Preview - the week ahead (1st - 7th July)

After the high of the heat comes the low of autumn weather in July. But look at things in a positive manner: It will make good gigs around town a lot more bearable, unless you really fancy a sauna right now. As per last week, Thursday is must-go-out day in Berlin this week, but join the whole Craze team at West Germany on Saturday. Don't forget to come and say hi to us when seeing us around town!

Tuesday
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros at Heimathafen: Ok, this gig is definitely not your typical Craze material and, now that their wonderful number Home has been used for a television advert, not really in need of our support. However, I have a very soft spot for Edward Sharpe and his songwriting, so I am sticking it in here anyway. So there.
 
Thursday
Chelsea Light Moving at Festsaal Kreuzberg: Thurston Moore’s latest project does not cut it for me like his solo records do, let alone Sonic Youth, but it does have the trademark Thurston Moore sound and voice. And that alone is reason to head to Festsaal tonight and admire one of the heroes of modern music as we know it. Read my review of his amazing show at Volksbühne to know you don’t want to miss this.
Alex Zhang Hungtai, Bernadino Femminielli, Shub Roy and other guests, at Haus der Berliner Festspiele: Another month, another Dirty Beaches show. Or so it seems. But this one is special. As part of the Foreign Affairs arts festival, Alex Zhang Hungtai and his band companion, Canadian sound artist Bernadino Femminielli, are performing a revue three nights in a row at Haus der Berliner Festspiele - for free! Be there on time as all Foreign Affairs events start punctually. Then, on Saturday see Dirty Beaches support Anika in a more common gig setting.



Bobby Conn at Privatclub: Goodness, I used to be obsessed with this man. At times funky, at times disco, sometimes soul, he did the whole analog dance thing long before others claimed our dancefloors. Bobby Conn also combines his rhythmic soul with a good style and performance art to match. You like new acts like Mac DeMarco? Well, this is the original (indie version) deal. Bring a sense of humour!



Friday
Diät, Piss, and P.U.F.F. at Koma F: We are documented Diät fans. I don’t know much about the other two obscenely named punk bands but I presume that this will be a good punk rock night all around in the right squat setting for it.

Saturday
Anika and Dirty Beaches at Haus der Berliner Festspiele: As per above, Anika, who J. and I have been supporters of for some time, and Dirty Beaches, one of my top favourites, are playing at the Foreign Affairs Festival. Tickets are currently still available, so get them while you can.
Phoebe Kreutz at Down By The River Festival (about:blank): Festival season in Berlin. The annual Down By The River festival is opening its gates again this weekend and I have chosen Phoebe Kreutz as my pick of the fest: charming, funny and clever, this singer-songwriter will make you smile and jig.
Retox, Zeus!, and BATALJ at West Germany: Californian überclever punk rockers Retox are coming back to Berlin, this time with Italian noise duo Zeus!, another too-cool-for-school Three One G label protegée, in tow. These two are getting a lot of attention for a good reason - what a record! J. and my local noise faves BATALJ are the best support this town could imagine for a fantastic noise punk night at beloved West Germany. Read our last Retox review and get excited. See you there, front row!