Mike Smoughton - Berlin (Matt's behind the camera)
Our friend Ursula had organised this show and her act 'Skirt' was also to play. Going by what Ursula had told us about the place we were really excited about this one.
Antje Oklesund is an old tool manufacturing factory which now serves as an artspace. It opens just one night a week and when it does open it certainly is a real event. They have their own, regular crowd, it's non-profit making and it's run by a group of people who work very hard to put together these nights.
We arrive at the space and are invited to do something that we've never been asked to do before and, sadly, probably never will again - to build our own stage. A huge pile of white boxes lie in the corner of the room and we set to work to create our own individual stage, placing the white boxes on different levels to create platforms for ourselves. Such a simple concept but the character of the room could change each week depending on where the performer wished to place these boxes. A wonderful idea.....
some of the boxes, as we found them....
And then Ursula ('Skirt') sets up on a newly-designed stage.....
As we are soundchecking, we see a lot of excitement by the door to the room. We are told that it has began to snow outside. We finish soundcheck and walk out onto a blanket of snow.
The snow was thick, the night was dark, and I feared I would slip over. I struggled to keep up with the rest of them as they walked to the nearest cafe. As I reached the bottom of the hill I could not even work out in which direction they had walked.
Me outside of the venue - trying to keep up in the snow.....
But then I witnessed a frenzied snowball fight. Snowballs were being thrown from every direction. Matt had waited for me (thanks Matt!) and we walked up to the cafe to hear a man apologise to Mark for the snowballs - he had just lost a darts tournament in a bar down the road and was in fact from Bristol. Oh well.
So, we arrive back at the venue to play a great set - it really felt like we were in some 60s film with the stage and the lighting and the whole atmosphere - I loved it. 'Skirt' was brilliant - Ursula's music is really beautiful and heartfelt. Everyone at the venue seemed to be having a good time and I loved the atmosphere of this place.
Most of the gigs we played on this tour had excellent djs. This one was amazing. The dj booth was set up high into the ceiling and, as we danced to the psych, prog and krautrock that he played, we waved to him in his castle. There was a little window that he looked out of from such a height. I really hope we get to hear him play again as he had such a skill to play some of the biggest sounding, yet obscure tunes. Brilliant!
As we left Antje Oklesund very late that night the snow had melted.
Stay tuned for day 3 soon!
Alison
x
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