The Next Day #82: Berlin Weekend Guide
Must-see events in Berlin: January 9–12, 2025
Happy New Year!
We just got back to chilly Berlin after a short break watching nature's own light show - the Northern Lights! While concerts are still sparse, there are plenty of parties to keep warm.
Weekend highlights include Tanztage Berlin, Verdi's Macbeth, and UnNatural Encounters. We've also picked some events perfect for starting the year with mindfulness and relaxation.
As a thank you to our supporters, we're launching a guide to the best events of early 2025 soon. We know how quickly tickets sell out! Stay tuned for The Next Day Berlin 2.0 updates.
Have a nice weekend,
Lalai & Mateus
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🎹 CONCERTS
Aki Takase, Fabiana Striffler, Daniel Erdmann
Thursday, 09.01, Doors 7:30 pm / Music 8:30 pm. Donau115, Donaustrasse 115, 12043 Berlin. Donation-based: Minimum 10€ / Solidarity 20€.
Pianist Aki Takase and saxophonist Daniel Erdmann reunite with violinist 🎧 Fabiana Striffler for an intimate evening of experimental music. This collaboration promises to warm up Donau115’s cozy stage. 🎧 Aki Takase & Daniel Erdmann
Ballad of the Spirits
Friday, 10.01, 6–8 pm. Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, Breitscheidplatz, Berlin. Free admission. In English.
This is a tribute to 🎧 Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru, an Ethiopian nun, composer, and pianist who dedicated her life to music as her intimate language and form of prayer. Nigerian poet Logan February and Tamil-German novelist Senthuran Varatharajah read poetry, accompanied by Gebru’s sacred music, performed by pianist Dongkyu Leo Kim.
Tarwater / The Morning Stars
Friday, 10.01, Doors 6:30 pm, Show 7:30 pm. HAU1, Stresemannstr. 29, 10963 Berlin. Ticket: 17/22€.
The Berlin duo Tarwater— Bernd Jestram and Ronald Lippok — celebrates its 30th anniversary by releasing its 13th album, 🎧 "Nuts of Ay." This hypnotic mix of elegant pop, electronic sounds, and post-punk roots features collaborations with Alva Noto, Masha Qrella, and others.
Golden Gospel Gala - Donna Brown & Friends
Saturday, 11.01, 3:30 pm. Philharmonie Berlin, Herbert-von-Karajan-Str. 1, 10785 Berlin. Ticket: 25,25–52,05 €.
If you like gospel music, this event is for you. Soul-stirring gospel classics come alive in the exceptional acoustics of the Philharmonie. Donna Brown, her jazz band, a powerful ensemble of soloists, and a choir perform hits from the gospel-inspired soul era.
Flatland Prayer – Live
Sunday, 12.01, Doors 6:30 pm, Show 8:00 pm. Rhinoçéros, Rhinower Str. 3, 10437 Berlin. Table charge: 15 €.
The first Sunday service at Rhinoçéros features 🎧 Flatland Prayer, mixing American jazz and folk with avant-garde improvisation. It's an intimate evening of soulful harmonies in my favorite listening bar in Berlin.
🪩 PARTIES
Ghetto Transmission: justcallmesergio Release Party
Friday, 10.01, 7 pm – 12 am. Giri, Hermannstrasse 14, 12049 Berlin. Entry: Donation-based.
Celebrate the release of "Ghetto Transmission" by 🎧 justcallmesergio with a laidback night of groovy, joyful house music in Giri's cozy space. Guest DJ sets by 🎧 Rina Katen and Leo van Brussel complete the vibe.
KOOKOO feat. LAURE BOER & JD J
Friday, 10.01, 10 pm – 6 am. OHM, Köpenicker Str. 70, 10179 Berlin. Ticket: 13-15€.
One of my favorite experimental nights returns with a multidisciplinary evening. Sonic storyteller 🎧 Laure Boer, inspired by Ugetsu, Kenji Mizoguchi’s 1953 film, delivers a live performance blending voice, light-sensitive stones, and no-input electronics. JD J brings left-field club sounds straight from Tbilisi. If you prefer to have fun and drop it low with 🎧 Baile Funk and Latin Bass, don’t miss the party Bota, Choka, Trama on Saturday at OHM.
Renate Klubnacht: Amy Dabbs, Mystery Kid, JANE, DAHRAXT, Local Suicide, Shia LaBiff
Friday, 10.01, 11 pm – 8 am. Renate, Alt Stralau 70, 10245 Berlin.
A night of house and techno. Our highlights include 🎧 Local Suicide’s technodisco—a fusion of new wave, EBM, and dark techno—and 🎧 Amy Dabbs’ groove-infused beats.
Big Choon's Big Opening
Saturday, 11.01, 2 pm – 2 am. Zemin Art Gallery, Urbanstraße 3, 10961 Berlin.
The opening of the new record shop Big Choon, a vinyl hub specializing in underground electronic music, will warm up your afternoon this Saturday. The party features a stellar lineup, including 🎧 Appleblim, DJ Fucks Himself, and DJ Regret.
