Does Leipzig Throw the Best Parties In Germany?
does-leipzig-throw-the-best-parties-in-germany
November 19, 2014
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# Does Leipzig Throw the Best Parties In Germany?
Leipzig will forever hold a special place in my heart. It was the first
European city I ever visited, the site of my first [DJ][1]{:
target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"} gig outside the US, and the
birthplace of the first large-scale music festival I ever attended,
the [Wave Gotik Treffen][2]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener
noreferrer"}. Eight years later, I still love returning, because there's
just something about Leipzig.
WGT is not the city's only attraction. Aside from the typical tourist
traps, it houses a rich arts community, a plethora of hardcore left-wing
activists, and a dedicated DIY underground party scene that consists of
long-running queer events like [Lumière Bleue][3]{: target="_blank"
rel="noopener noreferrer"} as well as newly-established clubs like
the [Institut für Zukunft][4]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener
noreferrer"}, which has already garnered word-of-mouth accolades as one
of the best new clubs in Germany. Their regular bookings
include [Perc][5]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}, [Jam
City][6]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}, [M.E.S.H.][7]{:
target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"} and Felix K., so I'd tend to
agree---in fact, I liked the space so much that I [collaborated
on a party][8]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"} there this
past Halloween. Besides clubbing, it always feels like there's
*something* cool or weird to do in the city, be it [circuit-bending
workshops][9]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"} (I still have
scars on my fingers from a memorable bend at 2009's [Claws of
Saurtopia][10]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"} noisefest)
or picking wild garlic and mushrooms in the surrounding forests.
When I say that the party scene is underground, I mean it. It seems like
most of the parties in Leipzig are your typical student gatherings,
which means the music is either a standard house/techno combo or
indielectro from 2009. Friends who live there often complain about the
dire musical milieu, but as a mere visitor to the city, I find this
limited availability of fresh sounds exciting. Being spoiled for choice
in a place like Berlin often makes people complacent and jaded, but when
you're coming to a rare event, the night takes on a unique and beautiful
aspect that's better than any drink or drug.
The scarcity of the New and the Now is part of what makes doing parties
in Leipzig such a wild experience. For the official [Doom Over
Leipzig][11]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"} 2013
afterparty, I was booked to play hard trap and hip-hop, which was a
strange follow-up to a festival dedicated to doom metal and experimental
music. Nevertheless, I've rarely seen a crowd go as hard as that
evening. Leipzig may be quieter than Berlin, but there's nowhere in the
world that I've partied harder and dirtier.
For those who've never been but have read [hype-zig articles][12]{:
target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"} about how it might be the
["new Berlin"][13]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}, be
told: It is *not*. Leipzig is its own strange and electrifying self.
Treat it as such, and you'll find rare and beautiful things.
*Telekom Electronic Beats is hosting a series of Clubnights at Leipzig's
Institut für Zukunft. Find more information [here][14]{: target="_blank"
rel="noopener noreferrer"}. Cover photo of Born In Flamez by Lisanne
Schulze.*
[1]: https://soundcloud.com/goldecahedron
[2]: http://www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/english/
[3]: https://www.facebook.com/lumiere.bl?fref=ts
[4]: http://ifz.me/
[5]: http://www.electronicbeats.net/artist/perc/
[6]: http://www.electronicbeats.net/artist/jam-city/
[7]: http://www.electronicbeats.net/artist/m-e-s-h/
[8]: https://www.facebook.com/events/564956400317074/
[9]: http://www.electronicbeats.net/events/2014/build-your-own-808-bass-drum-with-leafaudio/
[10]: http://clawsofsaurtopia.tumblr.com/
[11]: http://www.doomoverleipzig.com/
[12]: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/07/travel/new-berlin-or-not-leipzig-has-new-life.html?_r=0
[13]: http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2014/sep/11/is-leipzig-the-new-berlin
[14]: http://clubnight.electronicbeats.net/location/institut-fur-zukunft/
---
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blueprint: article
title: 'Does Leipzig Throw the Best Parties In Germany?'
