photo: Ben de Biel / Nation of Gondwana
It’s officially here! Festival season has begun,and we felt the need to tell you about all the great festivals coming up this summer in, around and sort of near Berlin. From German pop to techno, house and street food in Neukölln we’ve compiled a list of festivals that are definitely worth a visit. Take a break from the city life, pack your things and go to the beach or forest nearby! There will be great music, good food and art. From workshops to exhibitions, performances: you can have it all this summer – at the following festivals. See them after the jump.
This festival is both about music and community, having developed through the years into a 4 day celebration of diversity and discovery. Trusting their curiosity they choose music that seems relevant to what happens in the world, showcasing and supporting venues that have been bringing music culture into the city. This year’s participating artists include KairoIsKoming, Jaakko Eino Kalevi, Itaca, and many more.
June 8-11, 2017 at various locations.
photo: Torstrassen Festival
FORMS is a cross-disciplinary festival taking place this June. Within 5 days, the Hungarian College of Berlin (CHB) combines music, performance, literature, installation, media art and film under one umbrella of self-expression. The festival is an experimental laboratory with core themes being the experience of change, transformation, success and failure. Artists involved include Beartix Joyce, Michela Filzi, DoN’t Eat Group, Jule Flierl, Gábor Kitzinger, S Olbricht, and many more.
June 12-16, 2017, Collegium Hungaricum Berlin, Dorotheenstr. 12, 10117 Berlin-Mitte
photo: Volker Hormann
PxP (Peace by Peace) is a very special festival taking place for the second time this June, in which the participating artists renounce their salary that all goes to children in war or on the run. This year performances by Die Fantastischen Vier, Beginner, Freundeskreis, Andreas Bourani and many more will take place.
June 18, 2017 at Waldbühne, Glockenturmstraße 1, 14053 Berlin
photo: PxP Festival
Back for its fifth round this summer, Feel Festival brings you a summer weekend by the seemingly endless expanses of the Bergheider Sees. With its luring sweet sounds, sand dunes and blooming flora and fauna, this dance floor is set amidst clear, majestic nature. In a symphony of 9 stages, plays, film screenings, lectures and artistic performances will give you a spectacle of senses. Grab your tents and get ready to breathe in fresh Rooibos, thistle, buckhorn and primrose as you create some lasting memories.
July 6-10, 2017 at Bergheider See
By now, you must’ve heard of the famous Melt!-Festival, that year after year collects the most exciting artists to play at Ferropolis at Gräfenhainichen in Sachsen-Anhalt, only 1,5h from Berlin. This year Melt Festival celebrates its 20 (!) years, and invites you to a wild dancing experience. The program includes Adam Beyer, Agents of Time, Agoria, Fjaak, Ed Ed, DJ Deep, Maggie Rogers, and the list goes on and on. Melt! is definitely a must-see if you want to get a huge range of music in three days.
July 14-16, 2017, Ferropolis, Gräfenhainichen
photo: Melt Festival
The Nation of Gondwana is an alternative music festival already happening since – get this – 1995! The Oldie bt Goldie is always up to date with te newest artists though. This year including artists such as Bam Bam, Barrio Lindo, Gordon Meyer, Kettenkarussell, See Bastian, and many more who will perform at the Waldsee.
July 21-23, 2017 at Grünefeld by Berlin.
photo: Ben de Biel / Nation of Gondwana
It wouldn’t be a Berlin Festival Guide without some electronic music, right? Well, you’ve come to the right place! This year ‘s edition of Killekill’s Krake Festival is dedicated to challenging electronic music. Krake will take you on a tour of Berlin’s most underground venues across four action packed days of techno, electro, punk and acid vibes from some of the most talented and unconventional DJs, artists which include Adult., Alienata, Kamikaze Space Program + Geso, Luke Vibert, and many more.
July 24 – 31, 2017 at Suicide Circus, Revaler Straße 99, 10245 Berlin and Griessmuehle, Sonnenallee 221, 12059 Berlin.
photo: Joi Bix
Pansy and Scout are bringing Berlin the Queer music festival we’ve been waiting for! At Festsaal you’ll find shows that bridge the gap between the burgeoning local scene and established, international artists. Their mission is to promote the energy, diversity and lifestyle that is so unique to queer Berlin. This July weekend will be packed with live acts (including a cross-section of musicians, DJs and performance artists), surprise performances, gourmet local cuisine and the best of Berlin’s over-the-top nightlife community. With Karim&Karam, Vitalic, The Cocoa Butter Club, Planningtorock, and many more!
