Krake Festival

Over Ten Years of Krake

Founded in 2010 by the Berlin-based label and collective Killekill, Krake Festival is one of the longest-running and most distinctive festivals in Berlin's club culture. The name ("Krake" — octopus) says it all: the festival reaches into the most diverse corners of electronic music with its many arms, simultaneously occupying several locations in Friedrichshain. Unlike the commercial open-airs on the outskirts, Krake consciously remains small, curated, and uncomfortable.

Inclusion as an Attitude, Not Marketing

What sets Krake apart is its radical commitment to inclusion. Artists with physical, cognitive, or psychological disabilities perform on stage as equals — not in a special track, but in the regular lineup. Drag Syndrome, the world's first drag collective with Down syndrome from London, opened the festival week in 2024. Berlin acts like Für Elise (from the inclusive music project "Ick Mach Welle!") are regular participants. The festival openly asks: Why are so few artists with disabilities on Berlin's club stages?

The Music

Stylistically, the acts cover a wide spectrum: hard Techno and Acid (Anthony Rother, Minimum Syndicat), experimental Electro, Industrial, EBM, Noise, Drone, Live-Modular. If you're looking for comfortable House or predictable Tech-House, you're in the wrong place — Krake focuses on the challenging, the unfinished, the political.

The Locations

The festival utilizes a rotating constellation of Berghain, Panorama Bar, Säule, and ://about blank — all four located in Friedrichshain or immediately bordering Kreuzberg. Berghain usually hosts the opening with a concert setup (seating, stage), while ://about blank is known for its long Sunday open-airs under the trees, sometimes lasting until midnight. Photo and video ban everywhere.

Berlin and Club Culture

Krake belongs to the ranks of politically ambitious Berlin festivals — alongside CTM, Pop-Kultur, and Wassermusik. While other festivals bundle global headliners, Krake remains rooted in the local and subcultural. Anyone who wants to understand Berlin's club culture beyond the tourist trails will find themselves in the right place here.