date: 2014-11-19T11:34:22+01:00
wp_id: '85773'
slug: does-leipzig-throw-the-best-parties-in-germany
teaser_image: legacy/does-leipzig-throw-the-best-parties-in-germany/Screen-Shot-2015-10-20-at-15.43.42.png
contents:
-
type: text
text: '<p>Leipzig will forever hold a special place in my heart. It was the first European city I ever visited, the site of my first <a href="https://soundcloud.com/goldecahedron" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">DJ</a> gig outside the US, and the birthplace of the first large-scale music festival I ever attended, the <a href="http://www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/english/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wave Gotik Treffen</a>. Eight years later, I still love returning, because there’s just something about Leipzig.</p><p>WGT is not the city’s only attraction. Aside from the typical tourist traps, it houses a rich arts community, a plethora of hardcore left-wing activists, and a dedicated DIY underground party scene that consists of long-running queer events like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lumiere.bl?fref=ts" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lumière Bleue</a> as well as newly-established clubs like the <a href="http://ifz.me/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Institut für Zukunft</a>, which has already garnered word-of-mouth accolades as one of the best new clubs in Germany. Their regular bookings include <a href="http://www.electronicbeats.net/artist/perc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Perc</a>, <a href="http://www.electronicbeats.net/artist/jam-city/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jam City</a>, <a href="http://www.electronicbeats.net/artist/m-e-s-h/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">M.E.S.H.</a> and Felix K., so I’d tend to agree—in fact, I liked the space so much that I <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/564956400317074/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">collaborated on a party</a> there this past Halloween. Besides clubbing, it always feels like there’s <em>something</em> cool or weird to do in the city, be it <a href="http://www.electronicbeats.net/events/2014/build-your-own-808-bass-drum-with-leafaudio/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">circuit-bending workshops</a> (I still have scars on my fingers from a memorable bend at 2009’s <a href="http://clawsofsaurtopia.tumblr.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Claws of Saurtopia</a> noisefest) or picking wild garlic and mushrooms in the surrounding forests.</p><p>When I say that the party scene is underground, I mean it. It seems like most of the parties in Leipzig are your typical student gatherings, which means the music is either a standard house/techno combo or indielectro from 2009. Friends who live there often complain about the dire musical milieu, but as a mere visitor to the city, I find this limited availability of fresh sounds exciting. Being spoiled for choice in a place like Berlin often makes people complacent and jaded, but when you’re coming to a rare event, the night takes on a unique and beautiful aspect that’s better than any drink or drug.</p><p>The scarcity of the New and the Now is part of what makes doing parties in Leipzig such a wild experience. For the official <a href="http://www.doomoverleipzig.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Doom Over Leipzig</a> 2013 afterparty, I was booked to play hard trap and hip-hop, which was a strange follow-up to a festival dedicated to doom metal and experimental music. Nevertheless, I’ve rarely seen a crowd go as hard as that evening. Leipzig may be quieter than Berlin, but there’s nowhere in the world that I’ve partied harder and dirtier.</p><p>For those who’ve never been but have read <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/07/travel/new-berlin-or-not-leipzig-has-new-life.html?_r=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">hype-zig articles</a> about how it might be the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2014/sep/11/is-leipzig-the-new-berlin" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">“new Berlin”</a>, be told: It is <em>not</em>. Leipzig is its own strange and electrifying self. Treat it as such, and you’ll find rare and beautiful things.</p><p><em>Telekom Electronic Beats is hosting a series of Clubnights at Leipzig’s Institut für Zukunft. Find more information <a href="http://clubnight.electronicbeats.net/location/institut-fur-zukunft/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>. Cover photo of Born In Flamez by Lisanne Schulze.</em></p>'
---
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# Does Leipzig Throw the Best Parties In Germany? Leipzig will forever hold a special place in my heart. It was the first European city I ever visited, the site of my first [DJ][1]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"} gig outside the US, and the birthplace of the first large-scale music ...
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Leipzig will forever hold a special place in my heart. It was the first European city I ever visited, the site of my first [DJ][1]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"} gig outside the US, and the birthplace of the first large-scale music festival I ever attended, the [Wave Gotik Tref...
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Their regular bookings include [Perc][5]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}, [Jam City][6]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}, [M.E.S.H.][7]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"} and Felix K., so I'd tend to agree---in fact, I liked the space so much that I [c...
Chunk #4 (Position: 3)
Friends who live there often complain about the dire musical milieu, but as a mere visitor to the city, I find this limited availability of fresh sounds exciting. Being spoiled for choice in a place like Berlin often makes people complacent and jaded, but when you're coming to a rare event, the n...
Chunk #5 (Position: 4)
Find more information [here][14]{: target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"}. Cover photo of Born In Flamez by Lisanne Schulze.* . [1]: https://soundcloud.com/goldecahedron [2]: http://www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/english/ [3]: https://www.facebook.com/lumiere.bl?fref=ts [4]: http://ifz.me/ [5]: h...