- The thought of DIY-style parties may stir excitement in some, while causing others to roll their eyes. When they come off, these events can be unforgettable, but it's often tough to get past the inevitable drawbacks—questionable sound, an understocked bar, a messy Portaloo situation. None of these factors ring true for Libertine Club, the modest Berlin spot located on the edge of Mitte in a gritty archway below the S-Bahn. It's been up and running since May, though in that time it's only hosted six parties.
The team behind Libertine are residents Yoshi, Sbri and Saverio Celesti, a trio who call Berlin home. As a collective, they've been throwing parties in the city since 2014, booking artists like Binh, Nicolas Lutz, Vera and the Slow Life gang to play unfrequented venues that generally fall off the beaten track. They also run a record label, which goes by the same name, that has put out four 12-inches so far, most of which feature oddball minimal tunes and techno with a bleepy, electro flair.
The new space is pretty straightforward: one bar, some makeshift sofas and a dance floor with space for around 250 people. The floor is flanked by a loud and surprisingly punchy system, and a window behind the DJ booth offers a picturesque view of the River Spree. Frankfurt's Max Vaahs was playing when I arrived late on Sunday evening. Numbers were sparse at this point and the vibe was like a laid-back afterhours, but Inland Knights' "Empty Head" and Uruguayan up-and-comer Z@p's "D-04" soon helped boost the energy. Recent Perlon signing Spacetravel took over after Vaahs, and the floor began to steadily swell before the evening's headliner, Daniel Bell, took control at around 1 AM. Over the years, the party’s focus has more or less been on minimal-leaning local talent, so it seemed appropriate that their first transatlantic booking should be the Detroit veteran. He was on fine form, fluidly mixing between driving minimal cuts and upbeat, loopy house.
It being a school night, I wasn't able to stay until the end, though I left the night feeling positive. Initially billed as a temporary space, Libertine appears to be extending its sporadic programming over the next couple of months, with a heavyweight NYE party and two 2017 dates already in the diary. Personally, I think that's great news for Berlin.