Hurray, it’s about that time when Berlin hosts it’s biggest yearly event – the Carnival of Cultures. Originally a procession of the different cultures living in Berlin, it grew over the years and decades to the size we see today. Altough the event has over a million spectators, it still has not the size of Notting Hill Carnival where you sometimes need an hour just to get to the other side of the street.

The “Karneval der Kulturen” has no Caribbean roots, unlike the diasporic Carnivals in London, New York, Miami or Toronto – and this is one of the few things which makes Berlin so unique: Soca trucks with people jumping up next to the Angola and Samba truck, followed by Kurdish moms, a Squaredance Cowboy group or a local youth project.

No doubt the main event is the big parade on Sunday, starting Hermannplatz, moving down Hasenheide to Yorkstrasse. The parade starts at 12 am, the last truck usually reaches Yorksstrasse after 9pm. There’s also a street party from Thur till Sun with several stages (African stage, Latin America stage etc) going down in Kreuzberg near Zossenerstr / Hallesches Tor.

Lusotronics

Besides a whole lot of Soca- and Dancehall-Parties this year we are especially looking forward to Lusotronics, a two-day festival dedicated to the urban digital music of the Portuguese-speaking (lusophonic) world, brought to you by Man Recordings.

The musical styles from Angola, Brasil, Mozambique and Portugal are a staple amongst Tropical Bass listeners and artists – the whole genre is deeply influenced by Baile Funk, Kuduro, Angolan Afro-House, Kizomba, Tecnobrega or Funana.

To quote the Lusotronics website:

“Produced on cheap digital instruments, these genres were born in the shanty towns of megalopolises such as Rio De Janeiro, Luanda, Maputo, Belém or Lisbon and are rapidly distributed worlwide through the Internet. A situation which is in stark contrast to the pre-Internet-age in which these countries considered themselves “peripheral“, with little access to the global pop and culture events. But since Portugal´s former colonies are now online, audio visual information, music and dance styles circulate in unprecendentend velocity around the world, reaching publics beyond language and space barriers. The results of this development are adapted and re-contextualised in the cities of the “first world“ with Lisbon as it´s main hub.”

Well said. Let me just add two words: Zouk Bass!

Curated by Daniel Haaksman the festival on Saturday and Sunday not only brings you a huge line-up with household names like Edu K, Bonde do Role, Batida, DJ Edgar, Bbrave, Titica, DJ Marfox, Gato Preto and more, there will also be lectures and and a movie programme. Perfect to get totally immersed in the lusophonic soundscapes that are predominant from Rio to Luanda.

Saturday, 18th & Sunday 19th, Club Gretchen, see lusotronics.com for timetable and more infos
Facebook Event Saturday
Facebook Event Sunday

MAN RECORDINGS & TROPICALBASS.COM WANT TO MAKE YOU HAPPY! WE HAVE 2X2 TICKETS FOR THE LUSOTRONICS FOR YOU GUYS TO WIN!

HEAD OVER TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND SEE HOW!

Besides the Lusotronics we’ve put a few recommendations for your Carnival schedule together for you:

Friday, 17th

Soca at the beach (Badeschiff)
The must-see location Badeschiff is a swimming pool swimming on the river next to a huge beach bar. Perfect afternoon hang-out with music by international Soca DJs (including TropicalBass.com’s Marflix).
Facebook event

Afro Heat presents Carnival Xplosion (Festsaal Kreuzberg)
The Afro Heat team brings you the Azonto, Dancehall and Afro flavor. Including BBQ and African food.
Facebook event

Carnival Jump Up 2013 (Gretchen)
The traditional Friday Soca event hosted by Soca Twins to get you in the right Carnival mood. Headlined by Peter Ram (Barbados).
Facebook event

Saturday, 18th

Carnival Glow & Soca Family BBQ Lime (Astra)
The Carnival Glow hosted by the Carnival Fever crew is THE event for all you Soca fans out there – wining and drinking crews from all over Europe make this party a total madness. If you miss this one, you haven’t been to Berlin Carnival. Btw: Glow means you must wear white!
This year headlined by superstar Kes from Trinidad.
In the afternoon before the event there’s also the traditional hangout Soca Family BBQ Lime, starting 1pm (come at 4pm and the lime is already HEAT).

