That’s right, our music programme is complete! New additions to Pop-Kultur 2023 include Berlin art-popster Charlotte Brandi, South African Music Award winner Sho Madjozi, sure to be bringing her viral hit »John Cena,« and pole performer FRZNTE, lending her DJ skills.
In addition, Nikita Netrebko, founder of the Kyiv-based event series and record label Worn Pop, and festival organiser Serhiy Yatsenko will present the commissioned work »Kyiv Black Box« as an interactive homage to the resilience of the Ukrainian club scene: a shipping container is outfitted to show a video installation from the Kyiv club Closer. In this simulated club situation, Pop-Kultur visitors get an impression of how the Ukrainian club scene sings, dances and celebrates in times like these – even though they constantly face electricity cuts.
In addition to the concerts and commissioned works, we have also put together the exciting and topical programme »Pop-Kultur Diskurs« with more than 15 talks, readings and film screenings. This includes exemplary initiatives for a diverse music industry (»Leuchtturmprojekte für ein gerechteres Miteinander in der Musikbranche«), the resistance of subcultures in the face of imperialist efforts (»Responses to Imperialism in Pop & Art«) and challenges for female pop artists in Africa’s music business (»African Women in the Music Industry«). Pop-Kultur media partner Deutschlandfunk Kultur has invited guests to talk about critical masculinity in pop and to record the cultural podcast Lakonisch Elegant on the topic of scandals and morality in pop culture, including Dieter Gorny (music manager and founder of Viva), Samira El Ouassil (columnist, podcaster, author) and Aida Baghernejad (cultural journalist) live at the festival.
»Pop-Kultur Diskurs« will also include a reading by Fikri Anıl Altıntaş (»Im Morgen wächst ein Birnbaum«; hosted by Miriam Davoudvandi) and a screening and Q&A of the feature film »Clashing Differences« by Merle Grimme – prominently featuring Thelma Buabeng and Minh-Khai Phan-Thi – which deals with the debates on diversity, ranging from tokenism to empowerment.
Day tickets for »Pop-Kultur Diskurs« are now available in the ticket shop. They cost 8 euros plus fees.
With an emphasis on transcultural exchange, Musicboard Berlin offers co-creation residencies with the aim of forging new connections between the music cultures of different countries. Augustus Williams & Souci (Detroit-Berlin Residency), Aka Kelzz & Ria Boss (Accra-Berlin Residency), Chrisman & Sara Persico (Kampala-Berlin Residency) and Jonas Schilling & Odelly (Tel Aviv-Berlin Residency) will perform their collaborations at the festival.
Also for this year’s edition, we’re widening the playing field with a very special focus: football. Under the banner of »CAN I KICK IT? YES, YOU CAN!«, we’re taking our position at the intersection of sports, activism and pop culture – artificial turf, foosball table, goal wall and football anthems included. And the best part: all of its individual events are discursive, interactive and take place free of charge for everyone, at the Çaystube and in the Kulturbrauerei cinema. Read more here!
See you from 30th August to 1st September at the Kulturbrauerei!
