2014 edition of Berlin Atonal takes shape

Millie & Andrea, Sendai, In Aeternam Vale and Abdulla Rashim are amongst the first names announced for the festival. 

In original form, the Atonal festival ran from 1982 to 1990 as a showcase for some of the era’s foremost exponents of experimental music, with German acts such as Einstürzende Neubauten and Sprung Aus Den Wolken mingling with 808 State and Psychic TV on the lineups. After a 23 year hiatus, the festival returned to Berlin last July hosting six days of music at the city’s cavernous Kraftwerk venue (pictured above) from a storied contemporary cast that included Juan Atkins and Moritz Von Oswald, Raime, Voices From The Lake, Actress and Ancient Methods. Plans for a 2014 edition were first revealed back at the start of the year, with event organisers pushing back the dates to August due to “complex technical issues” pertaining to the venue in an announcement on their Facebook page.

Today the event organisers released the first round of line-up additions with a suitably compelling cast of musicians involved. Ensemble Modern, the long running German chamber music ensemble, have been commissioned to perform Steve Reich’s Music For 18 Musicians minimalist composition, whilst the festival will also see the debut of The End Of All Existence project from techno miserablist Milton Bradley and UF, a new collaborative endeavour from Downwards artists Samuel Kerridge and OAKE. Two generations of UK jungle are represented with originators Source Direct involved along with Modern Love’s grotty revivalists Millie & Andrea, whilst further diversity is offered with Tim Hecker, Sendai, Minimal Wave artist In Aeternam Vale, Headless Horseman, Abdulla Rashim and DSCRD all confirmed.

Berlin Atonal takes places August 20-24 – further details on tickets can be found at the festival website.