CAKEWALK FEST

It’s Easter Sunday which means Cakewalk 26 is less than 2 months away, so here is our final update on this years line-up. We would like to welcome local youngsters @tarwomb_berlin to the bill, opening the Sunday show. Come early and check out what the Berlin youth brings to the table! Besides that, you might have heard that unfortunately LOOK AHEAD broke up recently, we are looking forward to what comes next for them. That said, we are lucky that @glow.hc agreed to replace them, coming at you with Rhineline Heavy Hardcore. Not to forget, a friendly warning to everyone living in Berlin: get ready to be hit up about hosting bands during the fest (and ofc be granted perks for doing that). Last but not least, please keep making use of our pre-sale at @tixforgigs , we appreciate it!

We are more than pleased to return to the Malzfabrik compound for the second edition of Cakewalk Fest. This time we move the stage down to the HALL which makes CWF 2.0 completely barrier free. Big windows, bright light, what more can you ask for? For your time inbetween the bands you can grab some coffee, food and merch at the SHELTER or if needed, you can touch some grass in the big PARK. Tickets are moving fast, grab yours now via @tixforgigs . Love, the Cakewalk Crew

For this year’s Community Run @cakewalkfest is pleased to join forces with @flatmountainliving once again! 

We would like to invite you to meet up in front of their store in Schöneberg (Kalckreuthstrasse 14, 10777) on Monday 25th, at 09:30, where the run towards @malzfabrik will start at 10:00. You will make your way through Berlin’s south to Tempelhof. At Malzfabrik we will round off the fest with a hang out for those who took part in the run (plus crew). 

ALL PACES WELCOME! 
Email us if you have questions at [email protected] 

Thanks & see you there!

With @cakewalkfest only two weeks away, we still owe you a few final live clips to set the mood — and this time it’s a true UK special feature. While we’re at it, here’s our mantra once again: please keep using the presale via @tixforgigs . It helps the fest, and it helps you. Link in bio. 

It’s definitely no exaggeration to say that @theflex_hardcore have been one of the most prolific bands in the british DIY hardcore scene, ever since their demo tape dropped in 2012, and one of the last surviving juggernauts of the original NWOBHC scene at that. If you’ve never seen them live before, for your own safety, bring a helmet (same thing if you already did see them). 
 @cannonballstraightedge from Sheffield and Liverpool play Straight Edge Hardcore exactly the way we love it: honest, in your face, and without gimmicks. The band, featuring (former) members of bands such as Ordeal, Accusation etc. released an LP on @youngbloodrecords in 2025, which should already tell you all you need to know.

@turnofphrasehc are a fairly new band from London and Brighton (featuring, among others, members of @dynamitehardcore ) playing a very exciting, melodic style of hardcore that is highly emotional without ever becoming pathetic. They recently released a split EP with Square One on @schemehardcore and @sundaydriverecords , which we highly recommend checking out. More updates, incl. timetable etc. within the coming days. Thanks & see you all soon!

The most likely best use we can think of for your old T-shirts is just what @secondbandshirt does. They’ll be joining us with a booth on the Saturday of our fest, so bring along anything you’d like to get rid of and help those in need.
 And please don’t forget to keep buying your tickets in pre-sale at @tixforgigs .

@cakewalkfest is pleased to have @mentalriot.project with an info booth on both days of the Cakewalk 2026. Now more than ever, it is if utmost importance to pay attention to your own mental health as well as that of others. @mentalriot.project was founded with the goal of creating more awareness for this within our scene.

