festnoise | Music & Festivals

Just a few days ago I published a list with the 20 music venues up to 500 in Berlin and today is the turn of the largest venues where to enjoy live music, this time 15 of them. One might think that when it comes to large venues, perhaps the charm can be lost, but although there are some new and quite commercial ones on the list, there are also some very special ones that are a hallmark of Berlin.

Lido

Located in what used to be the main street (Schlesische Straße) of the Kreuzberg district, in the 50s and 60s the place was a landmark for the underground culture in East Berlin. After a decade marked by Rock'n'Roll, the 80s and 90s were years of decline away from music until it opened again in 2006 offering space to locate up to 600 people in the large hall. If you like Indie, this is your place!

Check Lido`s website for more information and find it in Berlin here.

Waldbühne

The Waldbühne (Woodland Stage or Forest Stage) is an impressive amphitheatre at Olympiapark Berlin in Berlin designed in emulation of a Greek theatre and built between 1934 and 1936 by the Nazis. With a capacity of 22.000 seated people, since World War II it has been used for a variety of events, including classical and rock concerts. It seats more than 22,000 people.

Check Waldbühne`s website for more information and find it in Berlin here.

Astra Kulturhaus

Located in Warschauer Strasse, next to smaller venues like Badehaus, Cassiopeia or Urban Spree, Astra reopened its doors in 2009 in the site of the former Kulturhaus of the GDR Reichsbahn. Astra has today a capacity of 2000 people (1500 + 500) and the space is divided into two rooms plus a large and cozy beer garden.

Check Astra`s website for more information and find it in Berlin here.

Admiralspalast

The Admiralspalast (German for admiral palace) is a 1.756 seat theatre located in the Mitte district of Berlin and it is, with over a century of history one of the few preserved variety venues of the pre-World War II era in the city.

Check Admiralspalast`s website for more information and find it in Berlin here.

Wuhlheide

The Kindl-Bühne Wuhlheide is a cultural heritage site in Berlin which serves as an open-air performance venue in the shape of an amphitheater. It is part of Wuhlheide Public Park and the amphitheater has a capacity of 17.000 people (15,300 seated). It is the second-largest open-air stage in Berlin, only behind Waldbühne.

Check Wuhlheide`s website for more information and find it in Berlin here.

Tempodrom

Initially founded by a nurse called Irene Moessinger after she came into an 800.000 mark inheritance from her father, Tempodrom opened in 1980 next to the Potsdamer Platz and it was housed in a large circus tent. Today's location was built in 2001 next to former Berlin Anhalter Train Station and with a capacity to accommodate 3.500 people it holds a wide variety of events.

Check Tempodrom`s website for more information and find it in Berlin here.

Huxley’s Neue Welt

Located in the site of the former concert hall Neue Welt, today’s venue Huxley’s Neue Welt can hold up to 1,600 people in the audience. The old location even held public speeches of Adolf Hitler and it was re-built in 1950. Back then it had two rooms, a smaller one for 1.500 people and a larger one for up to 3.000 and the location turned into a popular venue for pop and rock concerts in the 60s and 70s and had Jimi Hendrix playing there.

Check Huxleys Neue Welt`s website for more information and find it in Berlin here.

Columbiahalle

Both Columbiahalle and its little sister Columbia Theater are located opposite to the old Tempelhof airport, and are former US leisure facilities. The history of the venues goes back to 1951, when the Columbiahalle opened as a sports hall for American soldiers posted in Berlin. With a capacity of 3.500 people and two levels, Columbiahalle is today one of the most important venues in the city.

Check Columbiahalle`s website for more information and find it in Berlin here.

Mercedes Benz Arena

The Mercedes-Benz Arena opened in 2008 and it has a capacity of 17.000 people. It's the biggest arena of Berlin and in addition to concerts is also home to the Eisbären Berlin ice hockey club and the Alba Berlin basketball team.

Check Mercedes Benz`s website for more information and find it in Berlin here.

Kesselhaus

The Kesselhaus in the Kulturbrauerei is a multifunctional space focused on music with a capacity of 1.000 people in the heart of Prenzlauer Berg. The Maschinenhaus venue is located directly next to it.

Check Kesselhaus`s website for more information and find it in Berlin here.

YAAM

YAAM (Young and African Arts Market) has been around for almost two decades already. In addition to music it includes street art, an urban beach and food trucks, everything in a Caribbean and African environment. YAAM is one of the last Reggae/Dancehall/Hip-Hop clubs that Berlin has to offer.

Check YAAM`s website for more information and find it in Berlin here.

Velodrom

Velodrom is an indoor track cycling arena located in Prenzlauer Berg that has a capacity of 12.000 people, the largest in Berlin until the Mercedes Benz arena opened its doors.

Check Velodrom`s website for more information and find it in Berlin here.

Verti Music Hall

The Verti Music Hall is a new location located in the Mercedes Platz right in front of the Mercedes Benz arena. It has a capacity for up to 4.350 people.

Check Verti Music Hall`s website for more information and find it in Berlin here.

Festsaal

Fully renovated in 2017, the Festsaal Kreuzberg is located next to the Spree in the outskirts of Treptow and it has a capacity of 1.500 people. The venue includes a big beer garden with a grill station.

Check Festsaal `s website for more information and find it in Berlin here.

Funkhaus

A very special location. Although quite remote from the city, Funkhaus Nalepastraße is one of those countless treasures that Berlin hides. Located next to the Spree in Berlin Treptow-Köpenick, between 1956 and 1990 it happened to be the headquarters of the GDR radio station. After the German unification it was renamed as Funkhaus Berlin and today it hosts cultural events of all kinds (Red Bull Music Academy, Tech Open Air, etc..) and no matter what goes on there, it's always worth a visit (especially with good weather).