is a spacious 200m2 and can transform from a production studio to a photo gallery to a party location with chamaeleon-like ease.

Tomorrow (Friday 28), they will be bringing their Studio Chérie Photobooth to the launch party of the Swedish-based fashion label Orphan Bird, as well as taking the official event pictures. That is taking place at Sameheads Berlin, who are legendary for their art/fashion themed parties.

The label Orphan Bird opened in Gothenburg, Sweden early this year and is a collaboration between an Italian designer and Swedish photographer. Expect a lot of bold patterns, timeless cuts and uniform colours in designs that encourage people to go against the grain and make their own interpretations. There will also be an art installation by David Salemme to check out, accoustic entertainment from Lucia Lip and a DJ set by Riku on the shop floor.

Upcoming events in Studio Cherie are the photo exhibition of Thomas 'toums' Gosset in collaboration with Zirkumflex.
There will also be the release party for DJ/Producer Tolga Fidan's new track 'Fairwell 22' from the latest album 'Rouge'.

We look forward to checking out Studio Chérie ourselves! In the meantime, welcome to the neighbourhood, guys!

Contact:

Chérie
Hobrecht Strasse 66,
3-4 OG
12047 Berlin

+49 (0)30 956 20 904
info@studiocherie.net

Introducing New Hotspot: Studio Chérie

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

If you live in Berlin and you are anything remotely connected or part of the LGBT community then you will have heard of creative mecca "Barbie Deinhoffs" on Schlesische Straße. This intimate venue has previously given support to a lot of major creative queer artists in Berlin by either exhibiting their work, giving them performance spaces/ DJ sets, selling their CD's to even allowing pop up hair salons for example for now celebrity hair magician Charlie Le Mindu.

This Friday Berlin's number 1 twisted gender bending power group WET NAILS will be taking over with a DJ set and special MC live performance, filling Barbie Deinhoffs with a mixture of house, sassy house, dirty bass and any other genre in which to get jiggy to.

WET NAILS, for those who are not in the know, is an interracial tranny-trio who work as "Atmosphere designers" which have set a standard in Berlin for gender bending with their current and fresh looks and sound, They have previously hosted parties for BOY LONDON, Horse Meat Disco, have worked with producers like Stephan Bobinger and Staycj Pepper and performed in venues from Chantal's house of Shame through to Das Haus der Kulturen der Welt as well as having their own party in berlin titled "RIOT" and then of course... Barbie Deinhoffs.

Friday 28th September from 10pm - 2:30am.
Barbie Deinhoffs
Schlesische Straße 16
10997 Berlin

Nearest Ubahn: Schlesisches Tor.

Barbie Deinhoffs: WET SET

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Kulturpur Concept Store and Exhibition Space 3rd Anniversary Party!

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Wednesday nights can sometimes be a little dry in the city, in anticipation for Thursday which marks the official approach of the beloved weekend. But tomorrow night the concept store and exhibition space, kulturpur, is celebrating its 3rd anniversary, in collaboration with *ArtStars!

Voted one of the top 50 shops in Berlin by Airbnb, kultpur features the hottest works of the best up-and-coming designers working in textile, design accessories, jewellery, furniture and more.

kultpur is divided into three primary sections to display “the art of living”

1. Design – kultpur is proud to feature an exceptional selection of never-seen-before design products chosen from the underground

2. Enjoyment – kultpur offers a broad, eclectic selection of hand-picked, rare delicacies from an international platform for every living space

3. Culture – kultpur offers an ongoing event series offering music, wine tastings, readings, fashion shows and more

kultpur themes run for every three months featuring new design. The current “Home Sweet Home” theme runs from Sept. 6 - Nov. 29, 2012.

“I want to create a completely new atmosphere each time,” says Johanna Groß, kultpur founder. “My main interest is showing productions and telling the stories behind them.”

Three Year Anniversary Party

For the three-year anniversary bash, kultpur is pleased to feature the rockabilly duo, the Hornbrothers, playing a live set in the store at 8 p.m.

But it doesn’t stop there. All drinks, including beer, wine, prosecco and lemonades will be just 1€ with free vodka and Mampe shots in between. Just as kultpur is best known for creating a warm and cozy atmosphere, there will be complimentary snacks, dips, bread and vegetable sticks. A small lottery will be a treat to the first 50 guests at the bar.

