Paul Kalkbrenner concert in Monaco

In the world of electronic music, few names resonate as deeply and universally as Paul Kalkbrenner.

The German producer, live performer, and composer has spent over two decades crafting a unique soundscape that bridges the emotional with the hypnotic, the cinematic with the danceable. Kalkbrenner is not just a DJ; he is a storyteller who uses synths, beats, and melodies to communicate feelings beyond words.

On 24 July, the festival line-up opens up to the electro music of Paul Kalkbrenner. Salle des Etoiles thus finds a new synergy with Jimmy’z Monte-Carlo, its legendary neighbouring club. 

Since 2006, the Monte-Carlo Summer Festival has brought together the greatest names in the history of music, which have built the international reputation of Salle des Etoiles. With rock, pop and, for the first time in its history, electro, the line-up for this 2025 edition, proposed by Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer and its artistic Director Alfonso Ciulla, once again targets an eclectic audience. 

Practical information:

• Date: 24 July 2025
• Price: Standing concert – from 150 euros
• Location: Salle des Etoiles, Sporting Monte-Carlo, 26 Avenue Princesse Grace, 98000 Monaco
• Information and reservations: +377 98 06 36 36 / ticketoffice@sbm.mc

The Timeless Pulse of Paul Kalkbrenner

Emerging from the vibrant techno scene of Berlin in the late 1990s, Kalkbrenner quickly distinguished himself from his contemporaries. While many artists were content with purely functional club tracks, he sought to create electronic music with soul, tracks that could stand alone as listening experiences and still ignite dancefloors.

His breakthrough came with the critically acclaimed film and soundtrack “Berlin Calling” (2008), where his anthem “Sky and Sand” became a generation-defining hit. The track, featuring vocals from his brother Fritz Kalkbrenner, combined a melancholic beauty with steady, driving rhythms — a formula that has since become his signature.

Kalkbrenner’s music is often described as emotional techno or melodic techno, but genre labels hardly capture the full spectrum of his work. His productions, such as those found on albums like Icke Wieder, 7, and Parts of Life, blend deep basslines, soaring synths, and orchestral influences. His live shows are equally legendary, marked by his refusal to simply DJ. Instead, Kalkbrenner performs live, building and reshaping his music on the spot, turning each set into a unique sonic journey.

What makes Paul Kalkbrenner stand out is his ability to merge intimacy with euphoria. His tracks evoke feelings of nostalgia, longing, and joy, often without a single word spoken. His music captures the paradox of techno — that it can be both mechanical and deeply human at once.

Today, Kalkbrenner is one of the most respected and beloved figures in electronic music. Whether he is headlining festivals, filling arenas, or performing under the open sky, he continues to prove that electronic music can be more than just danceable — it can be profound.