Soca Family Lime
Carnival Glow

Sunday, 19th

Great Procession from Hermannplatz to Yorkstrasse
Absolutely do not miss out this one – 77 groups and trucks are parading down the Hasenheide boulevard. If you wanna be on the sure side, come early (starting 12 am), take some pictures of the early groups, grab some drinks and then join the very last truck Yard/Escobar for full Carnival madness! TropicalBass.com crew will be around for sure.
Pro tip: Wear sneakers if you serious about jumping up!

Caribbean Invasion (Yaam)
Official after-party at the Yaam, a very unique hangout and club for Africans and Reggae heads. Live: Stylo G (UK), X-Caliber (Trinidad).
Yaam event page

Tonight the famous Moombahton Massive will be in Berlin for the first time, with a massive line-up from Nadastrom to Sabo to good peeps like Zuzuka Poderosa and Schlachthofbronx.
If you are in the city, this is definitely something not to miss! Moombahton godfather Dave Nada is giving us some exclusive insights before it all goes down tonight. Stay tuned for more interviews and don’t miss the fun tonight!
01.12.20112 | MOOMBAHTON MASSIVE BERLIN | WORLDTRONICS FESTIVAL | HAUS DER KULTUREN DER WELT | JOHN-FOSTER-DULLES-ALLEE 10 | 10557 BERLIN
STARTS AT 8PM!!

Hey Dave, we are very excited to have Moombahton Massive here in Berlin. The night is going to be part of the Worldtronics festival, which every year brings musicians from all over the world to Haus der Kulturen. What is your impression so far?
Very excited about Worldtronics! This isn’t only the first time for Nadastrom in Berlin, but the first ever official Moombahton Massive event.

So how did this event come about? How does the Moombahton Massive end up at Worldtronics?
The good people at Worldtronics reached out to me about doing a Moombahton night at their Worldtronics festival. I thought it would be great to do a proper Moombahton Massive like how we do in the States: Nadastrom & Sabo plus special guests involving artists from around the world related to the Moombahton sound.

You’ve got such a strong lineup of the usual suspects, yourself, Sabo, but you’ve broadened it to include The Very Best, Schlachthofbronx, Boyfriend, Zuzuka Poderosa and Disgraceland. How do they fit in?
Everyone on the lineup has a love for Moombahton and play it at their sets! They are also good friends and rep Moombahton worldwide. Boyfriend and Disgraceland bring the deeper, techier approach to Moombahton. Jen Lasher & Zuzuka Poderosa bring their fire vocal work to Tropical Bass. Schlachthofbronx murders the bass game on all angles from Moombahton to Bounce to Cumbia to Kuduro. And then you have The Very Best to round out the night with their amazing take on African Pop meets Bass Music. It’s all relative!

Despite being global, the European presence has been been limited thus far. As well as being a huge party is this a chance to win over new fans? And how do you hope the sound will go down?
I think it’s a great opportunity to show Berlin and other world region representatives how Moombahton music really throws down!

Is this kind of event the best way to showcase the sound? Is it a big sound that works well at festivals?
We’ve been here all week to experience the festival in its entirety and, I have to say, this has got to be one of the most appropriate events to showcase Moombahton music. The sound is very diverse and flexible with the ability to rock basements to stadiums. I’ve experienced both and seen it pop off!

How does it feel to be in Berlin? It’s a place that has contributed loads to music history, from Bowie in the seventies to the Berghain – does that affect how you approach the gig?
It feels great to be in Berlin. There’s a strong sense of musical knowledge and taste here. And most importantly, people here seem very eager to party and have a good time. It’s everything I’ve imagined and more. Soaking up the city this past week definitely gives me some perspective on how I wanna approach our set for tonight for sure.

