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Berlin

The night before the riots

May Day is approaching and the anarchists, tourists and thrill-seekers of Berlin have prepped Kreuzberg for the greatest shit-fest yet – another reason for you to surpass the likely Molotov facial and dance into May.

May Day is approaching and the anarchists, tourists and thrill-seekers of Berlin have prepped the streets of Kreuzberg for the greatest shit-fest yet – another reason for you to surpass the likely Molotov facial and dance into the month of May.

Traditionally, Walpurgisnacht (the eve of May 1) was a night when witches reputedly held large celebrations on the Brocken, awaiting the arrival of spring. These days, witches, witchcraft and all that hocus-pocus are regarded as folklore and in Berlin, the only mountain is the Prenzlauer Berg you exhaustingly hike up and bike down. Nevertheless, the arrival of spring is a great excuse to stumble into work, half-drunk, the morning following the spring festivities.

Kreuzberg will stage most of the events going on this year. Directly over the Oberbaum, you’ll be greeted by boisterous voices, hustling passers-by and Magnet Club’s crowded entrance as Britpop bands and indietronic names such as King Kong Kicks, Vossi, The Goodfellas, Finckobot and SpinCup illuminate the board.

If the Magnet scene isn’t yours, Lido is just around the corner. DJ Craft and Turntable Hools will be propped behind the decks – quite possibly in their signature gas masks – spinning mashups blending Donald Duck and Bronski Beat with Jay-Z. These guys are best known for their provocative lyrics in connection with their dark humor and irony. Your night hasn’t been fulfilled until your mom’s been bad-mouthed.

Next, follow the yellow U-bahn down Skalitzer Straße and you’ll find Festsaal Kreuzberg coddled right in the cozy barista-ville. Betty Ford and Remmidemmi provide an abstract variety of 80s.indie.hits.

Just a few sloppy steps away you’ll run into one of the Bezirk’s newer clubs. My Name Is Barbarella hosts a night of deep sounds and groove-ish baselines with DJs Luis Hill, Chris Lattner and Gorge.

If you’re running low on bud and the urge to parade into May Day riots is pecking at your brain, back track to Yaam! in Friedrichshain where German-style reggae will be hosted by Barney Millah with special guest, Warrior Sound – the Rasta preachers responsible for smoking what Bob Marely left behind.

Just down the East Side gallery, hang a left to get to Rosi’s on Berlin’s graffiti strip, Revaler Straße. Admiral Gaboon and Commodore Schmock take over the karaoke floor with funk soul and rock and roll. On the outdoor Rosioke floor, DJ A.K percolates Balkan Grooves, Worldbeats and Electro Swing Live and (take a breath) in the garden, Digga Digga Diggadoo will be carried over the crowd by the jazz band, The Rathaus Ramblers.

If you find yourself back on the club mile, check out DJ Ipek Ipekcioglu’s underground grooves of Turkey at Radialsystem V or venture over to mile’s newest location, Club Rekorder, with techno, electro, minimal and breaks lead by Herr Süss und Herr Sauer. If you forget to go home, no worries, the after-hour-party carries on outdoors the next morning.

Some will dance into the May and others will dance because they’re gay and for that, ZMF is hosting Neon Raiders – The Night Before The Riots with Duncan Whiteley and Mount Sims dispensing electroclash well into the morning hours.

If you want to get in touch with your darker intellectual side, Polar Magazine will host a release party for their tenth issue, “Death and Society” at the Sophiensaele. Afterwards, they’ll dance into May with resident DJs Jens Friebe und Julie Miess.

Be sure to check in and out of Exberliner for further Tanzen Bis Der Mai Kommt happenings.