And here is the full line-up at a glance (new additions in bold)
Concerts and DJ-Sets of:
21 downbeat / Aili / Aka Kelzz & Ria Boss (Accra-Berlin Residency) / Albi X / Ansu / ARY / Augustus Williams & Souci (Detroit-Berlin Residency) / Banoffee / BRKN / C’est Karma / Casey MQ / Charlotte Brandi / Chrisman & Sara Persico (Kampala-Berlin Residency) / Charlotte Brandi / Codeine / Crack Cloud / cumgirl8 / Das Kinn / Dina Summer / Drag Syndrome / Empress Of / ERRORR / EVÎN / Fave / FEM*ERGY COLLECTIVE / Fheels / Fishbach / Free Love / FRZNTE / Get Jealous / Indigo Sparke / J. Vague / Jonas Schilling & Odelly (Tel Aviv-Berlin Residency) / Junior Boys / Karl Vento / Kwam.E / Lola Marsh / MADANII / Meagre Martin / mui zyu / Mulay / NAS TEA / Nashi44 / pape / Prince Emrah / Rasha Nahas / Robert Kretzschmar / Rosa Anschütz / Sam Quealy / Selin Davasse / Sho Madjozi / Sofie Royer / Sophia Blenda / Sorry / Stella Sommer / Tami T / T’neeya / The Düsseldorf Düsterboys / Tigre Bleu / Тucha / umru / Wa22ermann / Walter Astral / Wellen.Brecher / Zainab Lax / Zustra
Commissioned Works:
Anika »Lost Voices« / A Song For You / FAAM / Fuffifufzich »Kontrollverlust Romantico« / Garagen Uwe / Gloria de Oliveira »Serẽa« / Deaf Performance: Inna Shparber & Mark Petersen / Krista Papista »Fucklore Bellringers« / L Twills »After her Destruction« / Mariana Sadovska – Vesna / Nichtseattle »Haus aus Papier« / Nikita Netrebko & Serhiy Yatsenko »Kyiv Black Box« / Portrait XO / Voodoo Beach & Die Wilde Jagd »Kaskaden«
Films, Talks and Readings:
»African Women in the Music Industry«: Fave, Ria Boss, Mod.: Pamela Owusu-Brenyah / »A Record Label (What Is It Good For?) II«: Anton Teichmann, Marc Hollander, Olga Karatzioti-B., Mod.: Christina Mohr / »Clashing Differences«: Filmscreening & Q&A mit Merle Grimme / »Culture in a Warzone«: Dmytro Kyrpa, Maria Tuchka, Serhiy Yatsenko, Mod.: Simon Bonney / »Die Frau mit dem Arm«: Andreas Dorau & Gereon Klug / »Eastern Responses in Pop & Art to Imperialism«: Creams, Faina Yunusova, Mod.: Julia Boxler / »Leuchtturmprojekte für ein gerechteres Miteinander in der Musikbranche«: Felix Brückner, Fine Stammnitz, Franziska Lauter, Mod.: Anika Jankowski / »Im Morgen wächst ein Birnbaum«: Fikri Anıl Altıntaş, Mod.: Miriam Davoudvandi / »Lakonisch Elegant: Skandal und Moral in der Popkultur«: Aida Baghernejad, Dieter Gorny und Samira El Ouassil / »Money, Money, Money – gerechte Bezahlung?«: C’est Karma, Christin Nichols, Robert Kretzschmar, Moderation: Ariana Zustra / »Note to Self« – Artist Talk with Banoffee & Rasha Nahas moderated by Lior Neumeister / »Fabulous Drag Night Talk« – Chit Chat with Drag Syndrome and Saioa Alvarez Ruiz / Talk von Deutschlandfunk Kultur »Kritische Männlichkeiten: Wie viel Platz bietet der Pop für reflektierte Männer?«: Charlotte Brandi, Dominik Djialeu, Fikri Anıl Altıntaş, Frank Spilker, Mod.: Christoph Reimann & Juliane Reil
Thematic Focus »CAN I KICK IT? YES, YOU CAN!«
»Can I Kick the Pay Gap?«: Duygu Ağal, Ronny Blaschke, Saskia Wichert, Mod.: Felicia Mutterer (Talk) / »Colonastics«: Joana Tischkau, Elisabeth Hampe (Work Out Performances) / CSV Afrisko (interactive exhibition) / »Football Under Cover« (Films) / »Football Under Cover – Aktivismus und die aktuellen Geschehnisse«: Elnaz Farahbakhsh, Marlene Assmann-Khoueiry, Nada Arbaji, Mod.: Aida Baghernejad (Talk) »Karaokee Xpress« von gal sherizly, Như Huỳnh & MC Coach Trinity (Soccer anthems) / »Locker Room Talk«: Andi Pek, Johanna Behre (Podcast & Interviews) / »Mädchen am Ball« & »Nach dem Spiel« (Films) / »Nach dem Spiel«: Aysun Bademsoy, Duygu Agal, Mod.: Cana Bilir-Meier (Talk) / »Schwarze Adler« (Film) / »Tor zur Freiheit«: Tuğba Tekkal, Mod.: Maria Popov (Reading)