Born from a derelict building, 90MIL has become one of Berlin’s key DIY hubs for experimental music and art, hosting a three-day festival with Studio Monkey Shoulder to celebrate the city’s resilient counterculture.
90MIL is a non-profit DIY music venue in the heart of Berlin. They've transformed a derelict building into a multidisciplinary hub for community and culture, making an impact on Berlin's underground and grassroots music scene.
Lais & The New Love Experience performance at Is That All There Is? | Photo by Kolja
Their programming champions experimental sounds, interdisciplinary artists and community-led culture. They bring together a melting pot of genres, cultures and grassroots networks, united by an understanding in the importance of avant-garde sounds and collective cultural spaces.
"We're building a supportive, resilient DIY culture that demonstrates what successful self-organisation can look like" Thea Hope, Co-founder 90mil
Photo by @magdalenamoursy
Is That All There Is? was a weekend-long festival with Studio Monkey Shoulder celebrating the diverse communities that work with 90mil and the breadth of Berlin's countercultural scenes. Their programme spanned live music, DJ sets, performances, workshops, installations and more.
Photo by @magdalenamoursy
As part of this festival programme, 90mil commissioned a special series of performances in collaboration with Dwam Collective, inviting artists from their community to explore themes of creation, resilience and demolition to reflect 90mil's journey and the impermanence of their space.
DWAM Collective performance at Is That All There Is? | Photo by Kolja
With the building set for demolition, this festival programme stood as a collective statement on the power of DIY spaces and the communities that bring them to live.
Singen 3000 Performance on 90mil roof at Is That All There Is? | Photo by @magdalenamoursy
“The story of 90MIL brilliantly captures the essential role DIY music venues play in nurturing a city’s grassroots scene. I love how this project amplifies the rich diversity of voices and communities it supports, reflecting a deep commitment to creative resilience and the wider cultural ecosystem.” Gilles Peterson
Watch this video here to discover 90MIL's journey and learn why DIY spaces are vital in supporting diverse music communities, and to find out whether that really is… all there is?
This project is part of Studio Monkey Shoulder – a music initiative by Worldwide FM and Monkey Shoulder Whisky dedicated to empowering and celebrating innovate grassroots music communities around the world.