Twenty-four 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.
Now, the WGT exists a quarter-century…from May 13th to 16th again more than 20,000 Gothics from all over the world are expected to come together again in Leipzig to celebrate the jubilee of Wave-Gotik-Treffen as THE international gathering of the dark family. To start this 25th WGT properly, there will be a grand opening party already on Thursday, May 12th, starting at 8.00 p.m. It will take place at AbenteuerReich Belantis – an amusement park in the south of Leipzig. DJ’s will be inviting to dance at various locations on the area, among them veterans of the early days of Leipzig’s dark scene like the founders of WGT, Michael Brunner and Sandro Standhaft as DJ-team Moonchild. All fairground rides of the large amusement park can be used until midnight.
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 Post Punk. Apart from famous bands of the scene, you are invited for new discoveries with several less-known realunderground bands or artists from the edge of the Gothic music universe. The concerts and events take place at more than 50 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 historical public bath Stadtbad, as well as in large concert halls. The WGT program will also include beautiful classical music again, such as Wagner operas, Mozart’s Requiem as ballet, chamber music, organ concerts and Brams Stoker’s Dracula as musical.
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. People in historic clothing will gather for a Victorian Picnic in a park. 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.
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.
The Stadtgeschichtliches Museum of Leipzig (Museum for town history) presents an exhibition about 25 years of WGT, this eerily beautiful part of Leipzig’s history, as well as about the scene with its dubious reputation to the public. Extravagant fashion, multi-faceted music genres, spectacular accessories and most of all fascinating people will be the main focus of the dazzlingly black show. Visitors and organisers will tell about their experiences and adventures around the WGT and about their self-conception of being goth. Guided tours in English will be offered on WGT Saturday and Sunday.
The following 160 artists have already confirmed their performances at the 25th WGT (as at April 4th):
Abney Park (USA) exclusive German show 2016 – Aesthetic Perfection (USA) – Amber Asylum (USA) – Amnistia (D) – Ancient Methods (D) – And Also The Trees (GB) – Angelic Foe (S) – Argyle & Goolsby & The Roving Midnight (USA) – Artwork (D) 30th anniversary show – Aurelio Voltaire (USA) – Autumnal (E) – Axel Thielmann (D) – Árnica (E) – Backworld (USA) – Balzac (J) – Banane Metalik (F) – Bestial Mouths (USA) – Bifröst (A) – Biomekkanik (S) – Black Moon Secret (D) – Blitzmaschine (D) – Capella Fidicinia (D) – Chainreactor (D) – Chor und Jugendchor Der Oper Leipzig (D) – Chor, Ballett Und Orchester Der Musikalischen Komödie Leipzig (D) – Christ Vs. Warhol (USA) – Christine Plays Viola (I) – Cinema Strange (USA) worldwide exclusive show in 2016 – Claudia Gräf (D) – Clemens-Peter Wachenschwanz (D) – Coppelius (D) – Crematory (D) 25thanniversary show – Cult Club (D) – Culture Kultür (E) – Cultus Ferox (D) – Dark Fortress (D) – Darkhaus (D/USA) – Darkher (GB) – Das Ich (D) – Dernière Volonté (F) – Destin Fragile (S) – Deutsch Nepal (S) – Diary Of Dreams (D) – Die Krupps (D) – Die Wilde Jagd (D) – Diodati (D) – Dirk Ivens (B) presents the best of The Klinik, Dive, Blok 57 and Absolute Body Control – Dornenreich (A) with two different sets – Drangsal (D) – Endless Asylum (E) – Enslaved (N) – Eric Fish And Friends (D) – Estampie (D) 30th anniversary show – Faun (D) – Frank Herrmann (D) – Gernotshagen (D) – Gewandhausorchester (D) – Girls Under Glass (D) 80s original lineup – Golden Apes (D) – Gothminister (N) – Grausame Töchter (D) – Hante. (F) – Har Belex (E) – Harpyie (D) – Haujobb (D) – Hearts Of Black Science (S) – Hubertus Schmidt (D) – In The Nursery (GB) 35th anniversary show – Irdorath (BY) – Irfan (BG) – James Rays Gangwar (GB) – Jessica93 (F) – Joachim Witt (D) – Kari Rueslåtten (N) – Kauan (RUS) – Kirsten Morrison (GB) – Kommando (D) – Korpiklaani (FIN) – Krayenzeit (D) – Kuroshio (FIN) – Kyoll (D) – Lacrimosa (CH) – Lament (D) – Last Leaf Down (CH) – Leather Strip (DK) – Leaves’ Eyes (D/N) Viking show – Legend (IS) – Leipziger Ballett (D) – Lene Lovich Band (USA) – Lord Of The Lost (D) – Machinista (S) – Marko Meyer (D) – Maschinenkrieger KR52 vs. DISRAPTOR (D) – Männerchor Leipzig-Nord (D) – Mesh (GB) – Michael Brunner (D) – Midgards Boten (D) – My Dying Bride (GB) – Näo (F) – Nekromantix (DK) – Neuroticfish (D) – Nordvargr (S) – Nullvektor (D) – One I Cinema (D) – Orange Sector (D) – Other Day (D) – Patenbrigade Wolff (D) – Peter Murphy (GB) ‘Mr. Moonlight show’ presenting the best of Bauhaus – Peter Yates (GB) – Pink Turns Blue (D) – Plastic Noise Experience (D) – Position Parallèle (F) – Pride And Fall (N) exclusive German show 2016 – Project Pitchfork (D) 25th anniversary show – Psilocybe Larvae (RUS) – Reaper (D) – Roger Rotor (CH) –
Ruined Conflict (USA) – Saeldes Sanc & Ernst Horn (D) – Sandro Standhaft (D) – Sangre De Muerdago (E) -Schöngeist (D) – Schwarzer Engel (D) – Siechtum (D) exclusive reunion show – Signal Aout 42 (B) – Sigue Sigue Sputnik (GB) – Skálmöld (IS) – Solar Fake (D) – Somatic Responses (GB) – Sonar (B) – Suicide Commando (B) – Sunset Wings (RUS) – Supersimmetria (D) – Tanz Ohne Musik (RO) – Te/DIS (D) world premiere – The Aerdt (D) – The Angina Pectoris (D) first show in 15 years – The Deadfly Ensemble (USA) – The Fright (D) – The House Of Usher
(D) – The Legendary Pink Dots (NL) – The Protagonist (S) – The Underground Youth (GB) – The Visit (CDN) – Theaterpack (D) – Thorofon (D) 25th anniversary show – Tilo Augsten (D) – Tragic Black (USA) – Treha Sektori (F) – Triarii (D) – Trollfest (N) – Ultranoire (H) – Unzucht (D) – Valhall (S) – Velvet Acid Christ (USA) – Versengold (D) – Winter Severity Index (I) – Winterkälte (D) 25th anniversary show – Xeno & Oaklander
(USA) – XTR Human (D).
For more information about the confirmed artists, there is a list of their official webpages here:
http://www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/forumwgt3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=23278. On the WGT website, you can enroll for a newsletter which quickly informs you about the latest program updates. WGT special tips apart from famous bands of the scene, the coming WGT program will again include several hidden treasures whose names are maybe not
known to everybody, but which will surely perform outstanding concerts. So before visiting the WGT, it’s worthwhile to take a closer look into the program and to listen to some sample tracks of the artists you don’t know. Here are some hints on a few less known, yet interesting bands and artists which will play at the WGT 2016:
Amber Asylum
Ambient, Neofolk, Doom | USA
“Ever since their formation, Amber Asylum from San Francisco have been forging a style which is hard to pinpoint, described by multi-instrumentalist Kris Force, the artistic leader of a shifting pool of studio- and live-musicians, as a mixture between Neoclassic and Dark Ambient with hints at Neofolk, Industrial and Doom Metal. Right from the beginning, sinister string-arrangements and female vocals in combination with dragging rhythms of the hypnotic kind have been the main characteristics of Amber Asylum, which according to the band tackle the core of being and achieve a cathartic effect. ” There’s nothing to add to this description from their label Prophecy.
Amnistia
Electro, EBM | Leipzig
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL_lnAGM0GE
Although they’re about to release their fifth album, “Dawn”, a bit more publicity couldn’t hurt the sympathetic Leipzig boys from Amnistia. Their sound draws from admiration of the EBM greats from Front 242 to Skinny Puppy, but is in no way out-dated.
