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New Year's Night in Europe
World Wide · 16.12.2006
By Илья Розов
You can endlessly repeat platitudes like "however you see it in – with whom, where and in what – is how you'll spend it" and other New Year nonsense, or you can get organized and make this holiday unforgettable. Tired of tangerines, Olivier salad, "Sovetskoye" champagne and Galkin with Putin on the TV? Then you need to go where neither "The Irony of Fate" nor underage firecracker-setters with their tipsy parents will catch up with you. Somewhere where nobody knows you, which means that in the morning nobody will look reproachfully at your crumpled face – or whatever is left of it. For all this, all you need is to cross the borders of our Motherland and find yourself on New Year's night in one of the foreign clubs, where everyone is smiling, dancing, and nobody speaks Russian. Is that not the best cover of all?
HOLLAND
In the land of tulips, cheeses and windmills, seeing in the New Year is especially pleasant – for several reasons. First, Holland is quite easy to get to. Second, even without New Year parties there's plenty to do here. And, finally, only here can you do whatever you like, without harming those around you, of course. You can pick up a transvestite dwarf and roam the clubs all night with him on a leash, or you can dress up in latex, take a whip in hand and spend the night on the street chasing hapless tourists while listening to hardcore on your headphones. Holland is a country of free choice.
Name:
Seven Sins
Location: Mecc Maastricht (exhibition center), Forum 100 NL 6229 GV Maastricht
Time: From 20:00 to 10:00
Price: 45 Euros
What: On seven dance floors symbolizing the deadly sins, a bacchanalia of sound, light and hot human bodies will unfold. The styles represented at the event are of rare diversity. On the "Pride" dance floor local DJs play, not disdaining commercial electro-house, such as Daniel Forbes and Ricky Rivaro. The "Greed" dance floor is occupied by representatives of the techno guild, such as Ben Sims, Technasia and Rude Awakening. "Envy" will be shown by the hardcore wizards Headbanger, Tommyknocker and Waxweazle with a group of comrades. "Wrath" is handled by artists working in the hardstyle genre: Technoboy, The Prophet and other brutal fellows, including the veteran Yves Deruyter. The "Lust" dance floor will pour out the sweet sounds of house from Benny Rodrigues, long known to the Russian listener, in the company of Dr. Lektroluv, Sharam Jey and Detroit Grand Pubahs (live). The line-ups for the dance floors with the promising names "Sloth" and "Gluttony" are being discussed at the moment, but even now you can imagine what will be there.
Location: Mecc Maastricht (exhibition center), Forum 100 NL 6229 GV Maastricht
Time: From 20:00 to 10:00
Price: 45 Euros
What: On seven dance floors symbolizing the deadly sins, a bacchanalia of sound, light and hot human bodies will unfold. The styles represented at the event are of rare diversity. On the "Pride" dance floor local DJs play, not disdaining commercial electro-house, such as Daniel Forbes and Ricky Rivaro. The "Greed" dance floor is occupied by representatives of the techno guild, such as Ben Sims, Technasia and Rude Awakening. "Envy" will be shown by the hardcore wizards Headbanger, Tommyknocker and Waxweazle with a group of comrades. "Wrath" is handled by artists working in the hardstyle genre: Technoboy, The Prophet and other brutal fellows, including the veteran Yves Deruyter. The "Lust" dance floor will pour out the sweet sounds of house from Benny Rodrigues, long known to the Russian listener, in the company of Dr. Lektroluv, Sharam Jey and Detroit Grand Pubahs (live). The line-ups for the dance floors with the promising names "Sloth" and "Gluttony" are being discussed at the moment, but even now you can imagine what will be there.
Name:
Awakenings NYE
Location: NDSM Docklands, kinetisch noord, tt Neveritaweg 15, 1033 WB, Amsterdam
Time: from 21:00 to 07:00
Price: 37.50 Euros excluding taxes
What: The space of the NDSM Docklands art center, with a capacity of more than 5000 people, will be shaken all New Year's night by the rhythms of the "first lady" Anja Schneider, the daddy of "white techno" Josh Wink, and the darling of the Moscow public Adam Beyer. And that's not counting a couple of "live" techno collectives – the night promises to be hot.
Location: NDSM Docklands, kinetisch noord, tt Neveritaweg 15, 1033 WB, Amsterdam
Time: from 21:00 to 07:00
Price: 37.50 Euros excluding taxes
What: The space of the NDSM Docklands art center, with a capacity of more than 5000 people, will be shaken all New Year's night by the rhythms of the "first lady" Anja Schneider, the daddy of "white techno" Josh Wink, and the darling of the Moscow public Adam Beyer. And that's not counting a couple of "live" techno collectives – the night promises to be hot.
