The 2018 Red Bull Music Festival Berlin Confirms Lineup Including Janelle Monae, Pusha T, & More

For five weeks in September and October, Red Bull Music Festival touches down in Berlin, bringing its acclaimed program of concerts, club nights and public talks to music and cultural venues across the city.

From São Paulo to New York City, Johannesburg, Paris, Tokyo, Los Angeles and beyond, the Red Bull Music Festival series has circumvented the globe, shining a light on the unique sounds and scenes of its host cities. For the inaugural installment in Berlin, celebration converges with education for the 20th anniversary edition of the Red Bull Music Academy. 61 music-makers selected from around the world will come together at theFunkhaus, a historic recording complex In East Berlin, where they'll collaborate in custom-built studios and attend lectures with artists that have shaped the contemporary musical landscape.

When Jeff Mills became the first artist to sit down on a Red Bull Music Academy lecture couch, in a Berlin warehouse in 1998, his selection was no coincidence. The Detroit techno legend's symbiotic relationship with Berlin embodies the city's open attitude towards cultural exchange and creative innovation - the ways in which Berlin refuses to recognize walls of any kind, and enables artists to grow like few other places can. For the Red Bull Music Festival, Jeff Mills will provide inspiration in a different form, performing alongside drummer and Fela Kuti collaborator Tony Allen at Funkhaus. Elsewhere, G.O.O.D Music boss and rap legend Pusha T and Grammy-nominated singer and actress Janelle Monáe will take their place on the lecture couch to share wisdom in two public talks during the festival.

In a nod to techno as part of the German capital's DNA, S3kt0r Ufo: 30 Jahre Techno sees a roster of the genre's biggest names - including Red Bull Music Academy alumna Nina Kraviz, Academy studio team member Mathew Jonson, Westbam, UR presents Depth Charge and DJ Hell - come together for a time-bending journey through three decades of Berlin techno.

One of RBMA's most popular event series, United States of Bass, goes international with Bass Union, assembling sub-loving innovators from across Europe, including UK grime figurehead N*E*R*D Double E, Lisbon's Nidia and club deconstructionist Gaika; looking further afield, An Afro-Rhythmic Affair celebrates a range of explosively popular, swagger-laden club music sounds from the African diaspora with some of the genre's biggest stars, including Naija/Ghana cool kid Mr. Eazi and Angolan Kuduro star Titica.

Continuing in Red Bull Music tradition of fostering creativity, electronic music iconoclasts Oneohtrix Point Never and Jlin will create works for the world premiere of the Symphonic Sound System, a new 4D spatial sound system in partnership with MONOM. Also premiering during the festival is Sevdaliza's The Great Hope Design from the Dutch avant-pop producer and Red Bull Music Academy alumna who will collaborate with LA-based German choreographer Rauf Yasit AKA RubberLegz on an alternative, heart-led reality, using Berlin's storied Volksbühne theater as a laboratory.

Berliners are known for transforming abandoned spaces into clubs and cultural centers, and in this same spirit, festival events will take place at a range of unique venues, including SEZ, a former sports and recreation center in East Berlin, and the Zeiss-Großplanetarium, where award-winning German composer and Academy alumnus Robot Koch joins forces with visual artist Mickael Le Goff for an audiovisual journey through the spheres.

The festival also brings two Red Bull Music signature events to Berlin for the first time: Culture Clash, an earth-shaking take on Jamaican soundsystem clashes featuring diverse local crews from different genres and backgrounds, and Diggin' in the Carts, presenting live performances including Kode9 and K?ji Morimoto inspired by cult Japanese video game soundtracks.

The 2018 hand-selected Red Bull Music Academy participants represent some of the most exciting new voices in music from around the globe. As part of the Red Bull Music Festival, they'll perform - often for the first time in Berlin - as part of the events program. To learn more about the 61 artists taking part in the Academy, visit http://win.gs/classof18.

In addition to the festival events, original editorial will be created on wide-ranging topics in a variety of storytelling formats throughout September and October on redbullmusicacademy.com/berlin and daily.redbullmusicacademy.com as well as on social channels. Broadcasting live from a custom-built studio at the Funkhaus, Red Bull Radio (?www.redbullradio.com?) will also feature five weeks of Berlin-focused programming, including event livestreams, daily specials featuring the 2018 Academy participants, and more.

RED BULL MUSIC FESTIVAL BERLIN

September 08: ?An Afro-Rhythmic Affair
Mr. Eazi, Titica, Moonchild Sanelly, Freak de l'Afrique (DJ Nomi, Mista Wallizz, Rina V, DJ Chadna,
Young Gambinos, KidPre), Sichangi, Special Guest @ Festsaal Kreuzberg
A celebration of Afrobeats, Afro-pop and the musical pulse of the diaspora.

September 10: A/V//AMB
Anna vs June, Atariame, Camille Mandoki, Carga Aérea, FAKETHIAS, Maqueta, ramsha, robogeisha, Yakamoto Kotzuga @ ACUD MACHT NEU
An evening of ambient, experimental and audiovisual explorations featuring Academy participants.

September 12: Polyphonic Popcorn
Benjamin Sallum, dismaze, IARAHEI, Nistra, Svetla V @ Sameheads
An eclectic club night featuring an international roster of Academy participants.

September 13: From Within...
Marko Nikodijevic & Robert Henke with EIC @ Konzertsaal der UdK Berlin
The German premiere of Marko Nikodijevic and Robert Henke's electronic composition for light and sound with Ensemble intercontemporain.

