Berlin Stories

XJAZZ! x HHV at Lido Berlin

In collaboration with HHV, XJAZZ! presents the jazz quintet Butcher Brown on the 21 October, who are currently on a Europe tour for their latest album ‘Letters from the Atlantic’. Come dance and hang out this Tuesday evening at Lido Berlin to celebrate the release. Alongside, opening acts for the night feature a DJ set by the Berlin-based nü soul drummer, producer, and DJ Ziggy Zeigeist and a live performance by poet and alternative-pop musician Otis Mensah, who’s work explores the capacities of language through literature and sound. Doors open from 19:00. Use our discount code “XJAZZFAM” to grab your tickets. More info here.

In addition, Refuge takes over HHV Records every day this week until 18 October with a pop-up radio station! Come hang out from 12-18 with coffees and beers on us, as well as t-shirt printing and vinyl sets. More info here.

Migrantifa Soli flohmarkt für Gaza

Come browse Migrantifa’s Soli flea market from 12:00-18:00 on the 19 October for an afternoon in solidarity with Palestine. Despite the recent announcement of the ceasefire, Israel repeatedly continues to break nearly all terms agreed upon. Stances of solidarity with Gaza do not stop: all proceeds will benefit the Palestinian town of Fakha including those providing aid in the area. Snacks and drinks will be provided! More info here.

Noor Amal Hildahaus registration open

Hildahaus launches Noor Amal, a 10 month long holistic well being program aimed to support Arabic speaking women over 40. Hildahaus is a Berlin based non-profit organisation supporting integration, belonging, and community for Arabic and Farsi speaking Flinta+ individuals, filling a necessary gap in community initiatives for older immigrant and diasporic women. Noor Amal, meaning ‘light’ and ‘hope’ in Arabic, aims to nurture older migrant women’ journeys of personal growth and self-expression through intentional community, connecting through group initiatives that remind of home such Arabic textile arts and cooking, while nurturing personal growth journeys through learning tools for well-being. No German knowledge is required, and childcare is provided. Registration for the program is now open here. Learn more here. Noor Amal represents 1 of 5 holistic modules, keep an eye out for the soon coming others, which will aim to support different FLINTA+ across different cultures and ages in the Arabic regions.

Irish Bloc Berlin soli-célí

Irish Bloc Berlin returns next Friday 24 October with Soli-Célí from 18-22 at bUm Berlin. Irish Bloc is an initiative that focuses on gathering in solidarity with groups experiencing oppression, and aims to create safe spaces of community support to build resilience. Célí is a traditional Irish community dance, and in proper Irish fashion, the Soli-Célí will centre both teaching of the dance and practices for community building. As well, there will be live traditional Irish music, and a Soli market. All funds raised will go toward different aid initiatives supporting Palestine. The event welcomes children over the age of 10, and the venue is wheelchair accessible, with quiet resting spaces available. Tickets range from 10-20 euros by donation. More info here.

BiWoc Rising 3C’s cohort

Join BiWoc Rising for a healing weekend of collective joy through workshops, music, food, and community at the 3C’s Cohort from the 24-26 October. With the themes ‘Courage, Community, and Care,’ the programme is curated to with aims teach tools for collective and self care in order to build sustainable resilience in these turbulent times, as it becomes evermore essential to create safe spaces within both our communities and ourselves in times of ongoing oppression. Moderated by various Berlin-based facilitators across the disciplines, we keep protest fun with workshop topics teaching tools for anti-oppression, embracing identity through art, and using creativity as ways to foster joy and self-expression. The evenings will ease to an end with music, art, and mingling featuring a lounge DJ set by Indra Roy, hailing all the way from Australia, and live performances including embodied dance, saxophone, and singing by local artists. Throughout the weekend, we will serve West African cuisine by the beloved Bantabaa. Registration is open to BiPOC individuals for Friday and Saturday, and open to all on Sunday. Saturday is now full, but spots remain for Friday and Sunday! Register for free here. More info here.

