26th Wave-Gotik-Treffen, 2-5 June, 2017, Leipzig, Germany

 

26th Wave-Gotik-Treffen

– Date:

June 2nd to 5th, 2017

– Location:

Leipzig, eastern Germany, at about 50 venues spread all over the city; camping site and main venue at the edge of town at the agra-Messepark, Markkleeberg; for information on the city you may check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leipzig or

the official city website www.leipzig.de/int/en.

– Websites:

www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/english

www.facebook.com/WaveGotikTreffen

If you are travelling to the WGT for the first time, you can find lots of useful information for planning your trip on: www.sadgoth.com

– App:

WGT-Guide – useful and free app to download at Google Play, iTunes or Amazon

– Music styles:

All sub-genres of dark music: Gothic; EBM; Industrial; Ambient; Neofolk; Synthpop, Goth-Metal, Post Punk etc.

Youtube Playlist – WGT 2017: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL7zbLtR8amZyflA4yQNA4OoqxWYcEdq6

– Tickets:

4-Day-Tickets for all events within the 26th Wave-Gotik-Treffen Whitsun 2017 are available for 120,- € each in advance ticket sale (including advance sale charges). The Treffen-Event-Ticket includes free using of public transport (tram, city-busses, regional trains, suburban trains within the zone 110 of MDV) from June 2nd, 8.00 a.m. to June 6th, 12.00 p.m. / noontime (except for special routes).

– Camping:

For camping you need a special ticket called Obsorgekarte (available for 25,- €) that allows you to stay at the Treffen-Campground (agra-fairground) from June 1st to 6th.

– Parking:

For car parking at the Treffen-area you have to purchase a parking vignette for 15,- € (including advance sale charges). Parking at the Treffen-area (agra-Messepark) is definitely not possible without a parking vignette.

All tickets can be ordered via www.wave-gotik-treffen.com

– Expected number of visitors:

approximately 20,000

– Contact:

Phone: 0049-341-2120862 / Email: info@wave-gotik-treffen.de

– Photos of the last years:

www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/english/photogallery.php

26th Wave-Gotik-Treffen: dark-romantic celebrations every year at Whitsun in Leipzig – Germany

Twenty-five 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 more than a quarter-century…from June 2nd to 5th, again more than 20,000 Gothics from all over the world are expected to come together again in Leipzig to celebrate Wave-Gotik-Treffen as THE international gathering of the dark family.

All over the city, there will be more than 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 real underground 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 operas, chamber music, choral and organ concerts.

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). 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 following artists have already confirmed their performances at the 26th WGT (as of February 7):