Be sure to check out the Mampemuseum, Lufthansa’s inflight drink of choice, featuring bottles from the ages, up until now: www.mampemuseum.de

Sponsored by: Held Vodka, Vin Aqua Vin, BIER and Wulle Bier.

kultpur Three Year Anniversary Party
September 26, 2012
7 -11 p.m.
FB invite here.

kultpur
Muskauer Strasse 47
10997 Berlin-kreuzberg
030-43202340 | 0179-6637155

kultpur Links
http://www.kult-pur.de
http://www.facebook.com/pages/kultpur/138698472863283
https://www.facebook.com/events/472791429406323/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhiw3aUkEro

BANGBANGBERLIN Partner Up With InfluencerCon - You Can Be There!

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

BANG BANG BERLIN is proud to announce that we have been invited by Chorus and Echo to take part in InfluencerCon for the Berlin leg of their global series of conferences, which will take in Mumbai, London, New York, Berlin and Sau Paulo in the space of 4 days. The Berlin conference will take place on October 4th and 5th at SUPERMARKT on Brunnenstrasse 64.

The Influencer Conference 2012 is a content platform designed to bring together tastemakers, ground-breakers and game-changers across industries including arts and culture, technology, marketing and advertising, philanthropy and entrepreneurship to discuss the current and future landscape of Influencer culture.

Google+ are the official partners and the panelists have been well sourced from all over - so expect some really interesting and useful insights.

Chorus+Echo will be present in each location bringing their network of global experts to explore the theme of Urban Development. Discussing the effects of pioneering new architecture in New York, technological transformation in Mumbai, gentrification in London and Berlin and class ascension in Sao Paolo. We will illuminate these shifts in local culture through the lens of its most informed and influential members.

In Berlin, they will ask whether Gentrification is necessarily a detrimental force in the cultural development of the city. Focusing on the socio-economic, political and cultural impact for those who live in Berlin and what this means for communities, businesses and architecture.

Speaking at the Berlin conference will be my good self, (Elizabeth McGrath, Editor in Chief of Bang Bang Berlin), Kevin Braddock (Journalist and Editor in Chief of Sleek Magazine), Cookie (Entrepreneur and owner of Cookies club and restaurant) and Alexis Dornier, (MADE Gallery Architect www.alexisdornier.com).

We have 2 pairs of free tickets to give away. If you would like to attend, email us here and tell us what you think about Gentrification in Berlin. We will let you by 28.09 if you have won.

Click Here to use discount code 'influencechorus' and purchase our specially discounted tickets.

Keep up to date with InfluencerCon on Twitter and Facebook.

Win Guestlist to the LOVE FEVER party this Saturday!

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Starting today August 31 at 5pm and going until midnight, Berlin welcomes another edition of The Long Night of Illustration with several exhibitions across the city in 45 different locations like ateliers, galleries and shops. Showing works from more than 100 artists, the event covers a wide spectrum of the contemporary illustration practice. Not only showcasing work from artists that belong to the gallery or editorial circuit, this selection give as well an insight into more commercial endeavors such as advertising, packaging and tattoo art.

For more information please visit the event's official website or alternatively download the exhibitions map here

Die Lange Nacht der Illustration/ The Long Night of Illustration

August 31
5pm - midnight

Several Locations

Die Lange Nacht der Illustration - The Long Night of Illustration

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Win Guestlist To Backyard's 2 Year Birthday Party!

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

“A simple idea that becomes a unique design consisting of carefully chosen materiel and affectionate detail” these are the words Berlin designer Antonia Seigmund uses to emulate Sloe’s S/S 2012 collection, Laid Bag. Having previewed the collection on SLOE’s official website, I must say that the collection has a gentle simplicity to it and is very 'Berlin' in both it's cuts and colour palette.

Founded just last month, the well-executed designs re strong enough to be a staple in any Berlin fashionistas wardrobe – male or female. With the use of soft high quality materials and clean natural colours, and androgynous cuts, they know their market. I personally will be definitely saving up for ‘The Puritan’ bag.

The Voo store has the honour of launching and presenting the SLOE collection at their store this up coming Thursday, with a DJ set by Emil Doesn't Drive and a live performance from Simmone Jones; this is a launch not to be missed. Their may even be a chance to purchase SLOE garments that will be in the store after the event.

BANG BANG BERLIN shall be eagerly attending the presentation, and will report back and give more of an opinion of the designs SLOE has to offer.

Stay tuned for more information.

SLOE at Voo Store

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

BANG BANG BERLIN shall be eagerly attending the presentation, and will report back and give more of an opinion of the designs SLOE has to offer.

Stay tuned for more information.