Has that legacy had any influence on you as artists?
Moombahton has and continues to be an inspiration for me as an artist and a person. It’s quite personal and I’m always thinking of new ways to approach the music!

Are you planning to check out the rest of Worldtronics? Maybe soak up some Berlin vibes?
I’ve been here all week and been blown away from all the nights and performances. Loved the Tecno Brega night repping Brasil, Sinotronics reppin awesome Post Noise Techno from Beijing, and the irresistible deep sounds of House Nation South Africa. I’m like a sponge over here [laughs]!

Bamboo Bass – Berlin’s Tropical Bass hot-spot is finally back with it’s fifth edition. Remember the last party with Uproot Andy when almost 800 people teared the roof down?

Bamboo Bass is Berlin’s own Global Bass troop on their mission through the urban music jungle, loaded with the latest Tropical Bass, Moombathon, UK Funky and African club sounds – brought to you by SWS (Sound with Soul) in cooperation with Tropicalbass.com.

For the 5th edition of the Bamboo Bass we are glad to present London’s finest – MURLO (Mixpak/Low Up/Hipsters Dont Dance – London) at the legendary club Bohannon (Berlin) this Friday, Nov 16th.

Line Up
MURLO (Mixpak /Low Up/Hipsters Don’t Dance – London)
MARFLIX (TropicalBass.com/Faluma – Berlin)
DJ SILENT PRESSURE (SWS / Bass Dive – Berlin)

As usual resident and host Dj Silent Pressure [SWS] released a new Bamboo Bass Mix packed with the latest tunes in Tropical Bass, Moombahton, UK Bass & Trap.

Oye kids, this gonna get madd, so make sure you got your dancing shoes on.

Date: Fr. 16.11. starting: 23:00
Venue: Bohannon
Dircksenstraße 40,
10178 Berlin

The Notting Hill Carnival will take place very soon (as every year last August Weekend) with two big Roadmarches, with lots of Trucks, with lots of Soundsystems spreading bass-vibes through Kensigton, lots of Pre and After Carnival Shows, Boattrips, Steelpan and Calypso Contests and all types of Carnival related Music. This is the biggest Caribbean Carnival outside the Caribe. Be Part of it !!

If you need general Information check the official Homepage

It is not posible to list all Dates but we have some recommendations for you…
Starting with Poison UKs Soca Event on Friday ft. Bunji Garlin, Fay Ann Lions, Lil Rick, Skinny Fabulous, Swappy, Tallpree and more. This will take place at O2 Empire and for more Infos and Tickets check Posion UK. For all Soca Events -> Dont forget your Rag !!

If you are more interested in a slower vibe with heavyer Basslines you have to check out the University of Dub, the Roots Dance Festival in Scala near Kings Cross. This will take place on Friday with Jah Youth, Iration Steppas and Aba-shanti I. More Infos via University of Dub and Tickets via Scala London Here you will need some Earplugs !!

On Saturday the Soca Freaks will Love Oh Gosh !! at Chystals Nightclub with Kerwin Dubois, Lil Rick and more – take care, they don’t take prisoners. There will be many more Soca-Events wich you could check out via. UK Soca Scene

Also on Saturday we have this two Events spreading a more tropical vibe – First by the Movimientos Crew with three Live Bands spreading different Carnival Vibe – Kalakuta Millionaires, Voodoo Love Orchestra & Maracatu Estrela Do Norte + DJs Andrés Digital (tropicalbass.com) + Residents Cal Jader & Arias speading Cumbia, Tropical Bass, 3ball and more. More Info here

The Hipsters dont dance Crew has a Event with Dre Skull and the Remix Masters of So Shifty and many more at World Carnival #3 in Visons Video Bar.
Also on Saturday will take place the Necessary Mayhem Carnival Birthday Party – Original Reggae Vibe ft: Mr Williamz, Tippa Irie, Robbo Ranx, Silver Star, Serocee, Marcus Visionary, Style & Swagger, Joe Grime & Plenty More in the Big Cill Bar

On Sunday Club Popuzada will get wild in Tropical Brasilian Style at Floripa ft. Mc Zulu, Gato Preto with nuff live Action and the DJs Bumps,Joao Brasil and DJ Cliffy.

