No festival goes into the second round – happy – Electronic Music from Leipzig

On July 12, 2025, the no festival goes into the second round, again in the Pittlerwerks in the north of Leipzig and again under the motto “from the scene for the scene”. Together with the crew, we take a look behind the scenes.

When the bass determines the rhythm of the crowd until the early hours of the morning, people meet between crochet, hooks or beer yoga and all of this in the charm of old brick buildings-then there is again in Leipzig Keinfestival. What started as a small rave in the forest has developed into a festival for a few years and events: four floors, over 40 acts, a chillout area and a program that goes far beyond music.

On July 12, 2025, the no festival goes into the second round, again in the Pittlerwerks in the north of Leipzig and again under the motto “from the scene for the scene”. I had the opportunity to ask the Keinlichtiv a few questions and to get deeper insights into their work, history, wishes, but also fears and worries.

“No collective, just a circle of friends”

It all started with a circle of friends. People who had enjoyed it and actually only wanted to organize a small rave to try out the newly achieved skills on the protected framework. You say: “What was planned as a private get-together quickly got bigger than expected-and the feedback was also overwhelmingly positive.” When asked about what the organizing collective is called, they replied: “We are not a collective, just a circle of friends.” And so, almost accidentally, the future name of the group that soon founded itself was created: Keinlichtiv.

In the following years they organized several events, grew and noticed more and more that the entire project became larger and larger and more time -consuming. For this reason, the 2023 collective decided to open the project for new people and new ideas. Today Keinlichtiv is an integral part of the Leipzig technolol landscape. Around 30 members organize themselves in self -governing working groups – from booking to awareness – and do everything on a voluntary basis.

The idea of ​​putting on your own festival was actually available from the start. The first implementation last year, however, was, according to the collective, rather a coincidence: “Originally, our event in the Pittlerwerke should only become a normal club night. In conversations with his team and in combination with the charm of the location, however, the possibility of a separate festival has become more and more concrete.” And so it went into the first round. The collective itself describes the atmosphere at the festival as “casual and family, open and exuberant – detached from everyday problems.” And also the response from the festival visitors surveyed: inside was a “wow” – wow, what this collective put together and wow, how nice it felt there.

Voluntary and with risk

But what does the no festival actually make? In addition to music there is exciting workshops, performances a tattoo area and this year a marketplace with food trucks and small stands for the first time. The special thing: The supporting program is almost the same as the techno-line-up itself. And everything under the motto “from the scene for the scene”. For the collective, this guiding principle primarily means that the festival is organized by people who are deeply rooted in the techno scene. There is no large group, no agency behind it, but only people who themselves have “grown up” on Raves and actively help shape the techno scene. The line-up also reflects this: “Our focus is primarily on regional DJs, performers: inside and workshops. And when we book national acts, then mostly because they have reference to the Leipzig scene or because contact has been made via friends and acquaintances.” So this is the part “from the scene”. And “for the scene”? This is a tribute to the Leipzig technoculture. The collective means: “We want to give something back. Without the Leipzig techno scene, there would be no collective. We are very grateful that our events are so well received and therefore we wanted to create a place or occasion where the Leipzig techno scene can come together and network.”

But despite all the euphoria, this festival does not remain without challenges. The collective speaks openly about financial risks and its uncertainties. You say: “The financial risk is always our greatest concern, especially in terms of the festival. It can always pay unexpected costs or do not run the ticket sale as expected.” Even at previous events, they went home more than just once in their pocket. As a non-commercial festival, all revenues come from ticket sales. You plan the budget so that you go from the event with plus/minus zero. If more money is taken, this will flow into the next events or equipment.

Open for exchange and networking

Another hurdle: club death. Many collectives rely on cultural areas to organize events. So also that. In March 2025, in order to draw attention to the topic of general, but also the reasons and causes, they organized a panel discussion on the subject of “Leipzig club culture”. They themselves say: “Of course you can not get out of the way with such an event, but you can ensure that different perspectives come together at a table, identify common construction sites and perhaps also produce aspects that have not yet been so much incorporated into the discussion.”

The collective wishes that the festival has continuous stock, but not at all costs. After the success of the first festival, you want to offer the visitor: more than that this year: more stages, more musical variety, more acts, more workshops, more offer. But they reach their limits financially, but also capacitively. They say: “In order to continue the project out of conviction and with fun, we are currently not seeing any further growth.” And so they also oppose the commercial and capitalist pressure. It doesn't always have to be bigger to be good. The quality and the feeling of being in a free and safe place are much more important.

So the no festival is much more than just a festival. It stands for diversity, mindfulness, solidarity and the conviction that culture not only lives from big names, but of the commitment of many. If you move through the Pittlerwerke on July 12th, you can find out what it means to live an alternative: dancing, crafting, hooking, with a new tattoo, good food and a lot of bass.

All hard facts at a glance

No Festival // July 12, 2025 // 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 a.m. // Pittlerwerke

Live-Sets:
Hotbass Mob, Itsadisata x Shallat x Sir Mantis x NoProTekt, Left Clueless, Liebestrunken, Malina

DJ-Sets:
Abyssus B2B Fränk, Anka, Cargo B2B Discodaisy, Casimir von Oettingen, Cnuts, Disco Amore, DJ Sexex B2B DJ Würlpool, Hλllvk, Hyperplexion, Josephine Wedekind, Kacy, Kσnθ, Kø: Lab, Latchey Kid, La Vie En Glass (Laviena B2B Glassbass), Maria the calm, nightingale B2B art technologist, Nemoa, Ostrreactor, Phoebe, Pierre Arndt, Reza, Rottnmeier, Slany, Suprema Luna, Takt & Taumel, Tomashkin, Vluna, X-Delight, Yantshi

+ Creative workshops, artistic performances, a tattoo corner and chillout area

Tickets Tickets

All pictures: Keinlichtiv