- Since Popkomm moved from Cologne to Berlin in 2003, the German music exhibition had undergone a slight change in concept. Having been regarded as much for its main content (readings, workshops, meetings etc.), as its supporting program, in the past it had sometimes seemed like every public toilet in Cologne had become a makeshift club during the exhibition. When the same situation also started to happen in Berlin and talk of Popkomm relocating surfaced, thoughts had once again turned to whether the relocation would affect the exhibition's identity.
Once it was evident that the future success of Popkomm wasn't in immediate danger, Berliners welcomed the exhibition with open arms and the Berlin-based management of Paul van Dyk quickly arranged for him to close the Popkomm closing night. For Vandit, the final day of Popkomm became the perfect stage to present their best selling product; the son-in-law mother's dream about, star DJ Paul van Dyk.
Given the venue for Popkomm 2004, the Casino, was still a heap of rubble, Vandit & Popkomm were forced to procure a new playground and it wasn't long before the re-opened E-Werk began figuring in their minds. Four years on and having undergone a general refurbishment, the old power station in the centre of Berlin was now ready to survive its first big crowd rush as well as its first public event.
With clubs keeping the Popkomm things at a more familiar level, Vandit decided to let the closing event for 2005 be bigger than usual, booking a bunch of big name artists worthy of a huge festival. Established names like Nick Warren and Deep Dish alongside newcomers like Behrouz or Adam Sheridan saw clubbers coming to Berlin from Poland, the UK, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark and even Russia. Meanwhile as Berlin radio station Fritz broadcast proceedings, E-Werk head Ralf Regitz entertained the likes of trance protagonist Cosmic Baby or the pop duo Right Said Fred.
In the Evidence Hall on the huge first floor playing two sets, Paul van Dyk bookended Nick Warren with Adam Sheridan on warm-up duties while the second, more historic floor, Twirl saw the Deep Dish boys let off their steam accompanied by Behrouz and Italo export Benny Benassi.
Adam Sheridan, who has been championed by van Dyk and Corsten as one of the hottest newcomers around, didn't disappoint easily making the crowd side with him as he offered up some slamming beats.
At 3am Nick Warren took over the decks and on the back of his latest Global Underground compilation, "Shanghai" went about putting smiles on the faces in Evidence Hall. His characteristic rumbling beats were loosened up by break beat and huge anthems, causing the old walls to thoroughly sway before finishing on the classic Way out West track “Domination”.
Over on the second floor, the real surprise DJ of the night, Behrouz, was neatly stacking his coal on the bottom shelves, putting things in order early on with his deep and groovy house repertoire, before handing the crowd over to Benny Benassi.
Benassi tightened things up, prepared the fuse and the lighter and began causing the coal to glow in preparation for Washington duo, Deep Dish. Playing a 4 hour set Dubfire and Sharam unfolded their style of deep, tribal and driving house interspersed by several tracks from their recent artist album "George Is On", like the excellent “Swallow Me” and “Dreams” (feat. Steve Nicks) keeping the fire twirling until the early hours.
Although expectations had been high I have to say tonight was one of the best clubbing nights I've ever experienced: simply unforgettable. Great music, an awesome sound system, and a wicked view from the rooftop of 2000 people celebrating the return of a Berlin nightlife institution.
Welcome back on board E-Werk.