Angelic Foe
Neoclassic | Sweden
A terrific project from the Arcana singer Annmari Thim which wanders along similarly bombastic paths.
Autumnal
Doom Metal | Spain
Friends of My Dying Bride may already be familiar with them; after all, they’ve been around since 1998. A bit reminiscent of A Perfect Circle.
Bestial Mouths
Minimal Synth, Industrial | USA
A violent electronic thunderstorm rhythm rumbles in from L.A. with an idiosyncratic voice reminiscent of both Diamanda Galás and Lydia Lunch. Perhaps not the easiest to grasp on first listen, but in the end very gripping and gloomy as the night without the insincere ballast of clichés.
Cult Club
Minimal Synth | Germany
Behind this relatively new project are Laslo Antal of Sixth June and Sally Dige, who already knows veritable success as a solo artist. Together they produce supercooled Synth Wave for the late hours.
Darkher
Alternative, Doom | Leipzig
Those who get goosebumps from Chelsea Wolfe’s raven-black oeuvre should lend an ear to this new discovery from the Prophecy label. Sinister, sluggish Doom with exceptional female vocals makes you lust for the forthcoming debut album. In any case absolutely impressive live.
Endless Asylum
Dark Ambient, Neoclassic | Spain
Satorys Elenorth’s (Narsilion, Der Blaue Reiter) side project, something between solemn Neo-Classic and Neofolk with ambient passages and metal percussion, which promises to be exciting.
Hante
Minimal Synth | France
Last year, the WGT presented the bustling Parisian Hélène de Thoury’s other current project, Minuit Machine, with great success. This year her no less interesting solo project “Hante.” takes its turn after recently releasing its second LP. Hélène’s supply of ideas seems inexhaustible and she produces one hit after another. Hats off to so much talent. The sound of “Hante.” travels through familiar climes, another spectacular concert with supercooled danceable Synth-Wave and heartbreaking melodies awaits us.
Har Belex
Neofolk | Spain
There comes a point at which the shoemaker can’t bear to look upon his own last, and begins a new life as a shepherd. The electronic musicians Manix S. (Pail) and Salva Maine (Culture Kultür) apparently tired of the synthesizers after many years and exchanged them unceremoniously for acoustic guitars. Thus, they are probably the first Neofolk band with such a musical background. Of course they’re not reinventing the folkloric wheel, but they provide quite solid fare for fans of the genre.
Irfan
Neoclassic, World Music | Bulgaria
Actually no longer a secret: the Bulgarians enchant so-inclined WGT visitors for the third time. Not to be missed by fans of Dead Can Dance. Outstanding live band!
James Rays Gangwar
Gothic Rock | Great Britain
He was the voice of the Sisters of Mercy side-project “The Sisterhood” that forms an indisputable cornerstone of any solid Goth-Rock record collection with its only album, “Gift”. In 2016, 10 years since his last live performances and with far too little attention given to his own projects, he comes out of nowhere back to the WGT for an exclusive concert.
Jessica93
Post Punk, Shoegaze | France
Hiding behind the somewhat strange name is the solo project of Parisian Geoffroy Laporte. Armed with a guitar, a loop station, and a drum machine, he creates hypnotic sound-proof dungeons from which it is difficult to escape. Those who like The Soft Moon, “Pornography” by The Cure or early Jesus & Mary Chain, should mark this concert as a must in their personal WGT schedule.
Kari Rueslåtten
Ethereal, Folk, Pop | Norway
In the early 90’s, with her band The 3rd And The Mortal, she established the foundation for almost all well-known “female fronted” Metal bands from Nightwish to The Gathering. In 1995, however, she dropped out to pursue a solo career more focused on Norwegian folklore. An exception woman with an exceptional voice.
Kauan
Post Rock, Doom Metal| Russia
Great mix of Post -Rock, Doom Metal and Folk. Those who are even remotely excited about My Dying Bride or Dead Can Dance should give this a listen.
Lament
Indie, Wave | Germany
Sebastian Söllner, singer of Lament, along with his band have a now 20-year eventful journey behind them: from small newcomer band from. Bad Lausick via various WGT performances in the nineties through to a win at MTV Rookie Contest 2008 from which 700 competitors came away empty-handed. After various internal and personal crises the end of the band seemed likely – however in 2014 they had their comeback and this year they are to finally returning to the WGT-stage. Not only friends of The Cure should take this opportunity – these guys are highly
motivated
Last Leaf Down
Shoegaze, Alternative | Switzerland
100% chance of goosebumps for all fans of bands such as Alcest or Slowdive.