13th Monkey (D) – Aeon Sable (D) – Ah Cama-Sotz (B) – Ah! Kosmos (TR) – Alcest (F) – Amanda Palmer (Dresden Dolls) & Edward Ka-Spel (Legendary Pink Dots) (USA/NL) – Amorphis (FIN) – Andi Sexgang (GB) acoustic show – Andyra (D) – Angels & Agony (NL) – Annwn (D) – Autodafeh (S) – Azar Swan (USA) – B-Movie (GB) – Besides (PL) – BFG (GB) – Black Kolor (D) – Black Nail Cabaret (H) – Bleib Modern (D) – Bloody, Dead & Sexy (D) – Box And The Twins (D) – Cabaret Voltaire (GB) exclusive German show 2017 – Cephalgy (D) – Chemical Sweet Kid (F) – Chrom (D) – Codex Empire (GB) – Corde Oblique (I) – Cryo (S) – Cuelebre (E) – Da-Sein (E) world premiere – Decoded Feedback (CDN) – Der Blaue Reiter (E) – Der Fluch (D) – Desperate Journalist (GB) – Die Selektion (D) – Dorsetshire & Gäste (D) exclusive reunion show – Drab Majesty (USA) – Dunkelschön (D) – Eden (AUS) european premiere – Eisfabrik (D) – Emma Ruth Rundle (USA) – Empusae (B) – Equilibrium (D) – Erdling (D) – Esben And The Witch (GB) – Fïx8:Sëd8 (D) – Finsterforst (D) – Folk Noir (D/NL) – Framheim (D) – Frankenstein (USA) – Funker Vogt (D) exclusive German show 2017 – Hamferð (FO) – Hautville (I) – Hørd (F) – Herbst In Peking (D) – Hexperos (I) – Iamtheshadow (P) – Ianva (I) – Illuminate (D) – In the Woods… (N) – Iszoloscope (CDN) – Jarboe (USA) exclusive acoustic show – Johnny Deathshadow (D) – Klangstabil (D) – Klez.e (D) – Klimt1918 (I) – Landscape Body Machine (CDN) – Larrnakh (H) – Lebanon Hanover (GB) – Lolita Komplex (A) – Lucifer’s Aid (S) – Machine De Beauvoir (D) – Masquerade (FIN) – Massive Ego (GB) – MGT & Friends (GB) – Mlada Fronta (F) – Moon Far Away (RUS) – Nachtblut (D) – Nikolas Schreck (USA) – Nim Vind (CDN) – Noisuf-X (D) – Novakill (AUS) – Nox Interna (D) – Odroerir (D) – Ohm (CDN) – Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio (S) – Peter Bjärgö (S) – Peter Heppner (D) – Pouppée Fabrikk (S) – Principia Audiomatica (HR) – Ragnaröek (D) – Red Cell (S) – Red Mecca (S) – Rendered (D) – Revolting Cocks (USA/B) exclusive German show 2017 – Ritual Howls (USA) – Romuvos (LT) – Rotersand (D) – Rotting Christ (GR) – RRoyce (D) – S.P.O.C.K (S) – Saigon Blue Rain (F) – Sündenrausch (D) – Scary Bitches (GB) – Schneewittchen (D) – Sex Gang Children (GB) – She Past Away (TR) – Shireen (NL) – Sinistro (P) – Sixth June (SRB) – Skinny Puppy (CDN) exclusive German show 2017 – Soviet Soviet (I) – Spiritual Front (I) present “BLACK HEARTS IN BLACK SUITS” – Suicide Commando (B) – Superikone (D) – Sutcliffe Jügend (GB) – Sylvaine (N) – Sylvgheist Maëlström (F) – Tanzwut (D) – Technique (BR) – The 69 Eyes (FIN) – The Agnes Circle (GB) – The Creepshow (CDN) – The Devil And The Universe (A) – The Eye Of Time (F) – The Mission (GB) – The Pussybats (D) – The Vision Bleak (D) – This Morn’ Omina (B) – Thrudvangar (D) – Too Dead To Die (RUS) – Unlight (D) – V2A (D/GB) – Vain Warr (USA) ex-Blacklist – Varg (D) – Virgin In Veil (FIN) – VNV Nation (IRL/GB) – Vogelfrey (D) – Wednesday 13 (USA) – Welicoruss (RUS) – Whispering Sons (B) – Whispers In The Shadow (A) – Wires & Lights (D) – Xandria (D) – Yggdrasil (S) –

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=23992

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 2017:

Ah!Kosmos

Minimal Techno, Ambient | Turkey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeOzh9H0-DU

The woman behind this somewhat oddly named project is the Istanbul producer Basak Günak. The mostly instrumental tracks, which drift between Ambient, Minimal Techno and Post-rock, are atmospheric, dark and hypnotic. Dreaming, dancing, wondering – everything is possible. Recommended for friends of Thom Yorke, Apparat or Plaid.

Annwn

Neoklassik, Ethereal | Germany

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX_KLoDbgjs

Ethereal, wafting chamber-folk, carried by the heavenly voice of Sabine Hornung, who leads a large ensemble of classical musicians. Sometimes indistinguishable from the undisputed ruler of the genre, Loreena McKennitt.

BFG

Gothic Rock | UK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NhiYd-2E80

Founded in 1985, BFG was one of the prototypes of the Gothic Rock. They supported New Order on their 86 tour and were often compared to Joy Division. Now they are back again, having recently played a well received gig in Berlin.

Cuélebre

Pagan Folk, Medieval | Spain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWA0s1eqopY

A new, sympathetic ensemble from Valencia, named after a giant winged snake from northern Spanish mythology. Friends of Hagalaz’ Runedance or Trobar De Morte should attend at least one of their two planned concerts.

