Breaking the Silence Festival

Good Friday in a City That Doesn't Want to Be Silent

Good Friday is traditionally considered a 'Silent Holiday' in Germany: public concerts, dance events, and film screenings are restricted, and historically, Berlin has prohibited dance events between 4 AM and 9 PM. In 2023, the band Jevatta and the Junction Bar in Kreuzberg therefore founded their own festival series: 'Breaking the Silence' — a deliberately organized indoor concert on Good Friday and Holy Saturday that questions the religious-historical practice.

What You'll Hear There

• Punk and Pop Punk
• Heavy Desert Rock
• Hard Rock
• Local and national bands from German-speaking countries

The festival doesn't focus on headliners; rather, it's a showcase for the Berlin underground and heavy rock scene, combined with the resident band Jevatta itself. The Junction Bar holds around 200 people, the atmosphere is intimate, and the sound is loud.

Junction Bar and Gneisenaustraße

The Junction Bar at Gneisenaustraße 18 in Berlin-Kreuzberg is one of the city's traditional live music venues — a small, black-painted basement club with a good stage, bar, and a reputation for well-curated rock and indie programs. The address is in the Kreuzberg district (Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg borough), a two-minute walk from the U7 Gneisenaustraße subway station.

Character and Audience

Those who attend Breaking the Silence don't come for the big names — but for the mix of Berlin's own productions, a politically secular stance (freedom of religion, openness to 'people of all faiths and beliefs'), and a classic indoor concert evening with two or three bands per day. A true Berlin underground venue — and one of the few occasions to spend Good Friday in the capital with loud music.