Legend
Elektro, Alternative | Iceland
Singer Krummi Björgvinsson, successful in his home country in various hardcore and country rock bands, founded Legend as a side project. Their mix of alternative rock and synthpop shows once again that Icelandic bands really don’t give a damn about genre conventions and labels, they just do their thing – and as often happens, in this case it’s damn good.
Näo
Post Rock, IDM | France
They were here before in 2012 and won over many fans with their impressive live mix of punchy Post Rock paired with all kinds of melodic IDM tinkering. Thereafter, this French band unfortunately fell quiet, but this year they blew us away with their new material, which seems a bit more guitar driven.
Peter Yates
Indie Rock | Great Britain
According the Gothic-Rock history book, this young man was the guitarist and a quasi-founding member (1983-1991) and therefore instrumental to the first three albums of a band called “Fields Of The Nephilim”, which means that he played the riffs on “Wail of Sumer”, “Love Under Will” and of the other incomparable pearls. After his first appearance at the WGT as a band member of Evi Vine in 2015, he returns this year with his solo material.
Position Parallèle
Minimal Synth | France
Geoffroy D. is best known as the head of the Military-Pop band Dernière Volonté, which will also make a WGT appearance this year. After a significant development from album to album from raw martial, early recorded work to pop dance numbers, he now lives out his passion for sugary minimum / synthpop with an undiluted flair for memorable melodies in this side project which has already produced two albums. Dance guarantee!
Sangre De Muerdago
Folk, Ambient | Catalonia
Melancholy naturalist folk for connoisseurs and devotees. Those with In Gowan Ring or Novemthree on their music shelf who aren’t yet familiar with this formation really should not miss them. Gripping sounds far from any Neofolk clichés.
Somatic Responses
IDM, Techno, Industrial | Great Britain
Those who are into complex break-beats and disturbing, experimental techno and projects such as Aphex Twin, Autechre or the like, will get their money’s worth with these two Welshmen. Active since the mid nineties, this is their WGT premiere.
Sunset Wings
Folk, Neoclassic | Russia
Founded in 2006 in Kaliningrad, they’ve so far released 4 albums of the finest romantic East-European oriented Folk. A sound recommendation, not only for friends of similar bands such as Neutral, Romowe Rikoito or Moon Far Away.
Tanz Ohne Musik
Minimal Synth, Industrial | Romania
Ice cold electronics, sometimes psychedelic, sometimes danceable. The Romanian Angst Pop response to November Növelet delighted audiences with their 2013 album “Between Our Body Shapes”, which bears the high quality standard of cult label Galakthorrö without a problem. No one had noticed the seven (!) previously released albums — no wonder, with a circulation of 20.
Te/DIS
Angstpop, Industrial | Germany
A sensation for fans of the genre hiding in the WGT-Programme: for the first time ever a band from the cult label Galakthorrö takes to the stage!
The Underground Youth
Indie, Psychedelic Rock | Great Britain
This is the sound of the feeling of waking after a wild party early at 5 a.m. with your head on the floor and your legs on the sofa. It’s still dark outside, the last people are headed home, and everything is spinning slightly, but there’s still a smile on your face. Compulsory for fans of The Jesus And Mary Chain, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Slowdive or The Blue Angel Lounge.
The Visit
Neoclassic | Canada
In 2012 Raphael Weinroth-Browne performed at WGT with his main band, Musk Ox. This year he returns, accompanied by Heather Sita Black, with his current project The Visit. Virtuoso cello meets enraptured female vocals, simply enchanting.
Treha Sektori
Dark Ambient, Industrial | France
Very interesting French Dark-Ambient project on the cutting edge Cyclic Law label.
Ultranoire
Synthpop | Hungary
Young hope for the genre out of Hungary, for fans of Depeche Mode, Camouflage or Torul.
Winter Severity Index
Wave, Post Punk | Italy
The Cure, New Order, The Chameleons, The Sound, Joy Division – surely that’s what stands on the record shelves of these Italians. Simona. Ferrucci garnishes this mix with her afflicted, fragile voice. For melting away!