The Movimientos Crew Cal Jader and Arias including Andrés Digital again on Sunday at the Camino Bar. Here you will get Cumbia, Tropical Bass, 3ball, Moombahton and tones of Remixes.

Start your Monday in the Carnival Areal eating some Caribbean Food and listening to the Soundsytems their. Only one example for the programmation is the Digital Soundboy Flyer at the right. Then join the Roadmarch !!

If you still could stand on your feet there are some recommendations for the Monday After Show. The Urban Nerds gettin wild at Scala with nuff Artits like Breakage & MC Wrec, Mala & Coki (Digital Mystikz), Kode9, The Heatwave, Ragga Twins and manymany more. Be sure your reserve a Ticket, this should be sold out.

Also hard to get in is the Major Lazer Carnival Party ft. Sean Paul, David Rodigan, Dre Skull, Machel Montano and more.

You will find some more usefull informations about the Calypso Tent, Panorama (nah miss!!) and J’ouvert here

You can find all Soundsytems here

Also plan your Travels (some Tube Stations are closed during Carnival!!) You can do this here

Again it’s about that time again: Berlin’s finest Tropical night is back with it’s forth edition:

Bamboo Bass – a global bass troop on their mission through the urban music jungle, loaded with the latest Tropical Bass, Moombathon, UK Funky and African club sounds.

For the 4th edition of the Bamboo Bass party we are glad to present our favourite Tropical DJ: UPROOT ANDY (Que Bajo / NYC). Brought to you by Kultmucke.de & Sound with Soul (SWS) in cooperation with TropicalBass.com.
Berlin is the last stop on Uproot Andy’s European tour.

Listen to ‘Sina Makossa Remix’, Andy’s latest tune on soundcloud:

As always there’s a fine promo mix by DJ Silent Pressure:

Full line-up

Tropical Bass floor:

UPROOT ANDY (Que Bajo- New York)

MARFLIX (Tropicalbass.com/Faluma – Berlin)

DJ SILENT PRESSURE (SWS / Bass Dive – Berlin)

Balkan & Elektro Swing floor:

TOM NOWA (Klangkost- Berlin)

RUBEN MC LOOP (Berlin)

DAWEE (SWS – Berlin)

Date: this Fr. 15.06. / 23:00

Venue: Rosi’s
Revaler Str. 29, 10245 Berlin

Bamboo Bass Website
Bamboo Bass Facebook

Tonight Berlin’s Tropical club night Bamboo Bass presented by TropicalBass.com is going to the next round:

The monkeys are back and ready to welcome Mataklap, member of Netherland’s Tropical pioneers Bomb Diggy and former guest of Marflix’ “Riddims Tropicale” radioshow.
Next to this, resident DJ Silent Pressure is back from Ghana loaded fresh tunes outta Accra. Also his SWS-Crewmate Sebastian will drop a nice Moombahton-Set.

Get ready for some Tropical Bass, Cumbia, Moombahton, UK Funky and of course: Azontoooooo!

Facebook Event

The host of the party, DJ Silent Pressure, did also an awesome mix you should not miss:

Taxi Brousse Productions presents the Tropical Spring Festival with Nueva Cumbia, Balkan Grooves, Global Beatz, Afro Digital and more.

The Locations are International, Le Dame de Canton, Alimentation Generale and the Café des Sports mostly located in beautiful and multicultural Bellville (Arr.19).
Some Highlights -> So the Festival starts April 06. with ZZK based Cumbia Pioneers from FAUNA directament from Argentina.

Then we  have KUTO KILLA SELECTAH from Peru on April 7.

April 13. will be a date with Darling MISS BOLIVIA

April 26. is a PELIGROSA date. From Austin Texas coming the Cumbiaton Terrorists DJ Orion and King Louie

April 27. could be your Date with Tropical-Cumbia-Reggae Specialist ANDRÉS DIGITAL hijaking the Dame de Canton and sailing over to Colombia.

all this brought to you by Mama Cumbia Soundsystem aka. Los Diabolos Santos aka. Pedrolito and Captain Cumbia. So follow the Cumbia Scream Soundclash. Here we have Round 7
Captain Cumbia starts with his remix

and gettin a strong response from Pedrolito

Amigo/as -> Nos vemos !!

