Tonight — Save S.I.N.

A couple months ago, at the S.I.N. in north Neukölln, I saw one of the funniest shows in my life courtesy of a motley, yes motley, crew of talented and twisted stand-up comedians and/or performance artists from nearly every part of the English-speaking world. There might have even been a Kiwi performing. I can’t remember. Maybe that free shot of whiskey at the door damaged my memory. Anyway, word is that the S.I.N.* — a vibrant cultural space like no other — is in financial danger. I blame gentrification and this whole Kreuzkölln meme. But I don’t know the whole story. I do know that it would be shame for the place to close. Luckily, there are efforts underway to save the club. And to that end, tonight there will be a special benefit show by a lot of performers to help big it up. Details from the good Paul Salamone…

Save SIN!

Since the beginning of 2009, Konrad Kinard’s S.I.N. Bar and Project space has functioned as a meeting place for a diverse range of artists and performers in the Kreuzberg and Neukölln neighborhoods of Berlin. It has played host to a diverse range of live performances and theme nights, including Comedy in S.I.N., The Hairy Marys burlesque show, Lady Gaby’s “Movin’ on with Verses” series, Wojciech Kosma’s Music Appreciation nights, Laura Bean’s popular bluesgrass nights, and a dubstep DJ night.
Unfortunately, due to the economy, climbing rents, unsympathetic neighbors, and other reasons the club is finding itself in financial trouble and may need to close its doors in September.

To combat this, local performers are pulling together to present a variety show to demonstrate what the club has had to offer in the past and to raise funds to keep it open for the future. The theme of this show is the “Seven Deadly Sins”, with a 5-10 minute performance devoted to each sin of the traditional Western canon, including lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride — in both English and German.

Performers rumored to appear so far include:

* Me (your host)
* Michael Heide (poetry)
* Rey Melara (comedy)
* Sergio Gerau (poetry)
* Maria Olivieri (poetry)
* Beth Martin (music)
* Ve Magni (comedy)
* Naomi Fearn (comedy/burlesque)
* Brian Mitchell (avant-jazz guitar)
* Bea (poetry)
* Flight of Stairs (music)
* Adam Collingsworth (poetry)
* Linden Horvath (music)
* Summer Banks (???)

…with others still clearing their schedules.

Please join us!!

DATE: Friday, August 28th
TIME: 8:30 pm
LOCATION: S.I.N. Bar and Project Space
ADDRESS: Schoenleinstrasse 6 (near U8 Schoenleinstrasse), Berlin-Kreuzberg/Neukölln
COST: 5 euros (all proceeds go to keeping the club open)

*Stranded in Neverland