The Next Day #86: Berlin Weekend Guide
Must-see events in Berlin | February, 6-9, 2025
Hi!
The days are getting longer, and Berlin is slowly waking up from its winter haze. This week is all about parties, experimental music, and theater stages. The parties are in full swing, perfect for shaking off the cold, and "King Kong Fran" is a must-see (we’re giving 2 tickets away!), flipping gender roles with humor and sharp wit. If you're into theater, don’t miss the premiere of "News from Beyond" by Gob Squad at HAU 1.
Scroll, scroll, scroll—pick your path and have a great weekend. Keep an eye on your email, we're preparing a special Berlinale guide.
Lalai & Mateus
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🎹 CONCERTS
Max Cooper - 3D/AV Live
Thursday, 06.02, 7 - 11:30 pm. Kesselhaus, Knaackstraße 97, 10435 Berlin. Tickets: €40.55.
Max Cooper turns sound and visuals into a full-on sensory trip. His latest project, 🎧 ‘On Being,’ dives into human existence with hypnotic 3D/AV storytelling. His shows always feel like stepping into another dimension—between a dream and a hallucination.
Alceu Valença & Orquestra Ouro Preto
Thursday, 06.02, 8 pm. Funkhaus, Saal 1, Nalepastrasse 18, 12459 Berlin. Tickets: €50.
A special night with Brazilian legend 🎧 Alceu Valença and the Orquestra Ouro Preto. Expect a beautiful mix of northeastern rhythms and classical arrangements, bringing new life to his iconic songs.
RU’YA – Gordon Grdina feat. Ghalia Benali & Ensemble
Friday, 07.02, 7:30 pm. Pierre Boulez Saal, Französische Str. 33 D, 10117 Berlin. Tickets: €10 - €45.
I'm really into Arabic tunes, and this one brings a unique mix of Arabic maqam, Persian classical, and contemporary jazz. Guitarist 🎧 Gordon Grdina leads 🎧 Ghalia Benali, Matt Mitchell, Eylem Basaldi, Hamin Honari, and Christian Lillinger in a night of deep-rooted melodies and poetic storytelling.
♫ EXPERIMENTAL MUSIC
AUTOMARTIN (live)
Friday, 07.02, 7 - 10 pm. Crack Bellmer, Revaler Str. 99, 10245 Berlin. Free entry until 9 pm. Bar from 7, live from 9.
Argentinian duo 🎧 AUTOMARTIN creates music and visuals in real-time, making each set one of a kind. Wait for experimental sounds, IDM textures.
Wet
Friday, 07.02, 8 pm - 3 am. Madame Claude, Lübbener Str. 19, 10997 Berlin.
Expect a night of offbeat sounds and shifting identities with performative live acts exploring electronic sounds with a theatrical and experimental vibe. 🎧 SASHA KILLS brings hyperpop chaos, 🎧 Die Grillen dives into weirdcore distortions, and DJ NO BJ adds garage and electronic beats.
gamut inc’s PYTHO Carousel
Friday, 07.02, 8 - 9 pm. Theater im Delphi, Gustav-Adolf-Str. 2, 13086 Berlin. Tickets: €10/€15.
A hypnotic mix of light, sound, and machines. Eight automated slide projectors create flickering visuals, while 🎧 gamut inc and Michael Vorfeld layer electronics and percussion into a pulsing, dreamlike performance. Think Brion Gysin’s Dreammachine meets live cinema.
Fluid Form Club #8: POLYPLAY x Witch ‘n’ Monk + Işıl Karataş
Saturday, 08.02, 8 -11 pm. ausland, Lychener Str. 60, 10437 Berlin. Tickets: €11.83.
It’s a night for curious ears and open minds. POLYPLAY plays with polyrhythms that bend and shift, 🎧 Witch ‘n’ Monk mixes Latin flutes with jazz-punk vocals, and Işıl Karataş adds live visuals to pull it all together.
Karlrecords presents: David Wallraf & Munsha
Saturday, 08.02, 9 pm. West Germany, Skalitzer Str. 133, 10999 Berlin. Tickets at the door: €10 (just cash)
David Wallraf releases his new album 🎧 ‘Crudeltá Necessita’ in an evening of experimental sound, where dystopian noise meets raw electronics, field recordings, and Pasolini-inspired themes. Support: 🎧 Munsha.
🪩 PARTIES
portals
Thursday, 06.02, 8 pm - 2 am. Kwia, Maybachufer 16, 12047 Berlin. Tickets: €12.
This is a night for getting lost in sound—soft, eerie, and full of feeling. Gabrielle Rose, 🎧 Alphonsine Koh, 🎧 Odete (live/hybrid), and 🎧 Softmatter bring ambient textures and deep, experimental waves.
Sahra 16: سهرة بداية العا(ل)م
Friday, 07.02, 11:59 pm - 5 am. Badehaus, Revalerstr. 99, 10245 Berlin. Tickets: €19/€20.