Berghain/Panorama Bar Klubnacht
Sat-Mon, 11–13.01, 11:59 pm – 8 am. Berghain/Panorama Bar, Am Wriezener Bahnhof, 10243 Berlin.
A must-attend Klubnacht featuring Ben Klock and Rødhåd at Berghain. Highlights include Ben’s explorations from his new label, LAYER. At Panorama Bar, 🎧 Karine b2b Shakolin—key figures from Kyiv’s Closer club—debut their hypnotic house sound alongside Ivan Smagghe and nd_baumecker.
🎭 PERFORMING ARTS
Tanztage Berlin 2025
Thu-Sat, 09-25.01, various times. Sophiensaele, Sophienstr. 18, 10178 Berlin. Ticket: 10-15 €.
Tanztage Berlin’s 34th edition showcases four premieres, six revivals, workshops, and discourse programs on scarcity, body politics, and burnout. Our highlights are "Auro Orso: Pereo Entre Los Mundos" and "Kysy Fischer: Super Superficial." Despite funding cuts, the festival presents 10 works celebrating Berlin’s emerging dance scene.
Macbeth by Giuseppe Verdi
Saturday, 11.01, 7:30 pm. Director: Marie-Ève Signeyrole. Conductor: Enrique Mazzola. Deutsche Oper Berlin Bismarckstrasse 35, 10627 Berlin. Tickets: 26-108€.
Macbeth was the first of Shakespeare’s plays to be set to music by Verdi in 1847. In typical fashion, Verdi roughened up the storyline and injected some emotional twists and turns, intensifying the drama and creating a tense momentum that sends the protagonists hurtling toward their respective gruesome ends.
Die Insel der Perversen (The island of the perverts) - A German Musical Comedy
Saturday, 11.01, 8 pm. Text: Rosa von Praunheim. Director: Heiner Bomhard. German with English surtitles. Deutsches Theater, Schumannstr. 13 A, 10117. Tickets: 18-32€.
With Die Insel der Perversen (The Island of the Perverts), Rosa von Praunheim now completes his DT trilogy: Rosa and important co-conspirators from the two previous evenings invent, write, compose, sing, and dance for a German Musical Comedy. In contrast to the previous evenings, the focus is on the near future: What if ...? Will everything be gloomy, or will everything stay pink ...?
Method
Sunday, 12.01, 6 pm. Text: Kata Wéber Directed by: Kornel Mundruczó. In German with English surtitles. Volksbühne Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, 10178. Tickets: 12-40€.
Playwright and screenwriter Kata Wéber and director Kornel Mundruczó explore in Method, their second joint production for the Volksbühne, play and reality of authoritarian structures at the intersection of theatre and film. In teaming with the actors, they have developed a storyline addressing current debates on power relations, authoritarianism, and dependencies.
🎨 VISUAL ARTS
Reading, Performance, and Music: Long Evening
Thursday, 09.01, 7–10 pm. Gropius Bau, Niederkirchnerstr. 7, 10963 Berlin. Admission is free. The exhibition is open until 8 pm with a ticket.
The fourth Long Evening features a lecture performance by Theresa Weber, a talk with Sinthujan Varatharajah and Moshtari Hilal, and a performance by Nazanin Noori and Andrea Belfi on Rirkrit Tiravanija’s stage sculpture.
UnNatural Encounters
Opening: Thursday, 9.01, 7 pm. Fri-Sun, 10-19.01. silent green / Betonhalle, Gerichtstr., 35, 13347 Wedding-Berlin. Free admission.
Group exhibition and program exploring sustainability, socio-ecological justice, and technological change. Featuring works from EMAP and transmediale, plus workshops and performances like "Re-solarization" by Tatsuru Arai (09.01), "Earth Tasting" by masharu (Jan 10–11), and "Purgatory EDIT" by Ali Akbar Mehta. Our top pick: Warm Winters Ltd. pres. Aleksandra Słyż + Marta Forsberg + Luka Aron (17.01).
Ruth Wolf-Rehfeldt: In the end something begins with us
Opening: Saturday, 11.01, 6–9 pm. Until 22.02. ChertLüdde, Hauptstr. 18, 10827 Berlin.
The exhibition explores Ruth Wolf-Rehfeldt's early career works (1932–2024) and spans her artistic evolution from the 1960s to 1989. It features paintings, typewriter compositions, collages, and archival materials highlighting humanity, nature, and cultural themes.
Jack O’Brien: Cascade
Opening: Saturday, 11.01, 6–8 pm. Until 15.02.Capitain Petzel, Karl-Marx-Allee 45, 10178 Berlin.
Jack O’Brien’s debut solo exhibition features a suspended sculpture of two merged grand pianos, emphasizing silence and memory. “Cascade” explores motion, rupture, and the interplay of local narratives and space with works crafted from repurposed materials.
