Hamburg, September 24 – The city’s club scene is abuzz with the upcoming opening of ‘glimmer,’ a new music club located in the Oberhafenquartier. Scheduled to open its doors on October 2nd, ‘glimmer’ is envisioned as a multifaceted cultural space, promising to host not only music events but also readings, theater performances, and flea markets.
A New Chapter for the Oberhafenquartier
The club is situated in a former locomotive shed between HafenCity and the main train station, a building that previously housed the music club ‘Moloch.’ The venue has undergone extensive renovation and expansion to accommodate up to 600 people.
Anton Burmester, one of the three operators behind ‘glimmer,’ alongside Johann Kipping and Luke Mehrhoff, expressed their long-held dream of owning a club. Despite recent challenges faced by Hamburg’s club scene, Burmester remains optimistic. “I know it’s a bit hard to imagine when you look around here, but it will be finished. When the music is on, the lights are dim, and the beer is cold, it will work,” he stated amidst the ongoing construction.
Beyond Techno and House: A Diverse Cultural Hub
While ‘glimmer’ will feature techno, house, and trance music, the team emphasizes its broader ambition to establish a cultural center. This includes plans for readings, theater, and flea markets, reflecting a commitment to cultural diversity.
Egbert Rühl, Managing Director of Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft, which oversees the project for the Cultural Authority, confirmed that the decision to select ‘glimmer’ was unanimous among the 14 applicants. “Everyone ultimately believed that it fit best into Oberhafen because it is not just a commercially oriented club operation, but is more broadly positioned,” Rühl explained.
Soundproofing and Federal Funding
Residents in HafenCity need not worry about noise, as the club has been expensively soundproofed. The project has benefited from federal funding amounting to three million euros for the area. Rühl hopes the new club will significantly revitalize the Oberhafenquartier, which has become a home for many creative individuals in recent years.
Hamburg’s Senator for Culture, Carsten Brosda (SPD), views the opening as a positive signal for the city’s club scene, which has faced difficulties recently. “A club belongs in the Oberhafen, it rounds off this creative quarter. Together with the clubs emerging at the Deichtor casemates, a new hotspot for music is growing here, and with a whole lot of other creative uses in between,” said Brosda.
The Challenges and Idealism of Club Ownership
Opening a club in the current climate presents significant challenges, as acknowledged by Anton Burmester. However, he confirmed that a viable business plan is in place. When asked if one could make a living from it, Burmester laughed, “You can survive, I would say. We have planned it so that we can pay our rent, go shopping, and perhaps sometimes have a little fun when time permits. It’s probably not the place that will make you a millionaire.” This sentiment underscores the idealism often found within Hamburg’s club scene.
Context of Hamburg’s Club and Live Music Scene
The opening of ‘glimmer’ comes at a time when the live and club music landscape across Germany is under pressure. The Club Week Hamburg initiative highlights these difficult circumstances. Despite these challenges, the city continues to foster its vibrant cultural life, with new venues like ‘glimmer’ contributing to its dynamic appeal.