July 28-29, 2017 at Festsaal Kreuzberg,Am Flutgraben 2, 12435, Berlin.
photo: Manuel Moncayo
Curated by Ry X and Frank Wiedemann, Sacred Ground was born to create an intimate space far from city streets where art and music are the focus within an intimate environment where artists and audience meet on the same level. Music will be shared, artists may come and go from stages and crowds, and there won’t be a fixed timetable, leaving space for collaboration, improvisation and surprises. The third edition of this festival will take place in the lush landscape of Uckermark, just north of Berlin. For three days and two nights, a 100 year old barn will be filled with sound and spirit. Artists including this year Alex from Tokio, Fort Romeau, Gigi Masin, Hannah Epperson, Howling, and many more.
July 21-23, 2017 at Trampe 9, 17326 Brüssow
photo: Alexander Jedermann
Curated by The Lake web radio (co-founded by members of the Danish band Efterklang) this festival features performing acts and focuses on the exploratory, experimental and unconventional music of all cultures and genres, everything from the forgotten and underrated to the ground-breaking, rare and new. Artists this year’s By the Lake Festival include Michael Rother, Jank Nabay & The Bubu Gang, Peter Broderick, and many more.
August 13, 2017 at Strandbar Weißensee, Berliner Allee 155, 13088 Berlin
With workshops, concerts, readings art and films the Summer’s Tale Festival promises to live up to the expectations this year. With great artists like Pixies, PJ Harvey, Franz Ferdinand, Birdy, Cigarettes after Sex, and many other big names it can only be a huge blast. It’s a bit further away than most in our list but certainly worth the trip!
August 2-5, 2017 at Turnierplatz Luhmühlen, Westergellerser Heide, 21376 Westergellersen
photo: A Summer’s Tale
Opening their gates for the second year this summer near Berlin, Artlake was created upon the concept of combining art, great regional food, workshops, installations and music into one feel good experience. You can set up a barbeque on your campsite or opt for Artlake’s culinary delights ranging from traditional Indian cuisine from Chutnify to decadent ice cream from Paletas Berlin. Artists this year include Emilys Giant, Woman, Tristan Brusch, Federico Albanese, and many more.
August 17-20, 2017 at Niederlausitzer Heidelandschaft
With a freeze breeze and warm welcome comes Alínæ Lumr, a festival set in a charming old village near Berlin. Musical acts will perform in various locations across the small village, whether it be a castle, in the courts of the marketplace, in empty shops or old churches. In addition to the music program (which includes The Notwist, Deerhoof, Lowly, Coals, and many more) there will be plenty of cultural workshops and exhibitions for you to discover. Explore all the village has to offer and end your night with a dip in the idyllic Storkower See.
August 25-27, 2017 in Storkow Brandenburg
photo: Alínæ Lumr
For the third time, and second time in Neukölln, Pop-Kultur will be bringing live concerts, performances, talks and readings to Berlin this August. The first year, the festival was held at Berghain the second in venues around Neukölln, and this year it will take place in Kulturbrauerei. Pop-Kultur advocates interdisciplinary exchange, including scientific discourse on music, society and urban development, creating a platform for visitors to experience various international and German premieres.
August 23-25, 2017 in Kulturbrauerei, Schönhauser Allee 36 10435 Berlin
photo: Pop-Kultur
Last but certainly not least we want to remind you of a festival, so famous for it’s musicians playing, it finally came from the United States to Berlin. 2015 the first Lollapalooza took place at the Flughafen Tempelhof. In 2016, the fun moved to Treptower Park, and this year it will take place at Rennbahn Hoppegarten. On two days you will see artists like The XX, Mumford & Sons, Marteria, London Grammar, and many more. Towards the end of the summer, in September, Berlin will once again celebrate its musical capacity with the Lollapalooza Festival.
September 9 and 10, 2017, at Rennbahn Hoppegarten
photo: Lollapalooza Berlin
Have we missed any important and interesting festivals in and around Berlin? Let us know in the comments below.
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Text: Skylar Kang, Yasmin Polat, Frank Schröder, Stella Manouseli