Name:
Extrema New Year's Eve
Location: Klokgebouw, Beukenlaan 10001, Eindhoven, Netherlands
Time: 21:00 – 06:00
Price: 40 Euros
What: Lovers of extreme leisure will find themselves on the four dance floors of the Extrema party. Holland stays true to itself and delights fans of fast rhythms with performances by the techno veterans Ben Sims and Marco Bailey, in the company of that same Josh Wink on the Industry stage. The place for "wearing your sneakers down on a rough floor" is called just that – Sneakerz, and the numerous "wearers" will be entertained by Fedde le Grand with friends. On top of everything else, the organizers have presented a dance floor called 100%DiscoShit. That's surely where the most interesting stuff will be.
Everyone who buys a ticket online will be offered the chance to continue the night at an afterparty in a secret location.
Location: Klokgebouw, Beukenlaan 10001, Eindhoven, Netherlands
Time: 21:00 – 06:00
Price: 40 Euros
What: Lovers of extreme leisure will find themselves on the four dance floors of the Extrema party. Holland stays true to itself and delights fans of fast rhythms with performances by the techno veterans Ben Sims and Marco Bailey, in the company of that same Josh Wink on the Industry stage. The place for "wearing your sneakers down on a rough floor" is called just that – Sneakerz, and the numerous "wearers" will be entertained by Fedde le Grand with friends. On top of everything else, the organizers have presented a dance floor called 100%DiscoShit. That's surely where the most interesting stuff will be.
Everyone who buys a ticket online will be offered the chance to continue the night at an afterparty in a secret location.
FRANCE
Despite all the bile of Frédéric Beigbeder and Michel Houellebecq, European civilization, judging by France, is not about to die. What's more, in France the New Year holidays take on a special charm, and the parties go on round the clock and endlessly – or so it seems from the outside. And even though this country hasn't given dance music much of anything, except perhaps French house, the French know how to have a good time.
Name:
Welcome To 007
Location: Triptyque, 142 rue Montmartre - 75002 Paris
Time: 22:00 – 12:00
Price: 25 Euros
What: At the club "Triptyque" a genuine movie about the adventures of agent 007 will unfold. The leading roles are played by figures of world culture, distinguished and up-and-coming, but united by one desire – to bring people joy. For example, the joint performance of two comrades named Stephan Bodzin and Oliver Huntemann symbolizes the film "Diamonds Are Forever", while a girl with the Russian name Xenia Beliayeva is, naturally, part of the concept "From Russia with Love".
Location: Triptyque, 142 rue Montmartre - 75002 Paris
Time: 22:00 – 12:00
Price: 25 Euros
What: At the club "Triptyque" a genuine movie about the adventures of agent 007 will unfold. The leading roles are played by figures of world culture, distinguished and up-and-coming, but united by one desire – to bring people joy. For example, the joint performance of two comrades named Stephan Bodzin and Oliver Huntemann symbolizes the film "Diamonds Are Forever", while a girl with the Russian name Xenia Beliayeva is, naturally, part of the concept "From Russia with Love".
Name:
Nu Beat 07
Location: Batofar, 11 quai Francois Mauriac - 75013 Paris.
Time: 22:00 – 12:00
Price: 25 Euros + 15 Euros afterparty
What: "All roads to the young" – under this motto the New Year party at the club Batofar is being prepared. That's exactly why all the "old-timers" will be playing elsewhere; here – only the young, relatively unknown, but already professionals and, maybe, geniuses. Some of them have already signed contracts with the grandees, for example with an F Com sublabel bearing the funny name F...U! The best-known among the performers is, perhaps, Bastien Grine, who put out a record on Kompakt's K2. At first glance – nothing interesting. But that adds intrigue, doesn't it?
Location: Batofar, 11 quai Francois Mauriac - 75013 Paris.
Time: 22:00 – 12:00
Price: 25 Euros + 15 Euros afterparty
What: "All roads to the young" – under this motto the New Year party at the club Batofar is being prepared. That's exactly why all the "old-timers" will be playing elsewhere; here – only the young, relatively unknown, but already professionals and, maybe, geniuses. Some of them have already signed contracts with the grandees, for example with an F Com sublabel bearing the funny name F...U! The best-known among the performers is, perhaps, Bastien Grine, who put out a record on Kompakt's K2. At first glance – nothing interesting. But that adds intrigue, doesn't it?
