Keiji Haino, Merzbow, and Balázs Pandi Perform at St. Elisabeth-Kirche in Berlin

Japanese experimental musician Keiji Haino performed with noise artist Merzbow and drummer Balázs Pandi at St. Elisabeth-Kirche in Berlin, as part of a series curated by Manuela Benetton. The concert served as the international preview of the Saturnalia Festival, held June 16-17 at Macao in Milan, organized by Tavolo Suono. Haino, known for his work in rock, noise, and drone music, described his approach as highly individualistic, rejecting labels like jazz or blues. He aims to create an 'improvisational sound theatre' and sees performance as communication, striving for what he calls 'the deepest point of now.' The trio's set was intense and cathartic, with Haino acting as a shamanic figure, while the audience pressed close to the stage. Benetton emphasized the rarity of the cultural offering and the importance of breaking barriers between performer and audience. The performance contrasted with a previous event at the same venue by Marginal Consort, shifting from an ethereal atmosphere to a violent red light and a more physical concert experience.