Christian Rich’s Berlin: concerts, techno clubs, live music spots

Berlin is home to hundreds of clubs, bars, and event spaces serving up entertainment of all flavors, all the time.

The boisterous city has always attracted prestigious musical talent, from prominent classical composers of the 18th century to the new-wave experimentalists of the 1980s. Today, Berlin’s techno music scene is considered the best in the world, drawing ravers in their droves to iconic clubs like Berghain and Tresor.

It’s also one of many European cities seeing an influx of travelers for its cultural events and concerts. Gig-tripping has been growing in popularity since 2022 and shows no signs of slowing down.

We take a look at Germany’s enchanting capital through the eyes of DJ duo Christian Rich, who share their insider knowledge on the music scene in Berlin. They recommend Berlin concert venues and the city’s best techno clubs.

Who are Christian Rich?

Christian Rich is the artistic name of Chicago-born twin brothers Kehinde Hassan and Taiwo Hassan. They’ve been producing best-selling tracks since 2003 and have worked with some of the biggest artists in the music industry. Collaborators include Childish Gambino, Drake, Jaden Smith, and N.E.R.D.

Now residents of Berlin following stints in New York, Los Angeles, and Nigeria, the musical minds are in a unique position to reveal the burg’s best parts. They call the metropolis “priceless,” citing that its 24/7 nature means that “whatever time of day it is, there’s always a party going on.”

How does Berlin inspire them to create music?

Berlin is a creative’s mecca, with art, fashion, film, and music all thriving industries. The experimental attitudes of the city’s creative networks have helped define Christian Rich’s work. “The fashion [in Berlin] has definitely influenced us in the way we think about fashion and think about music,” they say. “In some weird way, they mesh together.” For the duo, the way they “feel and dress is presented in [their] music.”

Berlin provides more direct inspiration for the producers too. Naturally, with some of the most popular clubs in Europe sitting pretty in Berlin – Berghain, Kraftwerk, etc. – musical inspiration is rarely in short supply. “We go out to techno and house parties and hear songs,” they explain. “We just made a song last week because we heard a song in a club.”

The capital provides a unique kind of inspiration for the twins too. “You get music [here] that you’ve never heard before anywhere else,” they share. “It pushes us to push the boundaries of what we like and makes us look at things in a new way, which keeps it fresh.”

Christian Rich’s favorite Berlin music venues

With so many incredible music venues to choose from in Berlin, it can be hard to know where to begin (or end) your night out. Here are the producers’ favorite spots.