Dear friends of Pop-Kultur,

The astronaut ice cream is packed, and the space suit fits like a glove. In anticipation of takeoff for the 21st through the 23rd of August 2019, we’re transmitting the next announcement. Next to Mykki Blanco, CocoRosie, Jenny Wilson, Die Goldenen Zitronen and Jungstötter will be Anna Calvi, Planningtorock, Perel, Karies, Little Annie & Paul Wallfisch, Dirk von Lowtzow, Okzharp & Manthe Ribane, One Mother, молчат дома and many others, blasting off into deep space from the Kulturbrauerei in Prenzlauer Berg. No fewer than 99+ concerts, DJ sets, talks and films are planned – an overview can be found at the end of this newsletter.

This is all bolstered by 15+ »Pop-Kultur Commissioned Works«, taking place across different venues and surveying previously unknown frontiers. ANDRRA, Ilgen-Nur, KlitClique, Lisa Morgenstern & Bulgarian Voices Berlin as well as Rosaceae will be followed by further confirmed names.

Inspired by Dante Alighieri, Magic Island will transform the Gewölbekeller together wie Anatomie Fleur into an immersive installation between hell, purgatory and paradise. Equally ambitious is the house band of the RambaZamba theatre, 21 Downbeat, teaming up with Jens Friebe for a new interpretation of Richard Wagner’s opera cycle »Der Ring des Nibelungen« (trimming it down to a one-hour pop-opera spectacle). In »Picture Me Different,« Janto Djassi Roessner deals with questions of identity, while Masha Qrella offers insight into her work inspired by the output of author Thomas Brasch and Nikko Weidemann becomes a human jukebox offering an autobiographical revue. Jauche, on the other hand, is a project allowing its members Max Rieger, Ralv Milberg und Thomas Zehnle, to improvise for six hours long.

If you can’t commit to a three-day trek through the Pop-Kultur universe, you can still go on a cosmic day-trip. Once again, we’re offering day tickets for 25€ plus fees. They’re valid for every event happening that day, for every venue till they reach capacity.

And of course we can’t forget about our »Pop-Kultur Nachwuchs« programme. With about 45 workshops, it will connect 250 young talents from around the world with artists from the live programme with players from the business world, politics and the music industry. The application period is already in full swing and continues through the 24th of May. More information is available at nachwuchs.pop-kultur.berlin.

We’re also looking forward to the second event from our »Pop-Kultur lokal« series! Weeeirdos welcome you to Fitzroy on the 23rd of May for a concert and performance evening of a different kind. More info is coming shortly.

And since we’ve thrown a lot of info at you at warp speed, here are all of the confirmed commissioned works and the live programme at a glance:

Fotos: CocoRosie, Jenny Wilson, Mykki Blanco by Julia Burlingham, Die Heiterkeit, Jungstötter

The stars are aligned – today’s the day: we’re announcing the first 25 names for Pop-Kultur 2019! Over the past ten days in our Countdown 2019, we’ve already revealed the following musicians: CocoRosie, Shabazz Palaces, ÄTNA, Repetitor, Ilgen-Nur, Mykki Blanco, KlitClique, Station 17, Lisa Morgenstern & Bulgarian Voices Berlin and Die Goldenen Zitronen.

They’ll all be there when Pop-Kultur begins its fifth orbit around the Sun, blasting off from the 21st to 23rd of August, 2019, at the Kulturbrauerei in Prenzlauer Berg, with 15 different stages spanning concerts, DJ sets, talk formats, world premieres of commissioned works and other uncharted frontiers. »Pop-Kultur is staying true to its mission of offering food for thought – not only with rousing musical works but with exciting panels and workshops as well,« says festival director Katja Lucker.

Apropos of our commissioned works, world premieres of works created especially for Pop-Kultur come courtesy of Hamburg musician Ilgen-Nur, Vienna’s KlitClique, Lisa Morgenstern together with the choir Bulgarian Voices Berlin, Rosaceae and ANDRRA. Following these five, we will be unveiling further exclusive debuts in the coming months.

For now, we are thrilled to announce concerts by alyona alyona, Blu Samu, Deerhoof, Die Heiterkeit, Haszcara, Jenny Wilson, Juicy, Jungstötter, Lali Puna, Michelle Blades, Rosemary Loves A Blackberry, Shari Vari and UMA!

When it comes to music and art, part of the Pop-Kultur philosophy is dealing with socially relevant topics and with interdisciplinary, diverse perspectives. »We want to shift the theme of identity against the populist trend into a constructive focus, for example,« emphasises co-curator Christian Morin. Not only onstage, of course, but behind the scenes as well.

With that in mind, we are continuing our commitment to supporting the next generation of musicians and creatives. In parallel with the festival, »Pop-Kultur Nachwuchs« will gather 250 newcomers from all over the world for around 45 workshops, connecting them with artists from the lineup and with movers and shakers from business, politics and the music industry. The application phase begins on the 25th of April at the »Pop-Kultur Nachwuchs« website. »Fresh talent is part of our lifeblood, and we have the unique opportunity to network up-and-coming artists with experienced professionals, giving them a boost of support and inspiration along the way. We’ve seen multiple Nachwuchs participants go on to take the stage within the following year,« says co-curator Martin Hossbach.

Low-income access remains a central concern of ours this year, as is the case with our core program. In addition to the regular 3-day festival pass for the price of 60€ (plus fees), we are once again offering a social ticket. Holders of a berlinpass may present theirs at the »Pop-Kultur« box office and receive a 50% discoun

We will publish the second half of the live program in early May, and in June will announce our lectures, discussions and film screenings.