Lost Clubs of West Berlin: Before Berlin Became the Techno Capital - vol.2

Part of Berlin by Foot, this tour traces West Berlin’s electronic music scene of the 80s and 90s, before techno as we know it.
About this Event

Due to high demand, we are delighted to announce a second edition of our Berlin by Foot tour exploring West Berlin’s electronic music scene of the 1980s and 1990s. Join Dr. Jonathan Weatherill-Hunt as we revisit the stories and sounds that shaped the city’s early acid house and techno culture.

The route will trace the sites of former and influential electronic dance music venues in the west of Berlin during the 80s and 90s, illustrating how electronic dance music has reflected and influenced the city’s identity since the late twentieth century. Though today it is the east of Berlin that is more closely associated with its clubbing culture, this was not always the case, especially when the city was divided by the Berlin wall. In the late 1980s and even the early to mid 1990s, there were many venues in the western districts of Schöneberg, Tiergarten and Kreuzberg that held early acid house and techno parties, or even acted as after-hours venues for people to continue dancing as the sun came up. These include the historic locations of:

• UFO Dance Club
• Turbine Rosenheim
• Fischlabor
• METROPOL
• Quartier Latin
• 90 Grad

This journey through Schöneberg and Tiergarten will give participants a detailed overview and description of what the early electronic dance music scene in west Berlin would have looked like during the genre's earliest, most formative years.

Your guide:
Originally from the outskirts of London, Dr. Jonathan Weatherill-Hunt has been passionate about electronic dance music since the early 1990s. Based in Berlin from 2018, he works as a DJ, producer, tour guide, and holds a doctorate in Popular Musicology.

We will meet at 12:30 at U-Bahnhof Kleistpark (U7), Hauptstraße 162, 10827 – next to "Train Cocktailbar". The tour will begin promptly at 12:45.

Please note: To respect the current use of these iconic buildings (many are now private offices or cafés), our tour focuses on the exterior architecture and the incredible stories behind these walls. Get ready for a deep dive into Berlin’s lost club culture!

A valid 24 hr AB public transport ticket (11,20 €) or two short trip tikets (2, 80 € each) are highly recommended. Some locations are easier to reach by taking the U-Bahn 1 or 2 stops.

What are you waiting for? Don't just see Berlin—experience it. Lace up your shoes and let Dr. Jonathan Weatherill-Hunt show you the city’s best-kept secrets. It’s Berlin like you’ve never seen it, complete with a complimentary copy of The Berliner magazine!
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photo: Imago/Serienlicht