Vogue Fashion's Night Out in Berlin!

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Earlier in August (03.08 to be precise), cult Berlin skate label AMBIVALENT hosted a party at Prince Charles and it was off the hook! Now we have the video in from talented local filmmaker Roddy Ziebel, which shows just what an A1 night it was - with the crowd clearly loving the music from Jonas Rathsman who flew in from Gothenburg, Sweden especially for the party. Well done to Ambivalent for throwing such a good knees up, if only all brand parties were this good. Swede dreams are made of these.

AMBIVALENT PARTY with Jonas Rathsman at Prince Charles from Roddy Ziebell on Vimeo.

Video From Ambivalent Party at Prince Charles.

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Located at the Hackescher Höfe, one of Berlin's most vibrant hubs for entertainment and cultural venues that emerged in the late 1990's in Mitte, the Chamäleon Theatre stands up as one of its most recommended attractions. A variety shows and music theatre housed in a refurbished former ballroom, the Chamäleon is equipped with all the modern day amenities such as stage lifting, rotating features and a high quality sound system benefiting the new and innovative productions being shown there with some excellent conditions. Providing performers and public a first class theatre experience, the Chamäleon is as well due to its stylish interiors and its capacity for 320 people a perfect location for events in Berlin alike.

Bang Bang Berlin is offering to two of our dearest readers the chance to win each a ticket for one of the shows currently being staged : LOFT. Performed by award winning contemporary circus performers 7 Fingers, Loft is a highly recommended "flat-share in the language of acrobatics" full of surprises, humour and spectacular moments.

The contest will be held at our Facebook page so if you are still not part of our group just click on the Facebook Group link here and join us to get the chance to see the show by just posting a reason why you should win a ticket. That's all there is. The most creatives will receive the tickets per post or alternatively can pick them up directly at the box office.

Tickets are valid for the shows in September, running from Tuesday to Friday at 8pm.

Good luck!

Tickets from €36.

Chamäleon Theatre

Hackescher Höfe
Rosenthaler Str. 40/41
10178 Berlin-Mitte

Hotline:
030 4000 590

For more information visit:

Chamaleon Theatre

Win Tickets for the Chamäleon Theatre!

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Sunday in Neukölln: Art Eats Brunch!

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

"Seductive, provocative, commonplace, eccentric and above all powerful". A very eloquent opening statement that guided us troughout the exhibition on fashion photography currently being held at the Berlin institution for photography C/O Berlin, which Bang Bang Berlin had the opportunity to attend today. "Timeless Beauty - 100 Years of Photography from Man ray to Mario Testino" is the result of a first insight into the recently opened impressive photography archives of the Condé Nast Group, influential publishing house which brought to us leading fashion magazines such as Vogue, Vanity fair and Glamour.

Notwithstanding the undeniable paramount quality of the mentioned collection, it is a fact that there is also a renewed interest in fashion photography nowadays. As a genre that blurs the lines between commerce and art, the fast pace of the fashion industry and its constant demand for novelty placed fashion photography from the late 20th century onwards as one of the interesting places to search for aesthetic experimentation. Hyped up as things may presently be, fashion photography has been seen nonetheless throughout its short history always as a privileged medium to capture the traces of our contemporary condition and our innermost desires and dreams. The current exhibition puts accordingly the necessary emphasis on the sociological impact of its practice.

The collection brought to Berlin covers the foundations of this genre with classic compositions of pioneers such as Edward Steichen and George Hoyningen-Huene to the more recent works of Mario Testino, Tim Walker or Eric Traoré. As a personal note, unfortunately there weren't to be seen any of the works from Mert Allas and Marcus Piggot, ingenious photography duo that are making waves in the fashion circles due to their recent fantastic editorials for magazines such as the acclaimed British LOVE. Since the latest is published by the Condé Nast Group as well, their inclusion would have definitely brought a wider understanding of the current state of things in the fashion photography scene.

Nevertheless, a beautiful selection of beginning of the century and contemporary classics that will not only appeal to the fashion enthusiast but to all those passionate about photography and its history. So, be sure not to miss it.

Exhibition dates: 18.08 - 28.10.2012

C/O Berlin
Oranienburgerstr. 35/36 10117 Berlin-Mitte

Daily from 11am - 8pm

Admission: €10/€5 (reduced)

C/O Berlin Website

Timeless Beauty at C/O Berlin

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Exhibition dates: 18.08 - 28.10.2012

C/O Berlin
Oranienburgerstr. 35/36 10117 Berlin-Mitte

Daily from 11am - 8pm

Admission: €10/€5 (reduced)

C/O Berlin Website

Shock as Pussy Riot Sentenced to 2 years in Prison.