Frames Cafe fundraiser for Sudan Congo Palestine

Come by Frames Cafe in Neuköln on the 26 October for their fundraiser gathering in solidarity with Sudan, Palestine, and Congo. The event will take place from 12-20, and all proceeds raised will go directly toward the donation platforms Hometax Sudan and Funds for Gaza, who send donations directly to individuals and families in need of aid in Sudan and Palestine. As well, proceeds will also be distributed to Focus Congo, an organisation providing education, medical relief, orphan aid, and more in Congo. The day will feature an array of programming including a vintage market, DJ sets, live performances, henna and toothgems, as well as food and drink. More info here.

Multi-sensory dining event: the duality of the migrant experience

In collaboration with Two Odd, a migrant collective that explores the intersection of food, culture, and community, the Berlin based chef Kūn presents Nai by Kūn x Two odd, a multi-sensory immersive dining experience that will take place at Savvy Contemporary on 19 October. Two Odd brings their special designs and curates an experience that is an extension of their ongoing dining concept “Remittance”, which explores the duality of the migrant experience. Chef Kūn brings their culinary creativity with Pakistani roots to create an evening to experience dining as an artform. More info here.

Femme Fatale comeback at Arkaoda

On Thursday 16 October, Femme Fatale makes their return after two years of hiatus at Arkaoda. Femme Fatale is a Berlin-based multi-disciplinary community that showcases femme, trans, and non-binary artistic talents. This evening, they have curated a gender-fluid, genre-fluid night of DJ sets, live sets, and live performances including talents Brazilian activist and DJ Rafush, femme DJ Lucy Dye, singer-songwriter Rayne, and more. Come dance in celebration of all things femme, and support Femme Fatale with a warm welcome as they bloom from their hiatus. Grab your tickets here. More info here.

Time to talk: panel on solidarity with Palestine in Germany

This Thursday the 16 October from 19-22, Spore Initiative hosts a panel discussion for strategies against dehumanisation and radicalisation at their space in Neuköln. The talk is open to all free of charge, and will be conducted in German. Subjects discussed will include combat strategies for the increasing anti-Palestinian racism in Germany today for both Palestinian refugees living in Berlin and those standing in solidarity with Palestine. Led by a panel of professors and experts, scholars will dissect how narratives and prejudices against Palestine reflect today as a continuation of historical narratives. Looking to the future, the panel will also pose questions for the next necessary steps to achieve free speech against oppression in Germany, touching on the role of the media, and teaching tools of resistance in consideration of the increasingly felt repression for speaking out in Berlin. Join Spore this evening for an evening of food for thought. More info here.

**FLINTA* Safe in Sound workshop**

On the 18 October, spend the afternoon with sound and light artist Shuudr as they host an immersive sound based workshop for FLINTA* individuals. From 14-16, Shuudr invites participants for deep listening to both the inner and outer world. With guidance, the workshop explores the impact of different types of sounds on one’s emotional and physical state, teaching to better understand how and why different sonic vibrations resonate with the body. Meeting in Charlottenburg, the guided experience pulls focus on the collective experience of soundscapes with a soundwalk in Schustehruspark, reflecting on the layers to sound. The workshop is part of Feminist Spaces Collective series Unseen in the Green. Sign up via email. More info here.

Submerged fundraiser launch party

Submerged, an independent artistic platform creating culture through art and music, celebrates their official launch at 90mil the 19 October. Come celebrate their long awaited debut alongside DJs, collectors, and artists this Sunday. All proceeds of the launch party will be donated to Mokha Valley, an initiative supporting Yemeni Coffee farmers. That said, the event will also feature an array of Yemeni coffee variations. RSVP here. More info here.

CTM Festival Programme Reveal

Next year from 23 January until 1st of February, the 27th edition of CTM Festival will take place. With the theme ‘dissonate < > resonate’, the programme will explore the polarities of tension between harmony and dissonance, a theme that invites audiences to draw parallels between music and current socio-political life. In music, the word refers to soundscapes absent of harmony, yet does not mean total chaos. However, dissonance cannot be ignored but rather calls for action to confront what is unresolved to plant seeds of transformation, giving life to resonance which embodies practices of mutual aid through listening and empathy. Through a series of research initiatives, parties, concerts, installations, and exhibitions, Berlin is urged to contemplate these binary relations in our lived experiences through the arts. The festival, as always, will be hosted at renowned venues across Berlin including the new Haus der Visionäre, Berghain, Revier Südost, Morphine Raum, and many more. You can find more information about the theme and programming here.