Da-Sein

Industrial, Angstpop | Spain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqP1vbxORnk

After the performance of TeDIS last year, we present another stage premiere of a band from the industrial cult label “Galakthorrö”. Gloomy, reduced analogue electronics, varied from danceable to destructive, with an alien, mostly female voice intoning in Polish and English.

Desperate Journalist

Indie, Postpunk | UK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNwQTRLHTE8

Their 2015 self-titled debut album was a smash hit, this year they follow up with their second album and finally their first appearance at the WGT! Music lovers, who mourn the demise of a band called “The Organ” and still hold a place in their hearts for Cure or the Smiths as well, will want to be there or they might kick themselves in the pants in regret.

Eden

Ethereal, Wave | Australia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUI4T5djc1o

Eldergoths may remember the US label “Project” as the Wavers and Romantics who in cooperation with their German colleagues, Hyperium, consistently produced fantastic releases of bands like Lycia, Love Spirals Downwards, and Black Tape For A Blue Girl in the 90s. The cutting edge of the Project program was a band called Eden, which has become an obscurity over the years. Their mini-album “Healingbow” (1993), recorded with Pieter Bourke, who would later work with Lisa Gerrard and others, remains one of the milestones of the genre. Friends of Dead

Can Dance or the above listed Project bands should listen up here, because after their recent reconfiguration, Eden is now coming to Europe for the first time.

Hautville

Neoklassik, Neofolk | Italy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfo6onkKaDU

Already making their second appearance at the WGT, but still worth mentioning. Powerful, Italian Neofolk. Friends of Argine, Corde Oblique or Ashram should not miss this concert.

Hørd

Minimal Synth | France

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-VbRCUbQtg

Lucifer’s Aid

EBM | Sweden

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKb3ogbmrPI

The Progress Productions label (home of Kite, Hendric De La Cour, Agent Side Grinder, etc.) once again serves as a talent-forge and quality guarantee for high-quality electronic sounds, in this case for the finest Old-School-EBM from a new Swedish project.

Moon Far Away

Neofolk | Russia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp2c9DR4QK0

In principle, MFA has always been the spearhead of Eastern European Neofolk and is thus no longer a really secret tip. The ensemble draws inspiration from the old North Russian folklore and creates an entranced mood on its rare concerts, not in the least through the ritual-like costumes and masks. After their 2011 performance, now appearing for the second time at the WGT.

Shireen

Elfenpop, Ethereal | Holland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyWUd5Whh9w

They come from the Netherlands and call their music “Witchpop”. They sound similar to bands like Euzen, Valravn or Mila Mar. If you hold these bands close to your heart, don’t miss Shireen.

Sylvaine

Postrock, Shoegaze, Black Metal | France

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6w4FxmYjh8

With her current album “Wistful” the Norwegian multi-instrumentalist steers stylistically toward the so-called “Blackgaze”, which was recently created by bands such as Alcest. To dismiss her as a mere clone, however, would not do justice to the quality she delivers or her angelic voice which brings something beautiful to the sound spectrum. In contrast to her studio work, at the WGT of course she will not all play the instruments herself, but will appear with a full band.

Vain Warr

Wave, Postpunk | USA

https://vainwarr.bandcamp.com/track/deadline-season

The US band Blacklist was already confirmed for the WGT some years ago, but they broke up shortly before the Treffen. Now, Joshua Strawn comes to Leipzig with his current project Vain Warr – and according to his own statements, he’ll be bringing along a few Blacklist songs from epic album “Midnight Of The Century”.

Whispering Sons

Wave, Postpunk | Belgium

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmffv-ZV4iE

One of the most promising new bands of the genre, hailing from Belgium. They already set an ice-cold milestone with their first EP in 2015. Songs such as “Time” or “Wall” are by all means indispensable for a good club playlist.

Wires & Lights

Wave, Postpunk | Germany

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwKTll0cme0

After the dissolution of his band Passion Play, which gave their last concert at the WGT, Justin Stephens begins a new era under the name “Wires & Lights”. It is their second appearance after their debut at the 15th anniversary party of the legendary “Pagan Love Songs” party series in Bochum.