Tonight is another edition of Berlin’s Tropical club Bamboo Bass.
Line Up:
MARFLIX (Tropicalbass.com/Faluma – Berlin)
DJ SILENT PRESSURE (SWS / Bass Dive – Berlin)
SOL TIGHT & CRIS URBAN (TFDRCKGBT Bass Blog – Berlin)
CHABWERA BANDA (WOZA T.i.A. – Leipzig)

Facebook event
VCF Club
Rochstraße 132
S+U Alexanderplatz / S Hackescher Markt

The host of the party, DJ Silent Pressure, did also an awesome mix you should not miss:

Sabo & Cassady – La Curura
Alika & Nueva Alianza – Para Bailar
Boogat – Esa mujer
Osmani Garcia – La Malcria
Mr.Saik – El Choque
Shaggy – Jacket (Dj Orly Remix)
Gappy Ranks & Gyptian – Girl next door (Soca Remix)
Sabbo – Shine & Cris
Cutty Ranks – Limb by Limb (Chong X Cumbia Remix)
Latin Fresh – Ella se Arrebata (Chong X Remix)
Notch – Lay Away Love (Chong X & Dj Mess Moombashment Remix)
Nate Dogg – Gangsta Walk (Chong X Gangstatone edit)
Missy Elliot – Get u freak on (Alvaro & Punish Moombahton Remix)
Dan Gerous – X about me
Major Lazer, The Partysquad & Chong X – Original Moombah Don (Babylon Rocker edit)
Stylo-G – Call Mi A Yardie (Chong X & Dj MeSs Moombashment Remix)
Torito Bandido – Saya De San Benito (Chong X Remix)
Schlachthofbronx – Carimbo
Too Fresh – Riddim Culture
Azealia Banks – 212 ft. Lazy Jay
El – Obuu Mo
Donaeo – Move to da gyal dem
Sticky – Jack it up ft. Marvin Brown
Warrior One – Lord of bashy
Major Lazer – Original Don (Bert on Beats Remix)
M.I.A. – Bad Girls

The MamA CumbiA SounD SysteM, is a Cumbia-Bass collective founded by Pedrolito and Captain Cumbia in Paris to promote this music in parties. Also Sargento Garcia and many more belonging to the crew. Pedrolito is Selector for Radioglobal. Check one of his mixes Dale amor a la cumbia que la cumbia te lo devuelve #19 by Pedrolito Radioglobal

and we have Captain Cumbia with his stylish Reggae-Cumbia Remixes Captain Cumbia remix Charlie Chaplin [License To Kill] by Captain Cumbia

Watch out for the next Dates
13 JAN. 2012 @ DAME DE CANTON
CLUBBING > DJ’S CAPTAIN CUMBIA, MANDUKA & PEDROLITO
[23H00-05H00 / Paris 13]

17 FEV. 2012 @ LE CAMIONNEUR
DJ’S CAPTAIN CUMBIA & PEDROLITO
[21H00-02H00 / 67000 Strasbourg]

09 MARS 2012 @ PENICHE CANCALE
DJ’S CAPTAIN CUMBIA & PEDROLITO
[21H00-02H00 / 21000 Dijon]

Later in 2012 will be selected by Andres Digital (End of April tba.) and the Folcore guys from Barcelona (Cherman and el Timbe)

So we will see us in the Dame De Canton. Check the Trailer !!

Mama Cumbia Sound System [Teaser] from toubaballstars on Vimeo.

The German Capital Berlin with its Techno and Minimal monoculture and a club culture flooded by tourists searching for the “Berlin sound” is not really known to be a Capital for Tropical and Bass music. Although there is a handfull of DJs who try to establish the sound in Berlin club life.