September 14: A Conversation with Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monáe @ Ehemaliges Stummfilmkino Delphi
A public lecture with the Wondaland label head and R&B futurist.

September 14: S3kt0r UFO - 30 Jahre Techno
Acid Maria, Cassegrain (LIVE), DJ Hell, DJ Rush, Electric Indigo, Gudrun Gut, Jennifer Cardini, Lakuti, Mathew Jonson (LIVE), Mijk van Dijk (LIVE), Milan W (LIVE), Miss Kittin, Mor Elian, Nene H (LIVE), Nina Kraviz, Radio Slave, Steffi, Tanith, Thomas Fehlmann (LIVE), UR presents Depth Charge (LIVE), Victor, Westbam & more @ Shedhalle, Funkhaus
Celebrating three decades of techno in Berlin with a roster of some of the genre's biggest names.

September 16: Symphonic Sound System: Jlin
Jlin @ Saal 1, Funkhaus
A series of bespoke shows by electronic music iconoclasts on 4DSOUND's giant spatial system.

September 19: For the Love of Kotti
Akiko Haruna, Bear (LIVE), BRUX (LIVE), Chino (LIVE), Cornelius SA, Jacob Stoy, Jeannel (LIVE), Katarzia (LIVE), lullahush (LIVE), Marco Passarani, Mulherin (LIVE), Nick Léon, Pearson Sound, Soul of Hex, v?x (LIVE) @ Monarch, Fahimi, Paloma Bar
One night traversing sounds from around the world at three iconic venues.

September 20: Symphonic Sound System: MYRIAD by Oneohtrix Point Never
Oneohtrix Point Never @ Saal 1, Funkhaus
A series of bespoke shows by electronic music iconoclasts on 4DSOUND's giant spatial system.

September 21: No Room 4 Shade
Anz, Debonair, Derre Tida, Doc Sleep, Luz, Manara, No Shade Allstars, Peach, Regret (LIVE), Tayhana, Whodat, Yubaba Juicy Ninja & more @ Griessmühle
Local collectives Room 4 Resistance and No Shade take over Griessmühle.

September 26: Open Funkhaus
Tatsuya Takahashi, Maximilian Rest & Christoph Hohnerlein, Johann König & Haiyti, KitschKrieg, Marco Passarani, Steffi & Benjamin Damage, Matias Aguayo @ Funkhaus
Explore the inner workings of the Red Bull Music Academy at the historic Funkhaus.

September 26: Tony Allen and Jeff Mills
Tony Allen and Jeff Mills @ Saal 1, Funkhaus
The Afrobeat percussion master and Detroit techno legend join forces.

September 28: Sevdaliza's The Great Hope Design
Sevdaliza @ Volksbühne
The premiere of an experimental new show crafted by avant-pop producer and singer Sevdaliza.

September 29: Bass Union
D Double E (LIVE), Gaika (LIVE), Impey, Ingrate, Mana, Nídia, Oli XL, Perera Elsewhere, Sick Girls, Tash LC, Teki Latex, Tropical Interface, Uffalo Steez & more @ Anomalie
Innovators of bass music from all over Europe come together for an unforgettable night celebrating the sub-loving sound.

October 01: Spectral Science
Abudei, Kate NV, Mira Aasma, OG LULLABIES, Repulsive Woman, Sneaks @ Monarch
An intimate live show with synth futurist and RBMA alumna Kate NV and Academy participants.

October 02: Dixon
Dixon, Ylia, Artsaves, chawood, VTSS (LIVE) @ Ballhaus Rixdorf
Berlin house icon Dixon plays alongside an international roster of Academy participants.

October 04: Culture Clash
@ Velodrom, UFO
4 Stages, 4 Sounds, 1 Winner.

October 05: Disco/Darker with Marie Davidson
Marie Davidson (LIVE), Perel (HYBRID), Solid Blake, Eva Geist, Front de Cadeaux @ Prince Charles
Exploring synth-led techno and pop arpeggiations in the heart of Kreuzberg.

October 06: Diggin' in the Carts
Kode9 x K?ji Morimoto (LIVE), Dj Heroin (LIVE), metabora, similarobjects (LIVE), Visuals by Konx-Om-Pax @ Musikbrauerei
Live performances inspired by cult Japanese video game soundtracks and Red Bull Music Academy's celebrated series.

October 08: Robot Koch x Mickael Le Goff - Sphere
Robot Koch x Mickael Le Goff @ Zeiss-Großplanetarium
The world premiere of an audiovisual show designed for planetariums.

October 09: Sturm & Klang: Drone Activity in Progress
BRÖTZMANN/LEIGH/SABU, Hugo Esquinca, Mess_Montage, MORPSIS, NPVR, Rabih Beaini & Sofia Jernberg & Balázs Pándi, Rachel Lyn, Sun Worship @ Tresor Club/Globus
Celebrating the most intense music in the world pulled from a variety of eras, genres and performance styles.

October 10: A Conversation with Pusha T
Pusha T @ KÖNIG GALERIE
The influential rapper and G.O.O.D music boss tells his story.

October 12: Corrupt Calisthenics
K. Ronaldo, Naru, Toxe, Akira & P Vlex, Ziúr b2b Air Max '97, Oklou, Bauernfeind, DJ Bangkok, Disfig, Rui Ho, DJ Gigola, Aziesch, Wasted Fates @ SEZ
Join us for a mystical post-internet takeover of SEZ for our closing night, presented together with Live From Earth.

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