Dortmund’s Tresor.West launches free “Community Nights” to refocus on underground, calls for support

Tresor.West is offering free entry to its parties on Saturdays throughout January as part of the Dortmund venue’s efforts to get back to its roots in the underground. 

Sister to the legendary Berlin institution, the German venue opened in 2019 inside a historic factory building. Despite initial success, on Friday 3rd January the team shared an Instagram post citing a “bitter reality” faced by many similar organisations and clubs. 

In a bid to raise footfall and emphasise its commitment to clubbing as culture, weekly Community Saturdays events will be free entry all month, with line-ups kept secret before each edition and a focus on local bookings and artists willing to play for more reasonable fees. 

“Going out shouldn’t be a privilege but must remain accessible,” a statement from Tresor.West explained. “Instead of bowing to the costs of the headliner DJ market, we’re investing in you, shining the spotlight on ambitious local DJs and crews, and appealing to renowned artists that meet us with fair fees.” 

The initiative comes a week after the final closing party of Berlin’s revered riverside club Watergate, which a spokesperson confirmed was the result of “rising costs and shifting club culture”. The move was “the only sensible and responsible decision”, with the venue bowing out on a 35-hour party featuring some 40 artists. Also in the city, Renate, which occupies a building owned by the same landlord, is set to wind up operations this year for similar reasons. However, the decade-spanning club intends on switching to a new location.