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Just moments ago, three members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 23; Maria Alekhina, 24; and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, were sentenced to 2 years each in prison. The three women, two of whom have young children, have already been in jail for the past five months - meaning they have another 19 months to serve. They have been found guilty of 'hooliganism motivated by religious hatred". The other members of the band are in hiding.

They had performed their 'punk prayer' as a demonstration aginst the support of the Orthodox church for President Vladimir Putin, who many now see as a dictator. The performance barely lasted under a minute before they were dragged off, but it went viral, and has brought embarassment to the Putin adminstration and international media coverage. Their subsequent treatment only proves their point further; that the people of Russia have lost their right to freedom of speech and that they are living in a dictatorship.

Pussy Riot have had many famous A-list musicians come forward and show their solidarity, such as Madonna and Paul McCartnery. The loudest supporter from Berlin has been Peaches, a champion of the girl-punk scene herself. She staged a wonderfully loud neon-clad march through the streets of Prenzlauerberg last week, causing the local polizei to start looking rather concerned. Nobody was arrested or thrown into prison it should be noted.

Peaches song 'Free Pussy Riot' can be watched below and you can sign the worldwide petition to free them (because every signature still counts despite the court verdict) here.

GET INVOLVED AND LEND YOUR VOICE - WE HAVE THE LUXURY OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH - SO LET'S USE IT. FREE PUSSY RIOT!!

Free Pussy Riot! #freepussyriot from Peaches on Vimeo.

(Picture of Peaches courtesy of Chorus and Echo.)

PLAY DEAD: Bruce LaBruce Scarves with Front Row Society and ArtStars!

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Before the world's clique of fashion luvvies descend upon Berlin for Fashion Week, get yourselves a head-start by checking out Front Row Society & ArtStars* latest launch event, featuring the controversial Canadian himself, Bruce LaBruce...

Front Row Society and ArtStars* are pleased to present a special edition line of scarves featuring the work of Toronto based filmmaker, writer, director, photographer, and artist Bruce LaBruce produced by FRS.

At this event, Front Row Society will preview the line set to launch in late Summer 2012 on the 30th June at the neo-art subterranean club Le Chat Gris. Play Dead is the name of the scarf series produced by FRS, which features 5 images from a fashion shoot with the stylist Tammy Eckenswiller. Each piece will have a limited edition run of 200 and will be printed on silk/cotton blend scarves produced by Front Row Society.

Taking inspiration from Le Weekend by Jean Luc Godard, these hard hitting and shocking images to showcase the true horrors of a car crash; LaBruce stays faithful to his style and continues to push for his passion for finding beauty in the dark. The models are Bruno Billio and Tammy Eckenswille.

All this social networking should make us more social, right? — we’re just sitting in front of our computers, after all. Let's all jump outside for a change, and put faces to the names. Doors will open at 10pm and the party will go onwards.

Manuela Mayoral (www.soundcloud.com/manuelamayoral) & Jeremy Shaw (www.soundcloud.com/circlesquare) will be spinning the records. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to rsvp@frontrowsociety.com.

The Countdown to MELT! FESTIVAL is on!

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

JIm Kroft - only one of our favoruite musicians ever - is currently in the middle of his first Headline German-wide tour. He has already played sold out veues in Hamburg and Köln, tonight sees him rock Munich, the day after Frankfurt and then culminating in our very own Berlin at Frannz Club this Thursday, 31st May!

Expect to hear favourite songs from his albums 'Between the Devil ad the Deep Blue Sea' and 'The Hermit and the Hedonist' - plus perhaps a couple of new ones from his forthcoming and much anticipated third studio album which will be released this year! It has been produced by Laura Marling drummer Matt Ingram, mixed by Kaiser Chiefs producer Richard Wilkinson and Coldplay mastering engineer by Matt Colton - and we are expecting great things. Watch this space for more on that!

BANG BANG BERLIN have 2 guestlist places to the Berlin show give away to 1 lucky winner! To enter please write to us here and tell us the name of the last album Jim releaesd.

Enjoy Jim's latest video here.

Win 2 Guestlist Places To Jim Kroft's Berlin Concert on 31st May!

