By day, there are few people wandering the industrial zone near Taras Shevchenk metro station in Kyiv’s Podil district.
But by night, the areas comes alive with young people dressed to party and all going to the same place.
Their destination is a disused ribbon factory at 31 Nyzhnioyurkivska St., which houses the Closer club.
Founded in 2013, Closer is one of Kyiv’s most popular clubs, where rave parties go on all night on Fridays and Saturdays.
Closer is described as a Kyiv techno music Mecca, and one that could be compared favorably to clubs in the West.
Perhaps that’s the reason why most foreigners I have met in Kyiv consider Closer a must-visit spot.
However, for devoted regular visitors, it remains a “family” place with a unique atmosphere and quality music.
Five years ago Timur Basha, one of the founders, kicked off so-called “Parties For Friends.” Later, he was joined by Sergiy Yatsenko, Sergiy Vel and Volodymyr Paliy, who performs under the stage name Vova Klk. They held a series of techno parties at different locations before settling on Nyzhnioyurkivska Street.
Now the old factory houses the Closer art center, which includes a showroom, cafe, coworking space, a store and the Closer club with its summer veranda, known as the Lesnoy Prichal (Russian for “forest wharf”) – the first space built in the center.
Closer parties are mostly held on Saturdays, while those on Fridays are mostly held by “friendly” party organizers from outside the club. Tickets range from Hr 180-250, but prices can vary depending on how many artists are performing.
The club usually puts on a good show: The lineup includes celebrities of the techno music world. In the past, the club has held sessions by German dub techno record producers Moritz von Oswald, the founders of the minimal techno/microhouse record label Perlon Markus Nikolai and Thomas Franzmann (Zip), Frenchman Gilbert Cohen, known as Dj Gilb’r, andmore.
Closer also holds Brave!Factory parties with between five and nine DJs – events that can attract crowds of 1,500 people.
Visitors can also listen to lectures on music and contemporary art, or enjoy jazz performances on Thursdays.
Founded as a semi-private club, Closer has since slightly opened its doors to more people, although the clientele is quite young.
Anastasia Topolskaia, one of the top Ukrainian DJs who mostly performs abroad, says that despite their youth, the audiences are demanding in Ukraine.
“People come to these parties not just to hang out, have fun and forget everything,” Topolskaia said. “They need a concept and an idea.”
One of Topolskaia’s birthday parties has morphed into the annual Strichka Festival, held in May.
This year’s lineup includes performances by U.S. house-music producer and DJ Lil’ Louis, German electronic music project Monolake, U.S. band AUX 88, Austrian DJ Electric Indigo and more. Tickets and a full program are available at www.residentadvisor.net.