SAHRA is back to start 2025 right—old-school Arabic grooves, post-Shaabi beats, and a dancefloor that feels like home. 🎧 Alias Shay, Supermike, 🎧 Soly, and Rimo set the mood for a night of music, nostalgia, and connection. This one always feels special.
Italorama Bar
Friday, 07.02, 10 pm - 6 am. Panorama Bar, Am Wriezener Bahnhof 70, 10243 Berlin.
One of my favorite Fridays at Panorama Bar—Italorama brings Italo disco, Balearic vibes, and deep cuts from Baby’s Gang’s Denise Bonfanti (live), Leo Mas, Fabrizio Mammarella, Franz Scala, 🎧 Giulia Gutterer, and 🎧 Sound Metaphors DJs. Expect nostalgia, grooves, and a dancefloor that never slows down.
Tresor Klubnacht
Saturday, 08.02, 11 pm - 10 am. Tresor / Globus, Köpenickerstrasse 70, 10179 Berlin. Ticket: €22.
It’s always special to catch 🎧 Moritz von Oswald behind the decks. Also, don’t miss 🎧 Cecilia Tosh, known for her deep, groove-driven sound.
Gene On Earth presents Rave 'n' Cruise
Sat-Mon, 08-10.02, 10 pm - 1 am. ZENNER, Alt-Treptow 15, 12435 Berlin. Ticket: €37,30-€40.
If you aren’t into techno, you can head to ‘Gene On Earth’ for another round of Rave 'n' Cruise, with house music upstairs and downtempo downstairs keeping things rolling for 24+ hours with DJs 🎧 Apollonia, 🎧 Or:la, 🎧 Craig Richards, Danny Daze, Fumiya Tanaka, and more.
Palestine & Lebanon Benefit with Nick Klein, Pavel Milyakov & more
Sunday, 09.02, 7 pm - 11:59 pm. 90mil, Holzmarktstrasse 19-23, 10243 Berlin. Entry by donation + Membership (€5) required, available at the door.
A night of experimental sounds in support of Palestine and Lebanon. Featuring Nick Klein, 🎧 Pavel Milyakov, Severin Black, and Alexandra Gruebler at 90mil, a DIY non-profit space. All proceeds go to Medical Aid For Palestine and the Lebanese Red Cross.
🎭 PERFORMING ARTS
News from Beyond by Gob Squad
Wed-Sat, 05-08.02, 7 pm. Premiere. In EN and DE live translations on alternate dates. HAU1, Stresemannstrasse 29, 10963 Berlin. Tickets from €14.
“News from Beyond” invites us to overcome barriers of time and space, and ‘seeing is believing’. What separates us? Who or what do we want to connect with? Which voices do we dare to follow? Can we exorcise the ghosts of our present to imagine a reconnected future?
Replay by Yael Ronen
Saturday, 08.02 to Thursday, 13.02, 8 pm; Tuesday, 11.02, 7 pm. In DE with EN surtitles. Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, Kurfürstendamm 153, 10709 Berlin. Tickets: €9-€60.
In the bitter family constellation ‘Replay’, Yael Ronen explores recurring patterns, repetition loops, and echoes that an event can have in the past. Can we free ourselves from the roots of the past, or are we doomed to be trapped in endless loops of repetition?
The Hunger by Constanza Macras
Saturday, 08.02, 7:30 pm. Surtitles in EN and DE. Volksbühne Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, 10178 Berlin. Ticket: €11-€33.
"The Hunger" follows European colonizers in 16th-century Rio de la Plata, where Indigenous people resisted the Spanish invasion. Cannibalistic rituals mirror greed—from colonialism and consumerism to the hyperproduction of an endless present on social media.
King Kong Fran
Sat, 08.02, 8 pm. Colosseum, Schönhauser Allee 123, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin. Tickets: €30. In PT with EN surtitles. We’re giving away 2 pairs of tickets to the first people who comment on the newsletter (on the website not by email).
A mix of cabaret, circus, and comedy, ‘King Kong Fran’ flips gender stereotypes with humor and irreverence. The Brazilian actress and clown Rafaela Azevedo brings her iconic character to Berlin, tackling sexism, consent, and power dynamics in a bold, playful way. Make sure you’re there!
Die Nacht von Lissabon (The night of Lisbon)
Sunday, 09.02, 6 pm. Directed by Hakan Savaş Mican. In DE with EN surtitles. Maxim Gorki Theater, Am Festungsgraben 2, 10117 Berlin. Tickets: €12-€40. The port of Lisbon was the place where the opportunity to escape from fascist Europe bound many people in exile together. Die Nacht von Lissabon (The Night in Lisbon) follows the story of Helen and Josef and their desperate love, as they flee through fascist Europe.
🎨 VISUAL ARTS
Last chance! Rineke Dijkstra: Still - Moving
Friday-Monday, 08-10.02. Berlinische Galerie, Alte Jakobstrasse 124-128, 10969 Berlin. Ticket: €6/€10.
