A New Form of House Music: Berlin Clubs Livestream DJ Sets | Travel

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Lockdown culture A new form of house music: Berlin Bars, pubs and clubs clubs livestream DJ sets

It may be under lockdown but the techno capital is still banging – in kitchens worldwide, as Berlin clubs unite so fans can party at home

Barbara Woolsey Fri 3 Apr 2020 10.00 BST

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A virtual set at Watergate club on 18 March. Photograph: Jascha Müller-Guthof ith bars, nightclubs and restaurants closed to slow the spread of Covid-19, nightlife in Berlin, was expected to come to a halt. But no, the beats are still thumping. The city’s premier “virtual club” W is now in session. United We Stream is a collaboration of about 40 clubs and several other nightlife businesses in Berlin. Every evening at 7pm (6pm UK time), DJ line-ups are live- streamed from the city’s nightclubs. And people worldwide are tuning in to get a taste of Berlin’s world-famous techno parties from their kitchens and living rooms.

The live gigs are dropping from quintessential venues that embody the city’s most viewed “anything goes” rave culture: Tresor, a techno forefather founded in an Live Coronavirus live news: abandoned former East German department store; Griessmuehle, in a resurrected Boris Johnson in intensive grain mill; and Sisyphos, a former dog food factory that became a hotspot for care as Japan declares state dusk-till-dawn open-airs. of emergency

While there are no over-the-top costumes, sweaty high-fives between strangers or India releases hydroxychloroquine stocks sex by the dancefloor, there are a few perks to virtual clubbing: no long queues or amid pressure from Trump bouncers denying entry.

In each United We Stream set, DJs play alone, illuminated by light Live UK coronavirus live The streams projections against empty dancefloors. It’s a conscious decision to news: Boris Johnson 'stable' aren’t a soundtrack in hospital as 854 new remind viewers that the streams aren’t a soundtrack for lockdown for lockdown deaths reported across UK parties, but reflect how “critical, unbelievable and dramatic” the parties, but to situation is, says Lutz Leichsenring, press spokesperson for the Club Live Coronavirus US live: reflect the 'critical, Commission, the non-profit organisation behind the initiative. Trump reportedly knew unbelievable and pandemic was likely in dramatic' situation The Club Commission is requesting donations as it aims to raise January €1m with United We Stream to support Berlin’s clubs. Around Hydroxychloroquine: how €320,000 has been donated already, with the money to be an unproven drug became distributed later by a panel, according to financial need. A Club Commission study Trump’s coronavirus found that around 9,000 people are employed in the nightlife sector, and that in 'miracle cure' 2018 it generated turnover of €1.48bn, with one in three tourists going to Berlin to party. Despite their success, Berlin’s clubs were already facing a cocktail of challenges before the coronavirus crisis, including gentrification and speculative buying in a breakneck property market.

In the past few months alone, Griessmuehle’s location was set to be demolished to make way for a resort hotel, and the notorious fetish venue KitKatClub was faced with eviction. At least four more clubs could also be knocked down to make way for a motorway expansion.

“This pandemic will be exploited to cancel contracts and close clubs,” says DJ Mira, who recently played a United We Stream set for KaterBlau, a nightclub set in an urban village with techno-hippy roots. “Berlin has more money, more people, and is built more closely together than 10 years ago. If locations disappear, culture disappears, and things won’t ever be the same again.”

Pornceptual, a sex-positive party where clubbers get discounted admission for going naked, recently participated in United We Stream from Alte Münze, a venue in a former mint. Co-founder Raquel Fedato praises the initiative but says it would be better if queer party collectives were included. “It’s a reminder that the Berlin scene is united but [only] to a certain extent,” she says.

According to Leichsenring, United We Stream will keep broadcasting performances at least until 20 April, the earliest date Germany’s coronavirus restrictions could be eased, but probably even longer. “We suppose that clubs will be the last to reopen,” he says, “so we will do the streams as long as necessary.”

Ellen Allien, one of the world’s most famous techno DJs and a born-and-bred Sign up for the Sleeve Berliner, describes United We Stream as important escapism during lockdown Notes email: music times, mirroring how Berlin’s nightlife itself also provides hedonistic R&R for all. news, bold reviews and unexpected extras “We are still in the golden era [of Berlin clubs],” she explains. “There are so many rules in clubs overseas that we don’t have here – religion, the government, clubs Read more having to close at 4am. Closing at 4am – that’s insane.”

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Topics Bars, pubs and clubs/ Lockdown culture

Berlin holidays / Germany holidays / Festivals / Clubbing / features

Reuse this content comments (4) Order by Oldest Threads Collapsed Sign in or create your Guardian account to join the Mark4ru 4d ago 2 discussion. Looking forward to this. Possibly the only time I'd feel comfortable visiting Pornceptual.

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markymarkoldface 4d ago 3 If techno's not your thing check out radio.garden Pick a station anywhere on the globe, Ouagadougou, New Orleans, Tbilisi, Brixton. Live.

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