Yeah, the Pop-Kultur programme continues to grow! Today we can announce over 40 more concerts, commissioned works and talks. From 24th to 26th August, you can expect the discourse-driven band Ja, Panik, the Kurdish-German rapper Ebow and Brazilian multimedia artist and trans-feminist activist Sanni Est with her commissioned work »Photophobia«.
And then there are Pop-Kultur’s commissioned works, created especially for the festival, which you can experience for the first and usually only time; for example, the explosive stage provocation by Gewalt (»Du bist Gewalt«) and a creepy opera in which Sean Nicholas Savage confronts his alter ego (»The Fear«). And then there’s »52 Jokers« in which the avant-garde underground musician Little Annie and the musical director of the Volkstheater Wien Paul Wallfisch (Botanica, Swans) offer a tour de force through the eventful life of the artist Beth B, based on of her autobiography, poetry books, song lyrics and sketches on politics and society. Meanwhile, in »K.ZIA’s Living Room Experience«, K.ZIA deals with the senses and (re)connecting after the collective lockdown, inviting the audience to synaesthetic space where they can be fully with themselves and with others at the same time.
At the centre of this year’s productions is often dialogue, notes Pamela Schlewinski, who has coordinated the commissioned works along with Raphael Börger: »Many projects are about rituals, often with a clear desire on the part of the artists to connect with the audience. However, they realise this desire in very different ways – sometimes mindful, sometimes provocative, sometimes experimental and sometimes curious or playful.« For example, the band Yum Yum Club will completely change its lineup, member by member, over the course of their show.
Besides the music, an important aspect of the Pop-Kultur experience are the talks. A panel discussion on youth culture will be dedicated to the highly acclaimed funk series »DRUCK«, dealing with Gen-Z issues, from first loves to racist experiences, with screenwriters Raquel Kishori Dukpa and Naomi Bechert along with actors Nhung Hoang and Eren Güvercin. In addition, pop-cultural journalist Jens Balzer and interdisciplinary cultural anthropologist Julian Warner will take a critical look at the debates on forms of cultural appropriation. The talk will be moderated by Aida Baghernejad. »Where Does The Party Go« is what Sonja Eismann (Missy Magazine) will ask synth-pop artist Uffie, who will offer insight into the fast-paced music industry as well as her own comeback. Last but not least, Cem Kaya will bring his film »Aşk, Mark ve Ölüm – Liebe, D-Mark und Tod« for screening and discussion. The documentary essay premiered at this year’s Berlinale, showcasing the flourishing music culture of Turkish migrant workers, ranging from Germany’s 1961 labor recruitment deal through the post-reunification period.
Yeşim Duman, creating the Pop-Kultur programme along with Pamela Owusu-Brenyah and Christian Morin, has focused her curation on a new and future form of queer/post-migrant coexistence. Among the acts she has booked are Hannah Diamond and Ebow. Duman says: »Queer/post-migrant refers to an artistic, interpersonal and musical process dealing with society as a whole and the overall sound of pop at the moment. Queer/post-migrant – it goes far beyond me as an individual who is queer and with a familial history of migration. ‘Queer/post-migrant’ includes all of us.«
The Pop-Kultur pop-up tea room »Çaystube«, which is also part of the Kultursommerfestival Berlin, is one of Duman’s other focal points. With its own unique programme, the Çaystube is set outdoors and has free admission, offering low-threshold access to a broad audience and, as a safer space, facilitates exchange and encounters. Acts slated to perform include the queer, non-binary singer Anthony Hüseyin, who mixes house, nu-disco and Türk Sanat Müzigi (Turkish Art Music) as well as the laid-back, sunglassed heartbreaker Fuffifufzich.
This year, the centrepiece of the Çaystube is the interactive and performative commissioned work »Karaokee Xpress« by gal sherizly & Như Huỳnh, where visitors themselves can have a moment in the Pop-Kultur spotlight. The stage will welcome anyone and everyone to request a song, step up and sing. Furthermore, the Çaystube artists will concoct drinks based on various essences, tastes and smells from all over the world.
We’re very much looking forward to seeing you!
You can get tickets here!
All newly announced slots at a glance:
Concerts: Aili / ANIQO / David Julian Kirchner / Ebow / Falana / Franky Gogo / Friends of Gas / Hannah Catherine Jones / Hannah Diamond / houaïda / HSRS / Ifriqiyya Electrique / Ja, Panik / L Twills / Lafawndah / Levin Goes Lightly / Liam Mour / Metz / Public Display of Affection / Rose May Alaba / SALOMEA / Schulverweis / Sign Libra / Vaovao / Warm Graves / Xenia Rubinos / Zaho de Sagazan / Σtella
Talks and Films: »Ethik der Appropriation«: Jens Balzer, Julian Warner, Mod.: Aida Baghernejad / »I’ll be fine: Talk über Popkultur, Druck und Gen Z«: Eren Güvercin, Naomi Bechert, Nhung Hoang, Mod.: Raquel Kishori Dukpa / »Where does the party go?«: Uffie, Sonja Eismann / »Aşk, Mark ve Ölüm – Liebe D‑Mark und Tod«: Screening and talk with Cem Kaya
Commissioned Works: gal sherizly & Như Huỳnh: »Karaokee Xpress« / GEWALT: »Du bist Gewalt« / Joanna Gemma Auguri: »Music for a Private Room Where a Broken Heart Can Beat at Its Own Pace« / K.ZIA: »K.ZIA’s Living Room Experience« / Little Annie, Beth B & Paul Wallfisch: »52 Jokers« / Sanni Est: »Photophobia« / Sean Nicholas Savage: »The Fear« / Yum Yum Club: »Yum Yum Club is Everybody«
Also appearing as already announced:
Concerts, DJ sets and more: Aksak Maboul / Alewya / alyona alyona / Amewu / Amilli / Anna B Savage / Anthony Hüseyin / Arooj Aftab / Cartel Madras / Catnapp / Christin Nichols / Dlina Volny / Donia Touglo / Drangsal: »DOCH« (Reading) / eat-girls / Edward Hunt / Fehler Kuti / FOKN Bois / Fuffifufzich / Gianni Mae / Girlwoman / Grace Cummings / Graf Fidi / Hyd / Isolation Berlin / KABEAUSHÉ / Kælan Mikla / LEOPARD / Liz / Lotic / M.anifest / Nuha Ruby Ra / Oklou / Scúru Fitchádu / Taffee / Tama Gucci / Thala / Theodora / Uffie / Verifiziert / Wa22ermann
Commissioned Works: Anika presents »Lost Voices« / BĘÃTFÓØT feat. Kunty Klub / Güner Künier / Jovanka von Wilsdorf & Bison Rouge »Found in Translation«
More talks and live acts to be announced!