Wave Gotik Treffen 25th-28th May – Pre-Festival picks

So the count down has begun in earnest! In 6 days the 21st annual Wave Gotik Treffen will begin. Four days of 209 of Gothic, Metal and Industrial bands, clubs, talks, art, theatre and events.

As ever the schedule is packed! Details of the programme can be found on the Official Wave Gotik Treffen site, iPhone or android app (Be aware: both apps are apparently clunky to use!) or my personal recommendation of NecroWebs PDF planner and Google Map (also see my guide to WGT recommended Places in Leipzig).

Here’s my picks from this years schedule:

On Thursday (24th May), as ever there is Sadgoth’s pre-WGT Meeting at the Bayerischer Bahnhof. Kicking off the festival with this yearly pub/restaurant is great to meet up with people particularly if you are a festival first timer.

Over the entire festival the Stasi Museum Runde Ecke is running an exhibition entitled: “When The Cemetery Was My Living Room” – The Gothic Scene In The DDR and access to this seems to be free for WGT wristband holders (else €3). Goths, like many other youth cultures were persecuted by the Communist regime in Eastern Germany so this exhibit should be interesting. The museum is running several scheduled guided tours through the exhibit as well. See the Official Programme for further details.

On Friday (25th May) from 3pm is the Victorian Picnic, again this year at the Clara-Zetkin-Park (by the lake near the Parkbühne venue). This is a great place to see/be seen with fabulous, often home-made Victorian, Steampunk, Medieval and Lolita fashions.

Bands on the Friday include Rhombus (at 6:30pm) and The Eden House (at 9pm) representing the British Goth scene at Fehlenskeller. Then the fabulous Haujobb are playing at 11pm at the Agra Halle.

On Saturday (26th May) the Agra is the place to be with Grendel (6pm), Aesthetic Perfection (8:30pm) and Combichrist (11:10pm) all performing there. Also on is the brilliant British electro-industrial band Global Citizen at the Moritzbastei at 8:30pm.

On Sunday (27th May) the mourning halls of the Südfriedhof (South Cemetery) is open to the public for free from 10am-4pm. The cemetery is one of the largest in Germany.

Sunday’s notable bands are Klutae  (Leather Strip’s frontman Claus Larsen’s side project) at Parkbühne at 9pm.

Sunday’s clubbing must is the Moritzbastei with DJ sets from Haujobb‘s Daniel Myer.

Final day on Monday (28th May) bands at Agra are demonic Mexicans Amduscia (7:50pm) and the band you definitely don’t want to be in the front row for (they have promised “loads of blood” on their Facebook page!) Germany’s own Agonoize at 10:30pm.

Monday at Darkflower should be awesome (if you can get in) with the finale party from Out Of Line Electrostorm. Star DJs are listed as Lola Angst and Erk from Hocico/Rabia Sorda playing tunes from 8pm – 6am.

See you there!!!

Miss Jade in Leipzig

Miss Jade in Leipzig in 2011

Gotham 11 Festival report (part 1)

On 10th April 2010 was the 11th Gotham Festival run by alternative promotions company “Flag Promotions“. This year’s Venue was the Islington Academy in London which was ideal location especially for the after party at the Electrowerkz (Slimelight).

The Opening Bands – Were Legion and Until I Wake which due to the combination of a late morning and an outfit crisis, I managed to miss. However, as I arrived I bumped into some friends whose general opinions were that they weren’t that keen on either performance.

As I arrived at the venue, Ambient Trip Hop ensemble Greenhaus were on stage.

Pheonix J of Greenhaus

Pheonix J of Greenhaus

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Gotham Festival 2010 lineup times

I’ll be at Gotham Festival on Saturday and I hope to bring you some videos and pictures (dependant on my camera working) and reviews of the event. Just thought I’d list the band timings for public interest!

O2 Academy Islington, N1 Centre - Doors open at 3pm

  • Legion: 3.25pm
  • Until I Wake: 4.05pm
  • Greenhaus : 4.50pm
  • Alterred: 5.35pm
  • Rhombus: 6.20pm
  • Lahannya: 7.05pm
  • The Eden House: 7.55pm
  • Clan of XYMOX: 8.50pm

Aftershow Party at the Electrowerkz (Slimelight): The Ghost of Lemora and Zeitgeist Zero

Gotham 11 festival flyer Saturday 10th April 2010

Gotham 11 festival flyer Saturday 10th April 2010