Bringing the best of Milan and Berlin together, Tempio del Futuro Perduto, the first independent Italian social cultural centre being a landmark in its hometown, hosted Tempio Festival just two weeks ago in the German capital. The international expansion of this project we talked about on METAL some weeks ago, which since its beginnings has not stopped promoting alliances between electronic music, art, and social progress, made the iconic Alte Münze its epicentre and welcomed three thousand participants from thirty-one different nationalities.
From photography to contemporary dance, digital arts, and theatre, many creative disciplines merged in the inaugural edition of Tempio Festival held in Berlin from August 30th to September 1st. Not being strictly a musical festival but a concept much more closely linked to the defence of human rights, freedom of expression, and the need to make the electronic music scene a safe place from hate speech and discrimination, the organisers offered a musical proposal suitable for all tastes in the heart of the German city.
“I'm pretty sure that the festival will be a unique experience, as every Tempio initiative is,” said the Sardinia-born DJ and resident at Milan's Tempio Del Futuro Perduto Elisa, when we last spoke, shortly before heading to Berlin to take part in this project led by professionals she now considers her family. She was absolutely right; the experience we had was a complete sensory spectacle defined by amazing vibes and people eager to share a good time with their friends in a unique space that became a physical extension of the values that the Italian organisation has been promoting since its beginnings.
One hundred thirty artists, including world-class DJs, live acts, performers, painters, and photographers, travelled to Berlin to be part of this unprecedented experience, which allowed the festival's organisers to test the response of the audience beyond the Italian borders and think of the next steps to take in its consolidation on the international scene. The music lineup featured top-tier performances such as Bambounou b2b NVST, DJ Bone, DJ Plead b2b Low Jack, and the much-anticipated back-to-back set from Skee Mask and Zenker Brothers, offering a wide and dynamic range of styles that included experimental music, b2b, and live performances.
Tempio Festival was looking forward to spreading its message beyond the venue chosen for its Berlin debut, Alte Münze, a former mint in Berlin-Mitte on the banks of the Spree River, so they joined forces with Dancing Prophets, the resident company at Tempio that founded Sala Nera, to achieve their goal. They took over the iconic Museum Island with a captivating performative action that enchanted tourists and passersby alike. That's precisely the fundamental pillar on which Tempio Del Futuro Perduto is built: the connection of clubbing with the reality of the street, being aware of the challenges that the world faces and the opportunities that exist to promote creativity, social progress, and the sharing of different opinions and ways of understanding reality.
After their Berlin experience, Tempio del Futuro Perduto started its 2024-2025 season last Friday with the highly anticipated Break Opera event and a live performance by The Exaltics. But that's not all. On September 13th, we'll enjoy the sets by DJ Plead, Younger Than Me, and Futuro Tropicale in Milan. Their program for the next few weeks is very varied and extensive; if you don't want to miss anything, check their website.
