Wave-Gotik-Treffen: dark-romantic celebrations every year at Whitsun in Leipzig – Germany
Twenty-three years ago, two gothic people from Leipzig had an unusual idea: They didn’t want to create yet another dark music festival but rather a supra-regional gathering of like-minded fellows for relaxed meeting, chatting and celebrating. When the 1st Wave-Gotik-Treffen took place in 1992 at the edge of Leipzig with about 2,000 visitors and just a handful of bands, it is unlikely that anyone imagined that within a few years the WGT would become the largest meeting of Gothic people in the world, taking possession of a whole city every year at Whitsun. In 2014 the WGT takes place for the 23rd time. From June 6th to 9th again more than 20,000 Gothics from all over the world are expected to come together again in Leipzig to celebrate the Wave-Gotik-Treffen as THE international gathering of the dark family.
All over the city there will be about 200 bands performing, projects and single artists covering the whole wide range of Gothic music: from Electro-Pop to Goth-Metal, from EBM to Neofolk, from medieval music to Industrial. Apart from famous bands of the scene, you are invited for new discoveries with several less-known real underground bands or artists from the edge of the Gothic music universe: this year one can discover that Kate Bush’s second cousin is also an angelic singer and that Australia is another a source of great Gothic rock. The concerts and events take place at more than 30 venues spread throughout Leipzig, for instance in the vaults of the Moritzbastei, in the splendid neo-antique cupola hall of the Volkspalast, and in the green round of the open-air Parkbühne, as well as in large concert halls. The WGT program will also include beautiful classical music again, such as opera, musical, chamber music and Mozart’s requiem as ballet.
From its beginning the Wave-Gotik-Treffen has been much more than a music festival: its guests may step back to the romantic atmosphere of ancient times at the medieval market place at the Pagan Village (Heidnisches Dorf). We will present authors reading and unusual theatre; cinematic performances will take place as well as a big live action role play. People in historic clothing will gather in the park for a Victorian Picnic. For four days a large hall at the agra-Messepark will be transformed into the biggest Gothic-wares marketplace in the world. In numerous clubs DJs from all over the world will invite you to dance until dawn. There will also be a large fetish party where entrance is only possible by following a strict voluptuous dress code.
A stroll through the winding passages of city centre of Leipzig with its historical buildings of the Renaissance, Baroque and Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) eras is especially worthwhile for art and culture lovers: the entrance to several of Leipzig’s museums is free for WGT-guests. A special exhibition will present fantastic original artworks of HR Giger. This year, the AMI (Auto Mobil International) will take place at the same time as Wave-Gotik-Treffen for the first time. Therefore, the Leipzig Trade Fair organises an exclusive special exhibition showing historical hearses, as well as a professional photo shooting. Cheap and entertaining accommodation is available at the huge Treffen camping ground. To enter, you need a special ticket (called Obsorgekarte) which includes also the extensive WGT-program-book. Public transport in the city is free for all WGT-guests from Friday morning until noontime Tuesday.
The inhabitants of Leipzig have become familiar with the Treffen over the last two decades – there are no longer any prejudices and the Gothic guests are very welcome here. The most fascinating aspect of the Wave-Gotik-Treffen is surely its unique magic atmosphere that covers the whole city. Gothics from all over the world celebrate their gathering in a peacefully relaxed manner, turning Leipzig into a diverse wave of black. Once a year about twenty thousand Gothics come home: to the Wave-Gotik-Treffen.
An excerpt of confirmed bands and artists 2014
Apoptygma Berzerk (N) – Beastmilk (FIN) – Chrom (D) – D-Tox (S) – Ext!ze (D) – FabrikC (D) – Faderhead (D) – Front Line Assembly (CDN) – God Module (USA) – Hocico (MEX) – Ikon (AUS) – Inkubus Sukkubus (GB) – No Sleep By The Machine (S) – Oomph! (D) – Ost+Front (D) – Pouppée Fabrikk (S) – Rotersand (D) – Siva Six (GR) – Solitary Experiments (D) – Spetsnaz (S) – Tarja (FIN) – The Crüxshadows (USA) – The Klinik (B) – The Marionettes (GB) – UK Decay (GB) – Ulterior (GB) – Umbra Et Imago (D) – Vomito Negro (B) – White Lies (GB) – Xotox (D) – XP8 (GB) – [:SITD:] (D)
http://www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/