A major retrospective of one of the most acclaimed portrait photographers, exploring identity through life’s defining moments. It features eight series, including never-before-seen works. Don’t miss it!
Swallowed Bullets – Monty Richthofen
Friday, 7.02, 6 – 8 pm. Exhibition runs until 22.03. Dittrich & Schlechtriem, Linienstrasse 23, 10178 Berlin.
A new series of text-based abstractions blurring language and form. Words emerge, dissolve, and reappear, layered in tension between revelation and erasure. The opening night features a live performance of Richthofen’s poem “Swallowed Bullets,” echoing through the canvases in the space.
Schall&Rausch: Everybody Now!
Sat-Sun, 08-09.02, 4 pm, 5 pm, 6 pm. KINDL, Am Sudhaus 3, 12053 Berlin. Tickets: €16 online or at the venue 30 min before each event.
Singing, moving, and making noise together—Schall&Rausch returns to KINDL! Across three playrooms, four artists from past editions will lead the audience in a collective sound and movement experience. Come be part of the rapture!
Last Chance & Finissage: SALT. CLAY. ROCK.
On view until Sunday, 09.02. Finissage at 2 pm. nGbK, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 11/13, 1st floor. Free admission (registration required).
The exhibition connects Berlin with nuclear sites in Germany and Hungary, exploring energy, waste, and resistance. The finissage includes a talk with Anna Witt & Marike Schreiber (in German), followed by a water reception revisiting 1980s environmental activism.
StudioOoutOfTime – Official Opening
Sunday, 08.02, from 6 pm. Gaswerk, Köpenicker Chaussee 31, 10317 Berlin. Entry: donation-based. The exhibition runs for two weeks, Tue-Fri, 11 am-3 pm.
A new space dedicated to art, culture, and advocacy for the emancipation of Congo opens its doors. The evening features an art exhibition, performances, short film screenings, and a DJ set to close the night. Drinks are available for purchase.
🎬 CINEMA
Introduction to the Queer Films of the 75th Berlinale
Thursday, 06.02, 7 pm. SchwuZ, Rollbergstr. 26, 12053 Berlin. Free entry.
A first look at the queer films competing for the 39th TEDDY AWARD at Berlinale 2025. Michael Stütz and Berlinale program managers introduce key films, themes, and trends in queer cinema this year.
FANON (Chroniques fidèles…)
Fri-Sat, 07-08.02., 6 pm, and Friday, 14.02., 6 pm. Sinema Transtopia, Berlin, Lindower Str. 20/22/Haus C, 13347 Berlin. Tickets: €9.
A moving look at Frantz Fanon’s time at the Blida-Joinville psychiatric hospital in Algeria, where he revolutionized mental healthcare for colonial subjects. Through music, sports, and cultural connection, he reshaped therapy and deepened his fight against colonial oppression. A powerful story worth seeing.
⚡MISCELLANEOUS
TASCHEN Warehouse Sale
Wed-Sat, 05-08.02., 11 am - 8 pm (Sat until 7 pm). TASCHEN Store Berlin, Schlüterstrasse 39, Charlottenburg. Free entry.
TASCHEN’s bi-annual sale is back this week! It’s a great chance to grab some beautiful art books and refresh your coffee table collection. Discounts of up to 75% on display, slightly damaged books, and a Matcha Bar on Saturday.
Weekend Run Club
Sunday, 09.02, 9 am - 11 am. Lietzenseepark, Charlottenburg. Register for location.
A casual 5 km run through Charlottenburg, ending with coffee and new friends. Open to all paces—come solo or bring a friend! Over here, we’ve already started our summer plan!
Standing Together Against the Far Right
Sunday, 09.02, from 3 pm. Various locations in Berlin.
Another Sunday, another chance to show up for democracy. With elections coming up, it’s more important than ever to take a stand for an open and diverse society. Wrap up warm and join—there’s a protest against transphobia in Tiergarten and candlelight chains in Schöneberg and Pankow.
📣 SAVE THE DATE
🖼️ Lucy Dodd & Otto Piene exhibitions. Opening: Tuesday, 11.02, 6 - 8 pm. Sprüth Magers, Oranienburger Str. 18, 10178 Berlin. Free admission.
🎸 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
🎬 Berlin International Film Festival: 13-19.02, various cinemas. Mark your calendars: tickets for the 75th Berlinale will be available from Monday - 10.02.
🎹 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
🎹 Lubomyr Melnyk: One of my favorite pianists playing again in Berlin. Friday, 28.02, 8 pm. Tickets: from €33. 🎧 Pockets of Light
🎉 Carnaval - Baile da Bossa: A taste of Brazilian carnival vibes in Berlin. Sat, 01.03, 1 pm - 4:30 am. Festsaal Kreuzberg. Tickets: €10-€18.
🎤 FKA Twigs presents her latest album 🎧 EUSEXUA: R&B, electronic, and avant-garde music. 11.03, Uber Eats Music Hall. Tickets: €71,10/€109.
King Kong Fran! If left :)
Intersted in King Kong Fran :)