The Lieber Tot festival line-up was quite sizeable and featured live acts, DJs, and performers on both nights. I went there especially to see Light Asylum, the industrial punk wave project founded by Shannon Funchess in 2007, whom I had not seen play since 2012, and to discover Tiffadelic – aka Our Goth Sister Of Synth – live for the very first time. I ended up staying much longer than planned because the atmosphere was extra convivial and easy-going, met a bunch of endearing folks, talked about music and societal issues till very late – or early. It was also fun to dance to music I had not heard since my goth days in Paris, London, and LA many years ago.
I remember partying in Parisian caves and clubs in Camden Town North London, and even years later in dedicated spaces LA, the music used to be quite siloed, you would hear the same popular tracks from the goth / wave catalogue at every event. In London, cybergoth kids did not really mix with the black lace crowd, and in Paris punks and goths were usually not on friendly terms; it took some years down the line when LA started to have events where goths were welcomed, but the music range was much wider, with some EBM, electro, noise rock…
And as I experienced it, as the goth scene shrank till it almost disappeared, another broader scene emerged – possibly also because dark music and rock-inspired fashion became mainstream. In any case, it has been great to find spaces where techno, EBM, and different kinds of wave and rock merge. And to get back to Lieber Tot, while the aesthetic to me felt 100% goth, the crowd and the music expanded to punk, electro, and a broad spectrum of wave, making the event much richer musically.
Stanze Fredde
A Place for Misfits
As a dark sound aficionade myself, I have always felt welcomed in such spaces. I will add though, that Lieber Tot took my experience of goth party friendliness to the next level. I believe this was because on top of the carefully curated lineup, there was an added focus on representing the queer community – in case you did not know, Berghain does not have the monopoly of queer folks dressed in black. But don’t just take my word for it, here is a quote from drag artist Antina Christ who was performing on the Saturday:
Antina Christ Photo by Tai (@dark.visionaries)
“[Lieber Tot] is a beautiful place where misfits, weirdos, queerdos, goths, and punks meet and enjoy the gorgeous, underground synth and minimal wave. I just love it.”
I also dropped by the merch tables and had a chat with Italian minimal wave synth punk label Stanze Fredde, who said “We are very happy to be here, it’s super friendly, and we hope people will also join our next parties.” Their next show takes place on September 24th at 8mm.
Noveli Photo by Tai (@dark.visionaries)
Not far from the fire pit in the garden, stood Noveli and their friend. I loved their outfits so I had to say hello. “I’m from Berlin, and it really is fucking nice that something’s happening here, especially since the whole mood was so great last year!” Noveli added: “I live in the US, and I’ve not been in Berlin for three years. This festival is a fabulous welcome back with so many amazing people and bands to see.” Check out more of Noveli’s striking looks on their IG.
Energy Exchange
Then Shannon Funchess of Light Asylum opened the festival with a bang. 15 years have passed since I first saw her performing at Flamingo (for those who remember that club in Mitte) and today her raw power and magic were still incendiary. She is punk and electro, she’s got the face, the moves, the attitude, and the voice, and she has got a message too.
Light Asylum
After her very physical performance, she shared some thoughts on being back in Berlin. “I have fond memories here, but the city has changed a lot, it’s less anti-capitalist. It just doesn’t feel as liberating in the sense that you could really be a weirdo and queer and open here. I’ve heard of people being attacked on the trains or on the streets – women, non-binary people and their girlfriends. It’s definitely not the same place as in 2007, but it still has an incredible nightlife and art community that isn’t rivalled by any other place I’ve ever visited. And so it’s the one place I always return to, other than New York.”
I also wanted to know if performing the darkwave club anthem, Dark Allies, was as emotional for her as for folks in the crowd and me: “Oh, always. I’m very empathetic and emotional, I’m an earth sign, so I wear my heart on my sleeve. I get a lot of joy from people singing back the lyrics to me, and it’s a very symbiotic relationship where I get as much energy as I give. There’s nothing like it. It’s very moving and endearing, and I’m so grateful and honored that people have been so patient, and have been listening to this music nonstop since it was released in 2012 officially.”