GERMANY
You'd think – what could be fun in the homeland of minimal techno? But this opinion shatters against reality – in Germany it gets more joyful and more interesting to have a good time every year. Litres of beer, beautiful German women and imposing German men, and again – Holland is nearby. All of this makes any celebration in Germany something outstanding, and New Year all the more so.
Name:
New Year @ Watergate
Location: Watergate Club, Falckensteinstrasse 49 (Oberbaumbrucke), 10997 Berlin
Time: 01:00 - ...
Price: To be announced later
What: One of the few clubs that opens its doors after the New Year arrives, not before, as other, more intolerant-of-family-values establishments do. Watergate lures the visitors, mellowed by champagne, with a "live" performance by the wonderful My My, signed to the Playhouse label. Their brisk tech-house won't let even those whose alcohol limit was exhausted before midnight fall asleep. After the performance the survivors will be shaken up by the collective's in-house DJ Carsten Klemann, in the company of Rudi Haggelstein and others, less well-known characters.
Location: Watergate Club, Falckensteinstrasse 49 (Oberbaumbrucke), 10997 Berlin
Time: 01:00 - ...
Price: To be announced later
What: One of the few clubs that opens its doors after the New Year arrives, not before, as other, more intolerant-of-family-values establishments do. Watergate lures the visitors, mellowed by champagne, with a "live" performance by the wonderful My My, signed to the Playhouse label. Their brisk tech-house won't let even those whose alcohol limit was exhausted before midnight fall asleep. After the performance the survivors will be shaken up by the collective's in-house DJ Carsten Klemann, in the company of Rudi Haggelstein and others, less well-known characters.
Name:
Space Odyssey 2007
Location: U60311, Rossmarkt, 60311 Frankfurt
Time: 21:00 - ...
Price: 20 Euros (25 at the door)
What: At the cult club U60311 on New Year's night they decided not to stand on ceremony and to stage a real electro-techno meat grinder. In the role of head butcher – the "master of the beaters" and lord of hard techno Chris Liebing. Whatever remains of Liebing's set will be torn apart by the EBM collective Motor (who did remixes, among other things, for Depeche Mode and Nitzer Ebb). Besides this, a performance is expected from the electro-wizards Dirt Crew, as well as a DJ set by Lexy. Not without the participation of the club's residents, of course.
Location: U60311, Rossmarkt, 60311 Frankfurt
Time: 21:00 - ...
Price: 20 Euros (25 at the door)
What: At the cult club U60311 on New Year's night they decided not to stand on ceremony and to stage a real electro-techno meat grinder. In the role of head butcher – the "master of the beaters" and lord of hard techno Chris Liebing. Whatever remains of Liebing's set will be torn apart by the EBM collective Motor (who did remixes, among other things, for Depeche Mode and Nitzer Ebb). Besides this, a performance is expected from the electro-wizards Dirt Crew, as well as a DJ set by Lexy. Not without the participation of the club's residents, of course.
ITALY
Passion and fire – those are the two definitions of leisure in Italy. Let the Italians be accused of a lack of taste and of coherent music – all that is trivial compared with the brightness of any event, be it the birthday of the baker next door or a mega-rave for 30,000 people. This country knows how to have fun, and Italian women make excellent lovers. They say the Italian men aren't bad either. Do you need anything more to make the trip?
Name:
Amore Festival 2007
Location: Fiera Di Roma, Via Cristoforo Colombo, 231, 00100 Rome
Time: 22:00 – 07:00
Price: 35 Euros
What: Lucky are those who plan to see in the New Year in Rome. The city itself disposes one to thoughts of a bright future, and on top of that, from a musical point of view something stunning will be happening here. On five dance floors the New Year will be seen in, together with thousands of grateful listeners, by Richie Hawtin, Troy Pierce, Magda and other minimalists from the M_nus label on the stage of the same name, and also by Speedy J, Adam Beyer and Marco Carola on the techno arena. House has been occupied by local sound heroes representing majors like Universal and Virgin – which means it'll be alcoholically merry. Unexpectedly, on the hip-hop dance floor Afrika Bambaataa is billed in the company of Italian rappers; that's probably even funnier than the same Bambaataa in the company of Russian rappers. And, naturally, chill-out, where would we be without it. Incredible visual effects from the masters of the genre are expected there.
