It’s that time of year where those dark, sub-zero commutes to and from parties are fast becoming a fading memory of winter. So as we warm up to a summer of open airs and blissfully short queues for the Garderobe, what better than to crack open a Radler, sit back and survey the Berlin clubscape to see what’s on offer this April.
The Ghost Showcase (Evan Baggs)
Hoppetosse
April 1st, 23:59
Kicking off the month is this little gem. Seasoned crate diggers will likely know about The Ghost, a mobile record shop housed in a 40-year-old van that reveals itself sporadically at low-key events. This instalment marks their second showcase at Hoppetosse, and they’ve landed American spinner Evan Baggs to front the bill. Climb aboard the good ship and hunker down to an evening laced with choice cuts.
Vintage PORN by Pornceptual
Alte Münze
April 8th, 23:00
If you haven’t yet read our feature on Pornceptual and the story behind this infamous party and art project, check it out now. April’s serving of the city’s most forward thinking queer project-cum-party is bound to be as debauched as its forerunners. Set in the industrial bowels of Alte Münze, a building that once served as Berlin’s state mint, this rave isn’t for the timid. Ready yourself for an exposé of skin, hard-hitting industrial techno and ‘floor-filling house.
Klubnacht – (Marcel Fengler, Bicep, Cassy, Black Madonna)
Berghain
April 8th, 23:59
As far as heavyweight lineups go, this is up there with the best. It’s hard to know where to begin with the barnstorming array of acts rostered for this weekend’s festivities. Berghain plays host to a clutch of techno stalwarts, including Octave One, Luke Slater and Marcel Fengler, whilst Panorama Bar gives the likes of Cassy, Black Madonna and Bicep a runout. If that’s not enough to convince you, why not see it as an excuse to check out Säule, a new space that opened last month in the club’s underbelly.
Pioneer Masters (Terrence Parker, DJ Spen)
Prince Charles
April 13th, 23:00
Partial to a mid-week dance and fancy something suitably uplifting? If so, this night ticks all the right boxes. Prince Charles is one of the city’s heroes when it comes to championing a more house-led sound, and you’d better believe that this night will do exactly that. The Kreuzberg spot welcomes a trio of US turntablists to the fore: Detroit’s telephone-toting Terrence Parker and fellow Baltimoreans Karizma and DJ Spen to be exact. There’s nothing wrong with starting the weekend a day prematurely, is there?
Friday Finest – DJ Harvey & Virginia
Berghain
April 14th, 23:59
Few selectors can lay claim to such a venerable pedigree as DJ Harvey’s. Packing decades’ worth of experience, including time spent mixing it with New York disco doyen Larry Levan, Harvey is quite literally one of the most instinctive party-starters going. Renowned for playing mammoth sets that match a crowd’s vibe to a tee, expect to witness a proper masterclass unfold inside Berghain. Ost Gut Ton’s Virginia joins Harvey in what’s bound to be stellar affair.
Young Marco Selector – (Young Marco, Dekmantel Selectors, Palm Trax)
OHM
April 15th, 22:00
With its snug interior and punchy soundsystem, OHM is one of best venues in town to savour tracks of a more obscure kind. On the back of overseeing Dekmantel’s second Selectors compilation, a series premised on representing the rarer records out there, Young Marco brings his eclectic repertoire to Tresor’s diminutive neighbour. Following suit are label heads Thomas Martojo and Casper Tielrooij, a pairing who’ve cemented Dekmantel as a household name over the past few years. Palms Trax links up to rubber-stamp an offering that’s primed to enthral.
Away X Midnight Shift – (Space Dimension Controller, Volte-Face)
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April 15th, 23:59
One Easter blowout worthy of note is Away X Midnight Shift down at ://about blank. Though the graffiti-splattered hangout is running a variety of meaty sessions over the bank holiday weekend, this one takes the cake for us. Topping the lineup is UK favourite Space Dimension Controller. Fresh from putting out his EXOSTACK EP last month, the Belfast producer will no doubt dish up a live set crammed with his trademark cosmic sounds. Volte Face, Blind Observatory and Rachel Lyn will keep it deep and meaningful with their own astral machinations.
Talaboman – (John Talabot, Axel Boman)
Prince Charles
April 28th, 23:00
For one night only, dance music’s much-loved tag team grace the booth at Prince Charles. Talaboman, one half John Talabot, the other Axel Boman, have been doing the business since they released their joint Sideral EP back in 2014. The duo is out touring for their debut album, The Night Land, which dropped in late March on R&S Records. Though the record has been lauded as a play suited for home listening rather than en masse enjoyment, don’t be duped if things get a touch loose. Tickets are shifting like hot cakes so grab yours before it’s too late.
47 presents Numerology – (Demdike Stare, Surgeon, Tommy Four Seven)
Alte Münze
April 28th, 23:59
Last but not least, here’s a suggestion for those who enjoy tunes that are more left-field. Housed in the same sprawling catacombs as Pornceptual, 47 presents Numerology is brand new night run by Tommy Four Seven that is angled towards showcasing acts at the more experimental end of the electronic spectrum. To mark the event’s inauguration, the Berlin-based Brit has done a sterling job, booking live performances from both Surgeon and Demdike Stare that will make for unmissable viewing, particularly when coupled with the venue’s unforgiving interior.