Light Asylum
“I’ve been playing this music since 2009, and a whole new generation of music lovers have found it in whatever way, they share it with each other, and they dance to it, they cry to it, and it just feels like love, it feels like community, and it’s a very moving thing.”
Finally, I asked Shannon about what performing feels like these days: “It may sound cliche or corny, but I try to be a vessel for what is happening in the world currently, at that moment kind of channel it through me, express it, and release it through the music. However subtle, the audience, that energy in the room, I try to channel it. These are very trying and scary times, and I want people to feel empowered. So even if they don’t feel empowered when they’re alone, when we get together, I feel we are very powerful.”
To the Queer Goth Kids
As I dwell on the pleasant afterglow of the festival, one of the organisers, Paura Diamante, sent me some thoughts on the festival weekend: “We’re still deeply moved by all the love and by everyone who came together to create this wonderful space. The bands, the DJs, our many helpers, the staff at Aeden, and, most of all, everyone who came to the festival — you all helped make the second edition of Lieber Tot something truly special. We already can’t wait for the next one.”
“Especially now, in these politically difficult times, we should put more of our energy into preserving and supporting our spaces, and creating new ones where we can feel free and safe — even if it’s just for one night. To the queer goth kids of all ages out there: you are not alone.”
I had also asked Paura to share their fave moment: “It is hard to pick a favorite, but I do remember sitting in the garden at Aeden for about half an hour just taking in the atmosphere, the wonderful, diverse crowd, the fire, the lights, the conversations. It truly felt like a safer space. That moment will stay with me.”
Berlin, I Love You
For her first Berlin visit and show, Tiffadelic partnered up with industrial goth artist Trakt Null. The two had met through Suzi Sabotage, the founder of Goths for Palestine – with whom Trakt Null will soon play at Unterwelt Festival Berlin. Just three days ahead of the festival, Tiffadelic aimed to turn her solo show into a two person set up. “We rehearsed in an Airbnb – so thanks to the neighbors for tolerating the noise! And then onsite the soundcheck was flawless thanks to the tech crew; actually the whole festival team created an open and safe festive atmosphere – I have never seen such an eclectic crowd from the darkest goth to the most shining and flamboyant individuals. Then the live set went smoothly, the crowd was all in and seemed to enjoy it a lot – just as we did!” added Trakt Null.
Tiffadelic
Tiffadelic continued, “I discovered Lieber Tot watching live videos of Nights in Athens performing there. So I reached out to them, and then months later I received an offer to perform. The festival itself exceeded my expectations. I loved the venue, the atmosphere, the other artists, and especially the crowd. Everyone was incredibly receptive to my music. Meeting people in Berlin who already knew my work and then getting to perform for them in person was surreal.
“There was such a genuine sense of community throughout the entire night. There’s a certain feeling when you realize the crowd understands what you’re doing and they’re completely there with you. I felt connected to everyone in that room. I left the stage feeling extremely grateful, inspired and honestly a little overwhelmed by how much love I felt.”
Trakt Null
Trakt Null and Tiffadelic had a few ending words as a love letter to Berlin: “I was born in Germany and have always lived here, yet this was only my second time in Berlin. The city is like no other on Earth. It exists separately in its own time, space, and language. It doesn’t even feel German to me. It feels free, open, and punk,” says Trakt Null.
“I fell in love with Berlin almost immediately, the people, the music, the nightlife, the art, the freedom, and just the overall energy. There was something about Berlin that made me feel strangely at home,” says Tiffadelic. “Europe as a whole was an incredible experience, but Berlin really did something to me personally and creatively. I came home feeling like a different person, I already miss it. To everyone who came to see us, and spoke to me, shared my music, and showed me love while I was there: thank you. Being thousands of miles away from home and realizing that my music has reached people there means more to me than I can explain. I felt incredibly welcomed. Berlin, I love you.”
Official festival photos by Hindele Zondervan.
Lieber Tot 2026 took place on 11th and 12th of September in Berlin.