Berlin Festival, taking place September 7-8 in Berlin, Germany is a great reason to visit the city. You can go early for the music and stay after the fest is over, because your festival wristband not only gets you into the festival grounds, but the entire city by entitling you to various discounts with vendors all over; such as bike rentals, bus fare, and museums, between September 6-16th. For a full list of places to go and things to see that your wristband gets you a 20-25 percent discount, check out the fest’s Berlin Guide. Germany, in general, has carved out a musical niche of the dark electronic dance variety, and there’s definitely a lot of that on this year’s Berlin Festival lineup, but being that Berlin in particular is known for being a creative hub for artists and unique individuals, the fest should reflect that as well. Here is a handful of artists on the lineup we think fit that bill exceptionally well (Light Asylum shown above):

Brandt Brauer Frick Ensemble is, at the core, a trio of German musicians who explore electronic and techno music sensibilities through primarily symphonic instruments. Basically, they make arrangements that could be techno songs that kids the world over would spin their glowsticks to and create the same sounds using instruments you would normally associate with refined orchestras, like piano, tympani, harp, strings, and horns. They can easily play small clubs with the three of them, but they have also expanded into a full orchestral ensemble. This has allowed them to collaborate with other artists like Jamie Lidell, and together they make mesmerizing modern classical music.

Kimbra is that new Australian, by way of New Zealand darling, who you probably know by now from her collaboration with Gotye on “Someone That I Used to Know.” She’s got her very own record out now called VOWS, and she out with her own jazzy retro pop proving that there’s way more where that little spark came from. Plus, she makes such awesome ugly singing faces, you know she means it.

For your highly irreverent garage punk fix, San Diego’s Crocodiles will be on the main stage for your snarky dancing pleasure. Pump your fist and sneer at your neighbor to this.

As noted in my live review of Light Asylum earlier this year in NYC, this duo is some fierce, powerful shit. Light Asylum is not for idle listening. It’s a voice form the underground, growling from the deep underbelly of individuality and equality.

With funky electro cerebral dance music with bass to bump for days, WhoMadeWho is a trio from Copenhagen who compose beats with lyrics that make you think about the world, the people around you, and your impact on everything.