The Berlin Bonanza, 28 Feb – 10 March

The Mighty Mighty presents….

The Berlin Bonanza

in association with the Goethe-Institut 28 Feb – 10 March 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ihre Rettungsweste befindet sich unter dem Sitz (Your lifejacket is stowed under your seat)

Lebensgefahr (Danger High Voltage) it’s The Berlin Bonanza – a ten day extravaganza of all things Berlin – direct from The party capital of the world.

An eclectic range of events will be showcased at the unique cabaret environment of The Mighty Mighty Cuba St, from 28 February – 10 March (The Official Fringe Festival Bar 2007). Everything from German beer and sausage specials, to a line-up of some of the most progressive musical and DJ acts to come out of the Hauptstadt.

This project is a collaboration of The Mighty Mighty and the Goethe-Institut. It crystallised when Anna Dean of SPAM INC recently returned from a Berlin hiatus, bringing back with her top solo electro-new-wave-punk act Bonaparte and chansonette Ria Gruen. Coupled with electro legend Barbara Morgenstern and the urban grooves of Parisian Fred Avril these live music acts offer a diverse range of style and sound. The Euros will be supported throughout the spectacular by local Wellington acts who have recently played, or have a close affiliation with the city that never sleeps, or exceptional collections of German music!

Beyond the range of aural pleasure, audience members will also be invited to partake in this selection of Berlin’s best. Two revolutionary interactive bar events will be installed at The Mighty Mighty during The Berlin Bonanza – art installation Ping Pong Country and the Bar 25 Vodka Slide.

The art of Ping Pong Country is a hilarious roving game of table tennis, with country music setting the scene. It’s basically musical chairs but with Western Swing and a ping pong table. Coming from Berlin’s wild wild East, cowboys and cowgirls around the globe have been quenching their thirst for fun, drink and down home tunes for more than 6 years at various international art festivals (including SCAPE Christchurch 2006). Now it’s Wellington’s turn at the table.

Christoph Muecher, Director Goethe-Institut Wellington says, “We’re really delighted to have this smorgasbord of events happening in New Zealand. Everyone who comes along will get a grasp of the real Berlin feeling, and I’m especially keen to take out the prize of Ping Pong Country Champion!”

Meanwhile the Vodka Slide must be seen to be believed. The hottest craze in Berlin bars this summer created by Tenko, the original vodka pirate, and it will be manned by staff from Berlin’s most infamous bar, Bar 25. It involves shots, ice and pashing. That’s all we’re giving away now - you will have to see it in action.

“I’m very excited to present this injection of Berlin culture into our own Capital City” says Anna Dean. “It’s a city that certainly lives up to the hype and it was great to pick (and sample) what acts and events could work back here in New Zealand. I can’t wait to see how Kiwis react – particularly to the infamous Bar 25 Vodka Slide! I was often told by Berliners that New Zealanders are too prudish so this is a great chance to prove them wrong. Zum Wohl!”

There will be door sales for each event on the particular nights. Due to the popularity of Ping Pong Country players are advised to get in early to secure a place at the table.

Spiel und Spass Timetable

Wednesday 28 Feb - Paddles ready! 5pm start – 8pm
It’s the Ping Pong Country (PPC) unveiling with The Real Hot Bitches www.pingpongcountry.de and Old Shatterhand Conrad moderating and DJ TV Disko,

Thursday 1 March - Freude schöner Götterfunken
10pm Polish/German chansonette extraordinare, Ria Gruen, late night show – singing love songs of the 1920s/ 30s and other surprises,
PPC from 5pm

Friday 2 March – 10pm Bonaparte - Bang Bang Berlin Live show - solo new-electro-trash-punk darling Bonaparte via Bern, Barcelona and Berlin and now….The Mighty Mighty, www.myspace.com/findingbonaparte
Midnight - DJ Steffen Schoeler from Berlin’s beloved quirksters dwfb. He’ll be coming straight off the plane from Berlin to Cuba St central,
The infamous Bar 25 Vodka Slide - The hottest craze from the Party Capital straight off the ice. It’s a license to pash as well as being the most fantastic way to drink vodka! www.bar25.de

Saturday 3 March - Ja Vol! Fuckin Volks Vagon,
10pm Wellington’s own Russian space metal programme - CORTINA. Live show bringing back the wall of the kunst sound, followed by DJ Ace Hurt and Riffkah Coogan. Rocket fuelled by vodka, go all night. Reach the sky, www.myspace.com/cortinanz

Wednesday 7 March - Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte
10pm Gene Kremer and the Bratwurst Boys - music, sausages and German beer specials,
PPC from 5pm

Thursday 8 March - 10pm Micro-pop Queen Barbara Morgenstern (Berlin) www.barbaramorgenstern.de and Fred Avril (Paris) www.fredavril.com for a night of lush sounds with “The Society For the Promotion of A Fantastic Way of Life” who’s electronic music is drawn largely from German labels including Morr Music, Monika Enterprise, City Centre Offices, Alien Transistor & Dial Records."
PPC from 5pm

Friday 9 March - Blood Sausage, Leather and Beer from 9pm featuring
Kapitan Krautrock und Freunde with German beer and sausage specials for lovers of Tangerine Dream, Faust, Can, Amon Düül

Saturday 10 March – The finale of Ping Pong Country with prize giving ceremony and local Country Band - the Hi-Aces. Special prizes imported especially from Berlin for Best Line Dancer, Best German Accent etc etc.

www.myspace.com/annadeanspaminc

Auf die Plätze - Fertig - Los !

ENDS

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