Festivals:
Carnival of Cultures
Kreuzberg becomes a multi-cultural extravaganza this week as groups from over 70 nations converge on the neighbourhood for Carnival of Cultures. The four-day celebration features food, costumes, music, and dance from around the world, and is crowned by an extraordinary street parade that kicks off Sunday, at 12:30pm, from Hermannplatz.
Price: Free
Location: Kreuzberg
Times: Friday, May 9 – Monday, May 12
More Information: www.karneval-berlin.de
Music/Concerts:
Copenhagen Jazz Festival In Berlin
Consider it a warm-up for the big event in July. This little festival features over a dozen of Denmark’s best jazz bands, right here in Berlin. Groups like the Karen Bach Trio and Exil play at six excellent venues throughout the city.
Price: Various
Location: Various
Times: Wednesday, May 7 – Sunday, May 11
Phone: 033 932 013
More Information: www.jazz.dk
Summer Concerts In The Botanical Garden
The Dixie Brothers bring their swinging jazz to the Berlin Botanical Garden Sunday morning to kick off the annual summer concert series. On select Fridays throughout the season, all types of groups, from Russian folk singers, to classical solo pianists, entertain amid the beautiful blooms.
Price: €13
Location: Botanischer Garten, 5-10 Unter den Eichen
Times: Sunday, May 11, 11am
Phone: 030 838 50100
More Information: www.bgbm.org
COLOGNE
Music/Concerts:
Ween
The wily American rockers are playing an exclusive European tour that includes a stop in Cologne Monday night. Come see how the tunes from their new album, a motley mix of schmaltzy jazz, electronica, and country rock, come off live.
Price: €25,00
Location: Live Music Hall, Lichtstr. 30
Times: Monday, May 12, 8pm
Phone: 0221 9542990
More Information: www.livemusichall.de
Museums/Galleries:
Kunst des Esoterischen Buddhismus
An amulet that the 17th century Shingon priest Hôzan Tankai created for the shogun Tokugawa Ienobu, is on display in this interesting exhibition of Buddhist relics. Once you’ve perused the religious objects go see the rest of the museum’s fantastic collection of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese art.
Price: €4,20
Location: Museum For East Asian Art, Universitätsstrasse 100
Times: Opens Saturday, May 10; Tuesday – Sunday, 11am – 5pm; Thursday, 11am – 8pm; through November 30
Phone: Tel.: 0221 940 5180
More Information: www.museenkoeln.de
DRESDEN
Music/Concerts:
International Dixieland Festival
The sounds of New Orleans take over the Saxon city of Dresden next week, as Dixieland jazz bands set up all over town. Ten stages line Prager Strasse, while a 15-band marathon takes place at the Kulturpalast. Look out for the parade next Sunday!
Price: Various
Location: Various
Times: Wednesday, May 14 – Sunday, May 18
Tickets: 0351 486 6666
More Information: shop.strato.de
DÜSSELDORF
Music/Concerts:
David Garret
As a teenager he played with the Munich Philharmonic, and the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchster, in Berlin. Called “the David Beckham of the classical scene,” the violin playing hottie hits Düsseldorf Tuesday night.
Price: €28,50-37
Location: PhilipsHalle, Siegburger Str. 15
Times: Wednesday, May 14, 8pm
Phone: 0211 77 50 57
More Information: www.handwerker-promotion.de
Jazz Rally
Jazz music fills the old town of Düsseldorf this weekend, when an international roster of bands roll into town. They’ll play at over 30 pubs, breweries, and concert halls, in about 70 concerts.
Price: Event pass, €25; Day ticket, €18; under 14, free
Location: Düsseldorf Altstadt
Times: Friday, May 9 – Sunday, May 11
More Information: www.duesseldorfer-jazzrally.de
FRANKFURT
Film:
British Schools Film Festival
This film festival brings the cinema of the UK to German teens and adolescents. Recent blockbusters like Pride and Prejudice and The Wind That Shakes the Barley will be shown during special matinee screenings. Be sure to download the accompanying study guide for each film.
Price: €1,25 – 6
Location: Kino des Deutschen Filmmuseums, Schaumainkai 41
Times: Monday, May 5 – Saturday, May 10, 6pm
Phone: 069 96 122 0500
More Information: www.deutschesfilmmuseum.de
Galleries/Museums:
Bernard Buffet
Andy Warhol once called him his favourite artist, and “the last great painter from Paris.” Lauded as “the painter of existentialism,” Bernard Buffet was one of France’s most important post-war painters. But he met with harsh criticism during the last few decades of his life. This exhibition presents a range of works from his oeuvre, including his 1954 work “L’horreur de la Guerre,” and 1989’s Jules Verne cycle.
Price: €7
Location: Museum für Moderne Kunst, Domstrasse 10
Times: Tuesday, Thursday – Sunday, 10am-5pm; Wednesday, 10am-8pm; through August 3
Phone: 069 212 30447
More Information: www.mmk-frankfurt.de
HAMBURG
Festivals:
819th Harbour Birthday Hamburg
Happy birthday Hamburg harbour! The port turns 819-years-old this year, and the celebration will be grand. Massive, historic ships will fill the waters, as extravagant entertainments occur on land. Join in on one of the biggest birthday parties of the season.
Price: Free
Location: Various
Times: Friday, May 9 – Monday, May 12
More Information: www.hafengeburtstag.de
Events:
Skate By Night
German cities are quite keen on skate nights. If you’re in Hamburg Wednesday, strap ’em on, and get rolling. Thousands of skaters will make their way through the city, while music and games provide a party atmosphere.
Price: Free to watch; €2 to skate
Location: Am Klagesmarkt
Times: Wednesday, May 14, meet at 6:30pm, skate at 9pm
More Information: www.skatebynight.de
HANNOVER
Festivals:
International Fireworks Competition
Got a thing for bursts of fiery colour lighting up the night sky? Then you won’t want to miss this Saturday’s event, when Portugal’s Macedo’s Pirotecnia team struts their stuff. Over the course of the summer five nations treat residents of Hannover to a bombastic fireworks display, as they compete for the title. There’s food, drink, concerts, theatre, and cabaret too!
Price: €18
Location: Grosser Garten
Times: Saturday, May 10, 6:30pm
More Information: www.hannover.de
LEIPZIG
Festivals:
Wave Gothic Meeting
Attention Goths! You’re going to want to be in Leipzig this weekend. Over a hundred bands from around the world play at interesting venues like churches, the cellar bar in the Moritzbastei, and at the Battle of Leipzig Monument for the annual Wave Gothic Meeting. Don your darkest outfit, load on the eyeliner, and prepare for the time of your life.
Price: Event pass €58; camping, transport & extras pack €21; parking €15/day
Location: Various
Times: Friday, May 9 – Monday, May 12
Phone: 0341 212 0862
More Information: www.wave-gotik-treffen.de
MUNICH
Music/Concerts:
Theatron Pfingst Festival 2008
An international array of cool indie rock bands like The Guns, from Wales, Sweden’s Zeigeist, and Munich’s own Monostars get a chance to kick it into high gear at this springtime festival. Free live music, on a great stage, in the park, by the lake? No better way to spend a spring weekend.
Price: Free
Location: Theatron, Olympiapark
Times: Saturday, May 10 – Monday, May 12; 4pm – 10pm
More Information: www.theatron.de