To keep the ball rolling and get you slowly in the mood for Cakewalk 2026, here are another four bands from our bill we would like to highlight. That said, sincerely thank you to everyone who made use of the pre-sale thus far, and also kindly remind you of the pre-sale if otherwise — it helps the fest a great deal. It is up on @tixforgigs . 
 MAGNITUDE @magnitudestraightedge @triplebrecords 
Our Saturday’s headliner left a lasting impression on the last ten years of hardcore. Originally hailing from North Carolina, Magnitude’s epic yet emotive sound made them a staple for fans of classic 90s Straight Edge, reminiscent of Strife, Trial, Outspoken and alike. Listen to their LPs and get ready. 
ONCE AND FOR ALL @onceandforallhc @dbnouniverse 
The demo tape of this Hanover outfit dropped in 2025 on DBNO and surprised many with some of the hardest tracks to come out of DeutschHC in a minute. You would expect veterans from bands like Statement X, @angsthc , or more recently @forceofdenial and @plutotheracerband to go softer with age, but instead they dialed the aggression up to 12. WITS END @rebirthrecords_ @counterculturerecords 
Made up of key-figures from your favorite bands of The New Wave Of British Hardcore (+ USHC) Wits End are still at it with some brilliant NYHC worship, meaning Breakdown, Outburst and Killing Time. They only have two demos out thus far, yet these made such impact we had to fly them in. GLOW @glow.hc 
Another young band out of the ever thriving Rhineline Scene, Glow from Cologne comes through with metallic hardcore that is both razor-sharp yet above all utterly brutal. We are glad they agreed to join our line-up on such short notice and they will certainly bring the mosh. ++++++++++++++++ Credits: Magnitude: nailbecomesthehammer (YT) OAFA: AlieNation (YT) Wits End: JR168 (YT) Glow: Towervideography (YT)

Here are some suggestions on how to spend your off-time during the Cakewalk weekend. Also please do not forget to make use of the pre-sale (link in bio). EDIT: @staticshockmusikberlin is at Bürknerstraße 6, 12047, sorry about the typo!

In today’s video feature we would like you to feast your eyes on four more bands that will appear at CAKEWALK 2026. With this in mind we would like to point out once again that you can purchase weekend and day tickets in advance from @tixforgigs . Here we go: 

KILLING ME SOFTLY @killingmesoftlyhc @streetsofhateny @northernunrest Our newest addition to the lineup! As mentioned, they hail from Leeds, UK, and play frenzied metalcore reminiscent of classic bands from the 90s - equally relentlessly aggressive, yet emotionally draining.   
COMPETE @sttw_records @leechpit.diy After their Berlin gig in January, World Wide Wien returns to Tempelhof as part of their tour with @turnofphrasehc , plus a bunch of excellent new releases in their bag. The palpable passion they show for hardcore makes them a force to be reckoned with.    SPIRIT CRUSHER @spiritcrusherhc @triplebrecords It is a privilege to have one of the bands with us that were instrumental at kicking DeutschHardcore into gear. Even though they are in their 11th year now, they are still going strong and have a new LP on the horizon. BLOCKAGE @dbnouniverse The self proclaimed “only band in town“ makes it onto the Cakewalk stage at last. They will pose a substantial threat to anyone’s intelligence who’s willing to watch (also they will play a bunch of new songs).    ++++++++++++++++++++ Credits: Spirit Crusher: hate5six (YT) Compete: AlieNation (YT) Blockage: WINNING TEAM (YT) KMS: Dai Tan Films (YT)

It is with great pleasure to hereby announce the last regular band for CAKEWALK 2026 and have our line up now finalized: we welcome @killingmesoftlyhc from Leeds, UK to play the Sunday gig. Their brand of metalcore is technical yet manic with a strong 90s edge. Listening to their "To Forever Fall Through God’s Safety Net" EP (on @streetsofhateny and @northernunrest ) should be mandatory if you plan on moshing in order to survive their set. Meanwhile we are still accepting submissions for a young local band to open the Sunday gig. Do not hesitate to dm, we are eager to see what’s out there (in Berlin). In other news: tomorrow we will hit you with our second video post of bands that will play CW26. Don’t forget to make use of the pre-sale!

You’ve waited long enough — it’s time for the next CAKEWALK FEST update. Let’s get into it with Saturday’s headliner: We’re delighted to welcome North Carolina’s own @magnitudestraightedge to Berlin for an exclusive European appearance. If you’ve been keeping up with straight edge hardcore over the past few years, you know who they are and what they are about. Of course that’s not all: with nothing but two demos under their belt, WITS END (from the UK, on @counterculturerecords ) managed to make a name for themselves among the international hc scene, so asking them to play was just like putting one and one together. Moreover, by adding our pals MEAT SHIELD and ETERNAL ENEMY (1st show ever) to the mix, every flavor of DeutschHardcore should be covered now - you know you need to see this. We have two more bands left to be announced, keep your eyes peeled. Last but not least, the cherry on top: Day tickets are on sale now — please see poster for split details and head over to @tixforgigs to get your tickets.