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

Last night I had the pleasure of visiting Comedy Club Kookaburra for an evening of burlesque and cabaret entertainment titled "Fish and Whips". Sometimes in life you just have to accept that there are people who are naturally more charismatic, funnier, more verbally talented (like Stephen Fry etc.) This is the case for Fish & Whips founder Jack Woodhead who beamed on stage last night in a beautifully ornate hat with feathers and pearls and other kind of sparkly objects that sent all the fagpies (gay man who likes anything shiny) in the audience eyes into a flitter.
The line up went as follows, Starting with Julia Chalfin, a beautiful young lady from New York singing Soprano, she enters the stage glistening from head to toe in what I imagine to be Swarovski jewellery, and a black dress which, like her earrings and other accessories, sparkled in the stage lights. Her piece consisted of her singing Mozart, Puccini and other opera classics and likening them to pop culture tracks such as Madonna, Wham and more in a hilarious take on how music over the years is basically the same. She appears later to sing a song like a southern American about being "unable to say no to men" and then her and host Jack Woodhead perform the final song together, a classical piece which wowed the audience with her unbelievable voice and ability of not having to use a micraphone.
Then Jack Woodhead sat at the piano and played a song, which I can only describe as a song about catching STDs and STIs, it was hilarious and the audience was gagging with laughter.
What followed next was unexpected, having been to Fish and Whips once before I did not imagine that peoples minds would be read, the internationally acclaimed mind reading Duo Sonambul took to the stage, where they picked two ladies from the audience, gave them keys on a chain and made the chains move "with their minds" and then told them to write down the name of a famous person, to which the names, of course, was correct. I left still wondering how it was done as it was obvious the ladies from the audience were not in on the trick. I am a sucker for magic, illusion and anything which messes with the mind so that was a real highlight for me.
Next to perform was Greg the Hangman. A young man dressed smartly comes out with what looks like a cross between a UFO and a tin drum, he sits and puts the drum on his lap and Jack Woodhead takes to the piano where they do the most interesting rendition of "Hey, Big Spender" from musical Sweet Charity that I have ever heard, the instrument he is playing, we are told afterwards, is called a "hang drum" and is a very rare swiss instrument with an absolutely beautiful sound, the instrument was invented only 12 years ago and here is a link to what the instrument sounds like.
The winners of the last Burlesque competition joined the line up, Les Femmes Brachiales, two beautiful young ladies Coco Clownesse and Rosie Riot who have a real talent for classic burlesque styles, both did a seperate pieces during the evening and then came together at the end of the night to do a performance. Les Femmes Brachiales really knew how to use facial expression and slight of hand to perfect quite a dark take on classic burlesque where they end up fighting over fruit which resembles their breasts and bleeding from their mouths after a fight where they end up ripping eachothers clothes off and spanking eachother, all in gorgeous nipple tassles and corsets and other burlesque essentials.

I had a really entertaining evening and after the show finished it's host Jack Woodhead told me about the Fish and Whips Burlesque contest this summer which is a 4 day event from July 11th - July 14th, which is a gargantuan event with the judges being Lady Lou, LaLaVox and Beatrix Von Bourbon, so to warm you up for that event we at BangBangBerlin would like to give two of you lucky titty tassling tasties two tickets to see the next Fish and Whips... All you have to do is email Jackee@bangbangberlin.com and tell me why you deserve the tickets, the most origional answer wins. Unfortunately I can not accept bribes.

Fish and Whips is every 3rd Tuesday and saturday of the month,
Tuesday - 8:30pm
Saturday - 11:45pm
Comedy Club Kookaburra
Schonhauser Allee 184
Nearest Ubahn: Rosa Luxemburg Platz / Senefelderplatz (U2)

Fish and Whips: Review and Ticket Giveaway

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

SOJEANS: Your one-stop shop for all your Denim needs!

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00 CET

By Mike T West

This Saturday Kreuzberg will be host to the nostalgic ones and zeroes of French nu-disco wunderkinder, College, or David Grellier as his Mum calls him.

Founder of the "retro-futurist" record label Valerie, College is stepping over for a wee mini-tour of Deutschland in support of last year's second album proper, Northern Council.

Greatly influenced by American pop-culture and the neon shine of 80s LA, College has been David's conduit "to synthesize into my music the emotions of my childhood". Nerd alert!

Oh and before I forget you may have heard his track "A Real Hero" which featured on the soundtrack of Drive - The Best Film of 2011 Fact No Returns™

No big deal.

Support comes from Achterbahn D'Amour, Joel Alter & DJ Hummus so if it's cinematic clicks & beats you're after then head to Prince Charles, Prinzenstr. 85 from twenty hundred hours.

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