Berlin’s answer to New York punk institution CBGB, SO36 has been an exhilarating hub of the city’s underground scene since it first opened its doors in 1978. Subversive guitar-wielding icons have taken the stage for the past five decades, including The Cure, Echo & The Bunnymen, Wire, and TV on the Radio. The regular Diskoteka Balkanska nights are a blast, featuring a brassy selection of Balkan Beats, klezmer, and Eastern European ska.

This roomy hall is the place to catch well-known international artists just shy of arena-filling popularity, like twenty one pilots, The Notwist, Bright Eyes, and Tove Lo. Although the place gets pretty sweaty by the time the band goes on, you can escape between sets to the large outdoor space with bleacher seating and a flickering movie screen. Buy tickets in advance, if possible, as the caliber of artists means that shows can sell out quickly.

Just a block from the Spree, this modern, multipurpose spot has a bit more polish than most of Berlin’s alternative venues. (By day, it even doubles as a site for business events.) By night, the space transforms into a dreamy concert destination, with booths that line the edges of the ballroom, a large stage, and a lounge with a fire pit. The bookings span indie and electronic acts (Animal Collective, Dirty Projectors) as well as a number of alt-rock legends (The Jesus Lizard, Mudhoney).

Ever catch a gig in a crematorium? Housed in a historic complex that includes a contemporary gallery, a café, and a lush garden, silent green is a stunning (if slightly creepy) example of the kind of inventive architectural reinvention you see all over Berlin. Performances happen under the 17-meter ceiling of the octagonal cupola, a former mourning hall. The schedule of experimental music, dance, and film has included performances by Sam Smith, Kevin Morby, and Susanne Sundfør.

Most local music fans have a story about a great performance they’ve seen at Huxleys Neue Welt; the 1600-capacity hall is a Berlin institution. These days the schedule is filled with top-flight international acts like BANKS, Leon Bridges, Alison Moyet, Modest Mouse, and Counting Crows. For its size, it’s a particularly visitor-friendly space: There’s a large, well-staffed bar, a comfortable lounge, and a balcony that guarantees a good view of the stage.

Originally built in the 1950s as a cinema, this Kreuzberg indie institution earned a place in local rock history in the ’70s, when David Bowie and Iggy Pop were living in Berlin and became regulars. Its most current chapter as an indie club began after a renovation in 2006. The calendar is packed with raucous DJ nights and live performances, with a focus on artists who are just on the cusp of larger rooms, like Kurt Vile and CocoRosie.

The striking architecture of the Tempodrom is an homage to the circus tent where the venue has its origins. After several moves, it took up permanent residence on the site of an abandoned train station. It’s a brilliantly adaptable space depending on the event at hand—major performances can accommodate 3500 fans and, in addition to live music, Tempodrom hosts sports and cultural events. A list of a few recent performers includes Phoebe Bridgers, Liam Gallagher, Wilco, and Lauryn Hill.

Opened in 1951 as a movie house by the US Air Force, the Columbia sat dormant for years. An extensive restoration in 2015 brought it back to its mid-century glory, combining state-of-the-art sound with period architectural details. The theater is an intimate space to catch rock, hip-hop, and electronic acts before they graduate to the massive 3500-capacity Columbiahalle next door. Some previous notable performers include POLIÇA, Sturgill Simpson, and Ash.

Cassiopeia exemplifies the lively bohemian atmosphere of Berlin’s Friedrichshain district. This collection of industrial buildings around a defunct train yard hosts genre-spanning club nights and gigs across several floors. Expect to catch exciting local DJs and bands here, as well as international touring acts that lean away from the mainstream, like Daughters, Nova Twins, and The Chats. In the summer, the outdoor depot serves as a beer garden, performance space, and market area.