Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2019 preview

After eight years of not returning to this magical event, we will make our way to Leipzig, Germany for the WGT once more. We had a great time at this event in the past and we are sure the atmosphere and magic will still be the same. For some of our older galleries please check our new Photography Vault for 2011 or 2009. Keep an eye out for the band updates on their and our social media channels. One of the main things we love about this event is that with a huge line-up, we can discover great new acts we would have never found by ourselves. The festival organizers provide 'special tips' for attendees to find new bands HERE.

Navigate this page with the following links: General Info | Organizers Message | Bands | Special Tips

 

28th Wave-Gotik-Treffen

Date: June 7th to 10th, 2019
Location: Leipzig, eastern Germany, at about 40 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 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1786240341444048/ 

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 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 2019: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL7zbLtR8amZ3Kpk38VC8n6k3uXr2iQQ- 

Tickets:
4-Day-Tickets for all events within the 28th Wave-Gotik-Treffen Whitsun 2019 are available for 130,- € each in advance ticket sale. The Treffen-Event-Ticket includes the free usage of all public transport within Zone 110 of the MDV (Mitteldeutscher Verkehrverbund), this includes all trams, buses and S-Bahn lines except special lines e.g. sightseeing tours). Detailed information (e.g. period of validity) is to be found on the reverse side of the ticket.

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 6th to 11th.

Parking:
For car parking at the Treffen-area (agra) 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 http://www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/english/ 

Expected number of visitors:
approximately 20,000

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

Official Photos of the past WGTs:
www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/english/photogallery.php

28th Wave-Gotik-Treffen: dark-romantic celebrations every year at Whitsun in Leipzig - Germany

Twenty-seven 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 7th to 10th, 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 40 venues spread throughout Leipzig, for instance in the vaults of the Moritzbastei, in the splendid cupola hall of the Volkspalast, in the neo-gothic church Heilandskirche 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 130 artists have already confirmed their performances at the 28th WGT (as of March 25):

A Slice Of Life (B) - A Spell Inside (D) - Absurd Minds (D) - Agonoize (D) - Alien Vampires (GB) - Am Not (GB) - And The Golden Choir (D) - Arhai (GB) - Artwork/Belladonna (D) - Ashram (I) - Automelodi (CDN) - Autumn (USA) first European show - Battle Scream (D) - Bragolin (NL) - Camerata Mediolanense (I) - Carach Angren (NL) - Cat Rapes Dog (S) exclusive German reunion show - Cervello Elettronico (USA) - Christian Death (USA) - Christine Owman (S) - Cold Showers (USA) - Coph Nia (S) - Coppelius (D) - Cradle Of Filth (GB) - Creux Lies (USA) - Cubanate (GB) - Darkcell (AUS) - Darkher (GB) - Das Ich (D) - Dear Deer (F) - Dystopian Society (I) - Edo Notarloberti (I) - Eggvn (MEX) - Empathy Test (GB) - Erik Cohen (D) - Escape With Romeo (D) - Evi Vine (GB) - Faun (D) - Fehlfarben (D) perform "Monarchie und Alltag" - Fliehende Stürme (D) - Forced To Mode (D) - Freakangel (EST) - Friends Of Gas (D) - Geometric Vision (I) - Gitane Demone Quartet (USA) - Goethes Erben (D) - Golden Apes (D) 20th anniversary show feat. STEVE HEWITT (LOVE AMONGST RUIN, ex-PLACEBO) - Grausame Töchter (D) - Ground Nero
(B) - Hämatom (D) - Hante. (F) - Haujobb (D) - Hell-O-Matic (D) - Henric De La Cour (S) - In2TheSound (GB/D) Mike Dudley & The Convent play The Sound - Inkubus Sukkubus (GB) - Intent:Outtake (D) - Janus (D) - Job Karma (PL) - Jonathan Bree (NZ) - Jungstötter (D) - Karies (D) - Kellermensch (DK) - Killus (E) - King Dude (USA) full-band show - Kontravoid (CDN) - Kælan Mikla (ISL) - Laura Carbone (D) - Lene Lovich
Band (GB) exclusive German festival show celebrating the 40th anniversary of the album "Stateless" - Light Asylum (USA) - Logic & Olivia (D) - Lord Of The Lost (D) - Luigi Rubino (I) - M.I.N.E (D) - Machinista (S) - Maerzfeld (D) - Megaherz (D) - Meta Meat (F) - Michael Cashmore & Shaltmira (GB/LT) - Murder At The Registry (D) exclusive 30th anniversary show - Nachtmahr (AT) - Nitzer Ebb (GB) - October Burns Black (GB) - Omnimar (RUS) - Orange Sector (D) - OUL (D) - Parade Ground (B) - Phasenmensch + ICD-10 (D) - Pleasure Symbols (AUS) - Psyche (CDN) - Rhys Fulber (CDN) - S.K.E.T. (D) - Sad Lovers And Giants (GB) - Sally Dige (DK/CDN) - Scarlet Dorn (D) - Schandmaul (D) - Schattenmann (D) - Sebastian Fitzek (D) reading "Der Insasse" - Selofan (GR) - Shadow Project 1334 (USA) First show of EVA O, WILLIAM FAITH and STEVYN GREY in 27 years - She Pleasures Herself (P) - Soman (D) - St. Michael Front (D) - Still Corners (USA) - Synthattack (D) - System Noire (D) - Tamaryn (USA) - Tanzwut (D) - Tempers (USA) - The Adicts (GB) - The Bellwether Syndicate (USA) - The Cassandra Complex (GB) - The Creepshow (CDN) - The Foreign Resort (DK) - The Lust Syndicate (I) - The Moon And The Nightspirit (H) - The O'Reillys & The Paddyhats (D) - UK Decay (GB) - Unto Ashes (USA) - Urze De Lume (F) - Velvet Acid Christ (USA) - Void Vision (USA) - Vowws (AUS) - Welle:Erdball (D) - Winterkälte (D) - Witt (D) - Wolfheart (FIN) - X-RX (D) - XIV Dark Centuries (D) - Zweite Jugend (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=24944 

