Bassiani: Raves, Raids, and Rebellion

Hidden beneath Tbilisi's colossal Dinamo Arena lies Bassiani. Since opening in 2014 by co-founders Zviad Gelbakhiani, Tato Getia, and Naja Orashvili, it has become an internationally recognized nightclub, a political battleground, a fortress of resistance, and a symbol of Georgia's struggle between its authoritarian past and a future defined by progress. The trio saw the club as a platform for cultural transformation—a space where music, politics, and activism could converge. Now, for one night, Bassiani's energy extends beyond Tbilisi—on Friday, February 21, residents Kvanchi and HVL bring the club’s uncompromising sound to Control Club, offering a rare chance to experience the Bassiani spirit outside its underground home.

Underground and Uncompromising

Bassiani is Georgia's largest and most internationally renowned techno-oriented club. Before its emergence, Tbilisi had an underground electronic scene but was fragmented and largely informal. Smaller venues like Café Gallery and Mtkvarze provided spaces for experimentation, but Bassiani legitimized the country's techno movement globally. By bringing world-class DJs to Georgia and supporting local talent, it has become the epicenter of Tbilisi's club culture. Its influence has led to the rise of other major clubs, such as KHIDI and Left Bank.

The club is both physically and ideologically underground. Its strict door policy, no-photo rule, and expertly curated music set it apart from mainstream nightlife, attracting local and global talent. Holding a 1,200-person-capacity crowd, the venue's industrial architecture—centered around a repurposed Olympic-sized swimming pool—is a dark, brutalist space ideal for extended sets. Reinforced with stark concrete walls, the raw nature of its sound system—one of the most powerful in the region—is immersive. These cavernous acoustics enhance the club’s signature sound—pulsing, hypnotic techno that draws inspiration from Berlin’s industrial scene while incorporating the immediacy of Georgia’s underground. Many of its resident DJs favor deep, driving basslines, textured atmospheres, and stripped-down percussive rhythms that build intensity over marathon-length sets. Its lack of natural light and minimalistic interior detach dancers from the outside world. From a programming perspective, Bassiani has featured some of the most respected figures in techno, including Marcel Dettmann, Ben Klock, DVS1, Helena Hauff, Hector Oaks, Nina Kraviz, and Function. These artists, alongside Bassiani’s residents, have helped forge a relentless yet emotive take on techno.

The club's floorplan is divided into two main areas: Bassiani Hall and HOROOM. The former is for large-scale raves and international DJs. The latter is an intimate space dedicated to LGBTQ+ nights. As Georgia is deeply conservative, LGBTQ+ rights are often met with right-wing nationalists targeting queer events. HOROOM nights are pivotal meeting points for activists, artists, community organizers, and residents like Kvanchi and HVL, who shape its unique atmosphere. Kvanchi, known as the "sonic architect behind HOROOM," curates nights that blend deep house, Detroit techno, and abstract experimental sounds. HVL, the alias of Gigi Jikia, sets and productions have garnered international acclaim.

Bassiani has also built an extensive cultural and artistic presence through its record labels (Bassiani Records, HOROOM Records) and podcast series. Notable releases include the first of the BAS series, featuring tracks from Vril and Voiski and residents HVL and Zesknel. HVL’s productions, particularly his album Aura Fossil, blend eerie synths with driving percussion. On the other hand, Zesknel’s releases lean into experimental, breakbeat-infused techno. Its Bassiani Invites and Zenaari podcast series has welcomed residents and guest DJs, including Rene Wise, Umwelt, and Umfang, across nearly 250 episodes. The podcasts have extended the club’s dance floor experience, offering long-form sets emphasizing slow-building tension, minimal yet impactful rhythms, and deep, immersive atmospheres.

Raving Against Repression

The club embodies the push-and-pull between the country's old conservative order—heavily influenced by the Orthodox Church, Russian geopolitical pressure, and state repression—and a younger, liberal generation. The club has consistently challenged Georgia’s harsh drug laws, where possession of small amounts of MDMA or cannabis can result in multi-year prison sentences. As a result, it has also become a target of Georgia's police state, with raids and harassment often occurring.

Though framed as an anti-drug operation, the 2018 raid was seen as an authoritarian attempt to suppress Georgia’s youth movement. The backlash was immediate—thousands took to the streets. Their chant, "We Dance Together, We Fight Together," became a defining moment in the club’s political identity. But, despite some policy shifts, the country’s drug laws remain among the harshest in Europe. Recent attempts to introduce stricter surveillance on nightlife venues have also raised alarms that authorities are again using drug enforcement as a tool to suppress countercultural spaces.

Global Impact

Recognized by outlets like The Guardian and The New York Times, Bassiani has become Georgia’s electronic music ambassador, collaborating with Berghain, Tresor, and CTM Festival while advocating for nightlife as a cultural and political force across Europe. In 2022, it was part of a coalition advocating for club culture to be recognized as an essential cultural and economic force, arguing against increasing government restrictions on nightlife spaces across Eastern Europe. Solidarity raves and fundraising events in Berlin and Amsterdam have also been held to support its mission.

The club's continued existence is a refusal to conform to the oppressive structures that have governed Georgia for decades. In an era where most Western nightlife institutions shapeshift into apolitical hedonism, Bassiani reminds the world that the dance floor is one of the most potent sites of resistance. The bodies moving beneath Dinamo Arena are rewriting Georgia’s cultural narrative and demanding a future where freedom is non-negotiable. At Bassiani, every beat is defiance, and every night on its dance floor is a political act.