Friction Fest in Berlin, Germany is a two day festival for music lovers who are willing to enjoy the experiment and see musicians push boundaries. The name reflects the festival mission: to create friction between different genres and styles of music. The organizers goal is to establish an international forum for bands and artists who are committed to exploring new sounds and taking things a step further than your average rock or metal band. The Friction Fest is the opposite of run of the mill festival routines which offer only bands from a very narrow musical spectrum. With thirty two bands and artists scheduled to perform at three different venues, Friction Fest offers a truly diverse and unique lineup.
The festival is being held near Warschauer Straße which puts you right in the heart of alternative culture Berlin. A former train repair plant where empty and ruined factory halls have become one of Berlin’s most important places for underground culture, it provides the perfect ambiance for a festival meant to be a little more than an ordinary music festival. During the summer months the area is a popular place for people to get together and watch a film in the open-air cinema or have a beer in the beer garden, but the biggest draw is the music that is played at the various local clubs. Also located in the area during the festival is an art exhibition by artists from the music scene as well as a variety of affordable quality foods.
There are three Friction Fest venues, Astra Kulthurhaus, RAW Tempel and Cassiopeia. Astra Kulturhaus, the mainstage for Friction Fest, features state of the art lighting and sounds systems and accommodates up to 1800 people. RAW Tempel and Cassiopeia will house additional stages within walking distance and each accommodate up to 300 people. Friction Fest 2010 takes place on May 7-8, tickets are available for 55€ (about $70) and get you access to the entire event at all the venues. For more information on Friction Fest tickets and lineup click here.
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