Music
6 p.m. is the new 6 a.m. •
Kinder Rave: when techno starts a family
DJs, a dance floor and children in tow. In Berlin, nightlife is changing its opening hours and its audience. “A party for parents where children are also welcome – not the other way round,” say the organisers. Interview
“There’s a difference between the places you can take your children and the ones you really want to take them to.” Inspired by an idea from Matthew Buccelli and Diego Ain, the Kinder Rave was launched in Berlin – an electronic music party designed for parents, but open to children. The DJs play as they would at a proper rave, whilst a space is created around the dance floor where families can spend time together. “Music for parents, at a volume suitable for children,” say the organisers.
Starting out as a Telegram group and with raves organised in parks during the pandemic, Kinder Rave has now become a community that brings DJs, parents and children together in clubs, with one clear rule: it is not a children’s party that parents can attend, but a party for parents that children can join. “Between 2020 and 2022, during the Covid pandemic, a new underground rave scene had developed in Berlin,” says Matt Buccelli. “From there, we came up with the idea of a community of parents who could organise something similar, but designed exclusively for families.”
What did you have in mind at the start?
At first, we envisaged a small community that would meet up every now and then in the woods. Then people kept signing up. We wanted to create a fun rave for parents, but also a place where it would be lovely to go with your children.
At first, we envisaged a small community that would meet up every now and then in the woods. Then people kept signing up. We wanted to create a fun rave for parents, but also a place where it would be lovely to go with your children.
Diego Ain, what do you do?
I make electronic music and have been a musician all my life. One day I was in the park with my daughter and she started playing the drums. A friend made a video of it which went viral and was even shared by Defected Records. Then my partner told me about Kinder Rave; I joined the Telegram group and went to one of these parties. He considered the concept brilliant: a community of individuals who love electronic music yet wish to enjoy it alongside their families.
I make electronic music and have been a musician all my life. One day I was in the park with my daughter and she started playing the drums. A friend made a video of it which went viral and was even shared by Defected Records. Then my partner told me about Kinder Rave; I joined the Telegram group and went to one of these parties. He considered the concept brilliant: a community of individuals who love electronic music yet wish to enjoy it alongside their families.
When did you join the project?
After learning to be a DJ, Matt had started organising illegal raves in parks, some of which had been shut down by the authorities. It’s quite a surreal scene: a rave shut down by the police, but on a Sunday afternoon, in a park full of families and children.
After learning to be a DJ, Matt had started organising illegal raves in parks, some of which had been shut down by the authorities. It’s quite a surreal scene: a rave shut down by the police, but on a Sunday afternoon, in a park full of families and children.
Tell us, how is it different from a normal kids’ disco?
This one is designed for parents. It’s not just a place where you can take the children: it’s an event designed to make you want to go there with them. The programme includes activities for young children, and organisers occasionally invite them onto the dance floor so that parents and children can dance together. They joke—but not too much—that it is ‘music for parents, with the volume set for children’, because the DJs are the real deal and are instructed to play exactly as they would at a standard electronic music event.
This one is designed for parents. It’s not just a place where you can take the children: it’s an event designed to make you want to go there with them. The programme includes activities for young children, and organisers occasionally invite them onto the dance floor so that parents and children can dance together. They joke—but not too much—that it is ‘music for parents, with the volume set for children’, because the DJs are the real deal and are instructed to play exactly as they would at a standard electronic music event.
How are the DJs chosen?
Priority is given to parents. They are asked to send a set or a link to their SoundCloud, and if the music is deemed suitable for the line-up, they are invited. On occasion we collaborate with record labels and entrust the curation to them, following the model of a standard electronic music event. We currently maintain a roster and a waiting list, and we strive to offer opportunities to as many individuals as possible, alternating between new DJs and artists who have already performed with us.
Priority is given to parents. They are asked to send a set or a link to their SoundCloud, and if the music is deemed suitable for the line-up, they are invited. On occasion we collaborate with record labels and entrust the curation to them, following the model of a standard electronic music event. We currently maintain a roster and a waiting list, and we strive to offer opportunities to as many individuals as possible, alternating between new DJs and artists who have already performed with us.
At some point, you moved from parks to clubs. Why?
We realised that if we made the project a bit more professional, we could reach more families and offer better facilities. So we started organising parties in the clubs we used to go to before we had children.
We realised that if we made the project a bit more professional, we could reach more families and offer better facilities. So we started organising parties in the clubs we used to go to before we had children.
What do parents say?
Many tell us: “I used to come here before I had children and thought that, once I became a parent, this place would no longer be for me.” Yet they return to the very same place with their children.
Many tell us: “I used to come here before I had children and thought that, once I became a parent, this place would no longer be for me.” Yet they return to the very same place with their children.
Your slogan is “6 p.m. is the new 6 a.m.”. Is nightlife changing?
We’re certainly seeing a shift towards new formats of electronic music. There are coffee raves, breakfast raves and collectives organising parties for different communities. There is a group of people who want to continue enjoying the dance floor and electronic music, but do not necessarily want to stay out all night. For us, this trend means finding a different way to experience this culture and this music, without giving up the music itself.
We’re certainly seeing a shift towards new formats of electronic music. There are coffee raves, breakfast raves and collectives organising parties for different communities. There is a group of people who want to continue enjoying the dance floor and electronic music, but do not necessarily want to stay out all night. For us, this trend means finding a different way to experience this culture and this music, without giving up the music itself.
Is this a phenomenon that mainly affects parents?
No. Even younger generations are drinking less, going out earlier and coming home earlier. It’s a shift in the way people experience entertainment and nightlife, increasingly towards the afternoon and daytime. For us, it arose from a practical need, but we found ourselves part of a trend that was already taking hold worldwide.
No. Even younger generations are drinking less, going out earlier and coming home earlier. It’s a shift in the way people experience entertainment and nightlife, increasingly towards the afternoon and daytime. For us, it arose from a practical need, but we found ourselves part of a trend that was already taking hold worldwide.
What made you realise that the Kinder Rave was really taking off?
One of the most gratifying sights was couples who’d met in clubs and then bumped into each other at the Kinder Rave with their children. They look at each other and say: “Hold on, are you here too?”. They’ve gone from going to clubs together to finding themselves in the same setting, this time with their children.
One of the most gratifying sights was couples who’d met in clubs and then bumped into each other at the Kinder Rave with their children. They look at each other and say: “Hold on, are you here too?”. They’ve gone from going to clubs together to finding themselves in the same setting, this time with their children.
From the children’s perspective,
some parents report being woken up by their offspring jumping on the bed and announcing, “It’s Kinder Rave today.” The event is designed to ensure that children enjoy themselves and do not feel as though they have been dragged there by their parents; the overarching goal is to create an experience to which they will always want to return.
some parents report being woken up by their offspring jumping on the bed and announcing, “It’s Kinder Rave today.” The event is designed to ensure that children enjoy themselves and do not feel as though they have been dragged there by their parents; the overarching goal is to create an experience to which they will always want to return.