Forget the Berlinale – this week Berlin is buzzing with live music. Whether it’s singer songwriters, jazz cats or garage-soul legends that jump your bones, there’s something seriously worth checking out. Stuff your golden bears up your arse – I’m going to a gig.

Friday 17th February

Ed Harcourt @ Silent Green

Truly a master of his craft, in a just world Ed Harcourt would be recognised as one Britain’s best modern songwriters. He’s consistently released amazing records, not least a Mercury Music Prize-nominated debut album, yet somehow mainstream success has alluded him. Ed hasn’t let that stop him achieving success as a go-to songwriter and musician for luminaries including Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Libertines and Marianne Faithful. He’s quietly achieving recognition, however, with last year’s The Way That I Live song being used in a Burberry advert. His seventh album, Furnaces, is a fiery set of tunes that demonstrates how relevant Ed’s songwriting is in these dark times. Performing in the elegant crematorium-turned-gig-venue Silent Green, this is a rare opportunity to see this busy man showcase his fantastic body of work.

More info on the Facebook event page.

Want to win tickets? Berlin Loves You has two tickets to give away – get lucky by emailing win@staging-berlinlovesyou.kinsta.cloud and we’ll randomly pick a winner.

Saturday 18th February

Brian Palisander & The Motherfuckers @ Mastul

‘Organic vegetables from the Congo, ice cubes from the Russian tundra, the finest English, Saharan scrap metal…and a ‘moon man’ on piano’ – that sounds like quite a band! Brian Palisander & The Motherfuckers aren’t your average jazz cats – there’s something slightly strange going on here. Hamburg-based yet always on the road, these guys bring their curiously skewed sound to Wedding’s Mastul this Saturday for what promises to be an eventful evening.

Details can be found here.

Sunday 19th February

Duke Garwood @ Privat Club

Earthy, rootsy and bluesy – Duke Garwood has a cool-as-a-cucumber approach to alternative folk rock. This London-based songwriter has emerged in recent years as one of the most interesting guitarists in modern blues. His sparse style of guitar playing has earned him many admirers. None other than Mark Lanegan (gruff-voiced singer of Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age) has described Garwood as ‘one of my all-time favourite artists’. Privat Club is the ideal location for this unique songwriter – and we should all be in attendance.

Find out more here.

Tuesday 21st February

The Orwells @ Musik & Frieden

Illinois rockers The Orwells are bringing their heavy-rockin’ sound to Musik & Frieden this Tuesday. The band has enjoyed a considerable leg-up in the music world since forming in 2009, after catching the ears of Arctic Monkeys. Since then, they’ve thrashed about on Jools Holland as well as been called for an encore on David Letterman. They return to Berlin for what is guaranteed to be a raucous night.

Get your tickets to the show here.

Thursday 23rd February

Philophon Night @ Burg Schnabel

A monthly evening showcasing the eclectic sounds of African music is exactly what Berlin needs. With the aim of spreading ‘101st century global raw soul’, new Berlin-based record label Philophon have big plans for their new night at Burg Schnabel. With the series kicking off last month with an intense live show from Ghana’s Lee Dodou, tonight sees Canadian garage-soul legend King Khan take to the stage. Performing a recently recorded soundtrack to a Black Lives Matter film, Khan is joined by house band the Polyversal Souls. The brainchild of Max Weisenfeldt, drummer for Dr Dre, Lana Del Rey and more, the label has exciting things planned for the following months. Support them!

All you need to know is here.