Location: Fiera Di Roma, Via Cristoforo Colombo, 231, 00100 Rome
Time: 22:00 – 07:00
Price: 35 Euros
What: Lucky are those who plan to see in the New Year in Rome. The city itself disposes one to thoughts of a bright future, and on top of that, from a musical point of view something stunning will be happening here. On five dance floors the New Year will be seen in, together with thousands of grateful listeners, by Richie Hawtin, Troy Pierce, Magda and other minimalists from the M_nus label on the stage of the same name, and also by Speedy J, Adam Beyer and Marco Carola on the techno arena. House has been occupied by local sound heroes representing majors like Universal and Virgin – which means it'll be alcoholically merry. Unexpectedly, on the hip-hop dance floor Afrika Bambaataa is billed in the company of Italian rappers; that's probably even funnier than the same Bambaataa in the company of Russian rappers. And, naturally, chill-out, where would we be without it. Incredible visual effects from the masters of the genre are expected there.
Name:
Psychedelic New Year
Location: Riciclo area arte, Bologna
Time: 22:00 – 12:00
Price: 40 Euros
What: As is well known, the most beautiful decorations and party design are done by the trance crowd. No matter how much money promoters working in other styles pour into the visual side, the trance crowd still ends up more beautiful and, somehow, more honest. And what the representatives of the Italian psy community will come up with for New Year is hard to imagine. So if you have a chance to see it – take it. And to come into the state required for the proper perception, the local forces of the goa scene will help, in the guise of collectives with wonderful names like Psylent Hill and Psyborg. To maintain the high quality, the project Aerospace, which put out two albums over the last year, has been brought in from Israel.
Location: Riciclo area arte, Bologna
Time: 22:00 – 12:00
Price: 40 Euros
What: As is well known, the most beautiful decorations and party design are done by the trance crowd. No matter how much money promoters working in other styles pour into the visual side, the trance crowd still ends up more beautiful and, somehow, more honest. And what the representatives of the Italian psy community will come up with for New Year is hard to imagine. So if you have a chance to see it – take it. And to come into the state required for the proper perception, the local forces of the goa scene will help, in the guise of collectives with wonderful names like Psylent Hill and Psyborg. To maintain the high quality, the project Aerospace, which put out two albums over the last year, has been brought in from Israel.
BELGIUM
Belgium is like a health resort of the world, where people worn down by life come to plunge into the calm of the narrow Brussels streets or to wander in the surroundings of Ghent. And it all seems clear – here's Belgian chocolate, here's the "peeing boy", that would seem to be all. But no, the musical life of Belgium is bubbling, imperceptibly but actively. You can verify this during the nocturnal New Year bacchanalia, and the chocolate can be eaten in the morning.
Name:
Kozzmozz
Location: Artcube, Wiedauwkaai 23 B-9000 Ghent
Time: 22:00 – 12:00
Price: 20 Euros
What: If New Year's night finds you in Ghent, Belgium, you can spend the time nicely in the company of positive music from artists whose names will mean little to the non-specialist, but someone versed in the latest trends will immediately determine that this is by no means a "run-of-the-mill" party. It isn't every party that has Fabrice Lig playing (whose track Meet U In Brooklyn once troubled quite a few girls' minds), and in the company of Daniel Bell from Detroit at that.
Location: Artcube, Wiedauwkaai 23 B-9000 Ghent
Time: 22:00 – 12:00
Price: 20 Euros
What: If New Year's night finds you in Ghent, Belgium, you can spend the time nicely in the company of positive music from artists whose names will mean little to the non-specialist, but someone versed in the latest trends will immediately determine that this is by no means a "run-of-the-mill" party. It isn't every party that has Fabrice Lig playing (whose track Meet U In Brooklyn once troubled quite a few girls' minds), and in the company of Daniel Bell from Detroit at that.
ROMANIA
Little is known about Romania. Rumor has it that there are a great many porn models there and that Count Dracula is hiding somewhere from justice. You can verify the truth of these rumors by making the rounds of the clubs on New Year's night. In the end, Romania is not Uganda, but Europe after all, and Bucharest is a most beautiful city.
Name:
Sunrise Presents NYE Party With Ricardo Villalobos
Location: Kristal Glam Club, Str. S. Bach Nr. 2, Bucharest, Romania
Time: 22:00 –...
Price: 40 Euros
What: If you suddenly (!!!) find yourself in Bucharest, why not attend an event featuring the sultry Chilean Villalobos? Especially since when else will you get to visit a place with a name like the "Club of the Sparkling of Precious Stones"?
Location: Kristal Glam Club, Str. S. Bach Nr. 2, Bucharest, Romania
Time: 22:00 –...
Price: 40 Euros
What: If you suddenly (!!!) find yourself in Bucharest, why not attend an event featuring the sultry Chilean Villalobos? Especially since when else will you get to visit a place with a name like the "Club of the Sparkling of Precious Stones"?