Since today there is a new regular in town: Bamboo Bass (in cooperation with TropicalBass.com) – a global bass troop on their mission through the urban music jungle, loaded with the latest Tropical Bass, Moombathon, UK Funky and African club sounds.
New, innovative sounds taken from the underground scenes of musical hot spots all over the world are presented in an
inspiring mix. Tunes from London to Kingston and Rio to Johannesburg are mixed up to a vibrant set, full of energy.

The party is held at What?! club including a 2nd floor with Dancehall/Reggae. Bamboo Bass Facebook event page.

Lineup:
A Skitzo (French Kiss FM – Sarajevo)
soundcloud

Pablo Gunzales (Mad Again/Distillery – Leipzig)
soundcloud

Chabwera Banda (WOZA T.i.A – Leipzig)
soundcloud

DJ Silent Pressure (SWS/Bass Dive – Berlin)
SWS Website // soundcloud

Reggae/Dancehall Floor:

Wildshot Sound (Sweep Deh Floor Night – Berlin)
website

DJ Mister K (Dagga Explosion – Berlin)
soundcloud

Tracklist Bamboo Bass Vol. 1

Doc Daneeka – Drums in the deep
Funkystepz – Shocker
Greenmoney – Boomticka
Tomb Crew – Inna Dat (Rico Tubbs Club Mix)
Crazy Cousins & MC Versatile – Funky Anthem
Foreign Beggars & Vato Gonzales – Badman Riddim
Lady Chann & Dreadsquad – Island Lovin (Grodio UK Funky Remix)
Omar – Dancing (Instrumental)
Omar – Dancing
Zinc & Ms Dynamite – Wile Out
Katy B & Ms Dynamite – Lights On (Los Guaracheros Remix)
Major Lazer – Pon di Floor (Dj KlaC 3Ball Remix)
DJ Tetris – Sudafrika (Mundial Mix)
Jumping Back Slash – Kwaai Sneakers (Erick Rincon Remix)
Slap In The Bass – Egypt (Hostage Remix)
Sabbo – I’m Ready
DJ Gregory & Gregor Salto feat. The Serafim Crew – Paris Luanda (Sabo Moombahton Remix)
DJ Buxxi & DJ Buñuelo feat. Eddy Jey & el Michel – Rumba Loca
Drop The Lime – Sex Sax (Doc Adam Moombahton Edit)
Buraka Som Sistema – Hangover (BaBaBa) (Ckrono’s Rui Costa style Moombahton Edit)
Ding Dong – Badman pullup (Chong-X Remix)
Alison Hinds – Wine To Deh Back (Patty Cake Riddim)
Rupee – Stand Up Against Wall (Patty Cake Riddim)
Skinny Fabulous feat. Danielle Veria – Glory Glory (Patty Cake Riddim)
Machel Montano – Gyal Wuk (Whistle Riddim)
Shal Marshall – Don’t Stop Wine (Rich Boy Riddim)
Tipanic – Like A Snake (Marflix Roadmix)(Re-arranged)
Appietus featuring 4X4 – Miss Doctor (Malibu Funky mix)
Jessy Matador – Decale Gwaada
Magic System – Zouglou Dance
Obour – Where the Money Go Dey
Dj Patrick & Aleluia – O Pato
Dj Djeff – Elegom Bounsa feat. Maskarado (Main Mix)
Dj Djeff – Elegom Bounsa (Los Carlos Kuduro Bootleg)
Big Nelo – Hoje e Surra
Batida – Yumbala
Titica – Chao
Buraka Som Sistema & Pongo Love – Kalemba (Wegue Wegue)
Buraka Som Sistema & Blaya & Roses Gabor – We Stay Up All Night
Opium Flirt – Ratatouille (Bert On Beats Remix)
Canblaster & Berou – Kapongo Dance
Pocz & Pacheko – Tuki Love
Bert On Beats – Alemao (feat MC Gi)
Onyenze – Onwa Nna Na Nwa (Schlachthofbronx Remix)
Fuego & El Cata – Look At Me Now (Merengue Electronico Remix)