MYCELIUM VIBES
Saturday, 11.01, 7 pm. daadgalerie, Oranienstr. 161, 10969 Berlin. Admission: Free.
Green Papaya marks the end of their Berlin residency with music, art, food, and drinks. Julia Nisperos and Joaquin Roldan present works created during their stay, inviting the audience into the mycelium vibes.
Berlin, Berlin: 20 Years of the Helmut Newton Foundation
Until 16.02. Tue-Sun, 11 am–7 pm. Museum für Fotografie, Jebensstr. 2, 10623 Berlin.
"Berlin, Berlin" features Helmut Newton’s images of his hometown alongside works by 17 photographers exploring Berlin. Highlights include production images from Wim Wender’s iconic "Wings of Desire," which captures West Berlin’s melancholic poetry before the fall of the Wall. While there, don’t miss "Fotogaga: Max Ernst & Photography"
🎬 CINEMA
Indian Film Festival 2025
Friday–Sunday, 10–12.01.2025. CinemaxX Berlin, Potsdamer Str. 5, 10785 Berlin. Tickets: €3.50.
The Indian Film Festival showcases films across India, highlighting the country’s regional and artistic diversity. The program includes screenings, discussions, and conversations with film industry figures.
Der Himmel über Berlin (Wings of Desire)
Monday, 13.01, 8 pm. Babylon Berlin, Rosa-Luxemburg-Str. 30, 10178 Berlin. Tickets: €9. With English subtitles.
Wim Wenders’ restored 1987 classic follows angel Damiel as he roams divided Berlin, longing for human experiences. With iconic cinematography by Henri Alekan and music by Nick Cave, the film is a masterpiece of German cinema.
🍽️ FOOD & DRINK
Marcín Krol at FRIEDA
Friday, 10.01 (dinner) & Saturday, 11.01 (lunch & dinner). FRIEDA, Lychener Str. 37, 10437 Berlin.
Start the year with a culinary treat by Marcín Krol (Paris), a rising star in the global food scene. From Noma to Maison Paris, his inventive dishes blend French classics with Japanese techniques and wood-fired cooking.
🧘🏻♀️MISCELLANEOUS
BreathConductor Live: A Multi-Sensory Breathing Experience
Thursday, 9.01.2025, 6–9 pm. Prinzessinnenstrasse 16, Berlin. Free entry with RSVP.
Muvik Labs combines music, visuals, and vibrations to create an interactive experience that guides your breath and promotes relaxation and balance. Stay for 15 minutes or longer and feel the calm effortlessly.
Somatic Rave
Thursday, 09.01, 8–10 pm. Overflow Studio, Adalbertstrasse 9, 10999 Berlin. Free admission with RSVP.
Part of Overflow’s "Rave Wellbeing Month," this event mixes music, movement, and mindfulness. The evening starts with the "Somatic Rave Workshop” by 🎧 tamypro, focusing on breathwork and somatic movement to connect body and mind. Followed by a DJ set by 🎧 DJ Angebot. Wear comfortable clothing; no prior experience is needed.
New Year's Day Retreat – Detox & Release
Sunday, 12.01, 10:30 am – 6 pm, Studio C, Köpenicker Ch 3-4, 10317 Berlin. Ticket: 159/255€.
Marie and Toni invite you to a special day retreat to reconnect with your essence, reflect on the year ahead, and release what no longer serves you. Inspired by Saucha (purity and clarity from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali), this restorative retreat offers a fresh start to cleansing your body and mind. It includes Vinyasa Yoga classes, Detoxifying Breathwork, green juice, and vegan lunch.
📣 SAVE THE DATE
🎞 Eno: Berlin premiere of Eno, Gary Hustwit’s generative documentary on Brian Eno, with a unique post-film talk. Tuesday, 14.01, Babylon Berlin, Mitte.
🎭 The Hunger by Constanza Macras: Saturday, 18.01, Volksbühne. Tickets: 11€/33€.
🎤 Lydia Lunch & Marc Hurtado play Suicide: A sonic and visual tribute to 🎧 Suicide's Alan Vega and Martin Rev. 23.01, 7 pm, Neue Zukunft. Ticket: 19,90€.
🎭 Im Herzen der Gewalt (History of Violence) by Edouard Louis: from 20 to 24.01, Schaubühne. Tickets: 9€/60€.
🎸 The Libertines return to Berlin with 🎧 All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade, but we’re hoping for tracks from their iconic 2004 self-titled album. Yeah, we’re nostalgic! Wednesday, 05.02, Columbiahalle. Tickets: 57,25€.
🎸 Mogwai: Don’t miss it if you’re into atmospheric post-rock with epic instrumentals and powerful builds. Tuesday, 11.02, Admiralpalast. Tickets: 46/69€. 🎧 God Gets You Back
🎹 Caribou: It's a rare chance to see Caribou with a full band. Get ready to dance! Support: Ela Minus. Friday, 14.02, Velodrom. Tickets: 46,25€. 🎧 Volume