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 2019:

A Slice Of Life
Wave, Postpunk | Belgium
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsrTfJgLSAk 
Young Belgian band that released their debut album "Restless" last year, likely to thrill fans of The Cure, The Sisters or Clan Of Xymox.

And The Golden Choir
Indie | Germany
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0yR4mH8Mhk 
Musician and producer Tobias Siebert (well known to some for his band Klez.e, who released their Cure Homage album "Desintegration" in 2016 and also performed at the WGT) is back this year with his solo project. While his early tours featured "background music" completely recorded by himself and then pressed onto records, he now has a complete band with him who perform his opulent, sensitive indie-pop live.

Autumn
Gothic Rock | USA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y17Uan4Ks8I 
They belong to the mostly undiscovered pearls of nineties Goth Rock, who never achieved the popularity of bands like Faith & The Muse and their cohorts. Their 1996 debut "The Hating Tree" was produced by William Faith. After 2000 there was silence, but suddenly last year a new sign of life appeared in the form of the album "Chandelier" and in 2019 they finally make it across the pond to the WGT.

Bragolin
Wave, Postpunk | Netherlands
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EJM2rGAB6I 
The first album of this new project by Edwin van der Velde (Zwarte Poëzie) was released in 2018. Those who can listen to their current hit "Into These Woods" without running directly onto the dance floor (or at least inevitably bouncing their feet), should probably get their hearing checked.

Christine Owman
Indie,Chamber-Pop | Sweden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQBAHkLX_NA
Christine Owman is a real insider tip. Without any effort she manages to pull the defenseless listener with her eerily beautiful songs into an almost lightless emotional deep sea. Tying to the mast or putting wax into the ears is useless, there is no escape from the attraction of this siren. If you are into this kind of music and like artists like Evi Vine, Chelsea Wolfe or Anna von Hausswolff, you will most likely get hopelessly addicted to her. Even though her collaborator Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees, Queens Of The Stone Age) will certainly not be present at the concert, a magical sound journey is guaranteed.

Cold Showers
Wave, Postpunk | USA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V43V0_lrAe0 
Founded in California in 2010, their two previous albums "Love And Regret" and "Matter Of Choice" were completely satisfying. Recommended for fans of Soft Kill or Cold Cave.

Creux Lies
Wave, Postpunk | USA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGK02a3pH54 
The next very young band in this booming genre, who caused a furore with their debut album 2018.

Darkher
Indie, Post-Rock, Doom-Metal | Geat Britain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugVRpDzl6Bs 
The sluggish doom chokes off the air with a deep black cloth until you have finally left the pain of reality behind you. Soundwise close to Chelsea Wolfe.

Dear Deer
Electro-Punk, No-Wave | France
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABXS96v7aGE 
The sympathetic Frenchmen Federico Iovino (Popoi Sdioh) and Sabatel (Cheshire Cat, Guerre Froide) celebrate a jagged, weird and absolutely danceable mix of loud guitars and electro beats with plenty of energy and glitter , but still rough and sexy. A feel good live show.

Geometric Vision
Wave, Postpunk | Italy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8G4O8rgM4I 
Founded in Naples in 2012, they released their third album last year and are now performing at the WGT for the first time. Highly recommended for fans of their label mates Ash Code.

In2TheSound
Wave, Postpunk | Germany / Great Britain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUZiAbSA-7o 
The British post-punk band The Sound unfortunately never made an appearance at the WGT, because it dissolved in 1988. A reunion was also impossible, because singer and band head Adrian Borland took his own life in 1999 due to severe depression. They’re among the big cult bands of the genre, with songs like "Winning" or "New Dark Age" a must for any serious party. In order to bring their unforgettable "sound" on stage, their friends from The Convent and The Sound’s original drummer, Mike Dudley, have created a new project with "In2TheSound" and pay tribute to the heroes.

Jonathan Bree
Indie, Chamber-Pop | New Zealand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxRq23qVE8A 
Almost 10 million people have already seen the weird, beautiful, sick video for the song "You're So Cool" on Youtube. Live the whole thing looks the same, complete with stocking masks and wigs. And it sounds excellent. Not super goth, but it’s still "so cool" to have them with us.

Jungstötter
Indie, Chamber-Pop | Germany
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk2oSKUOzXg 
Indie fans may be familiar with Fabian Altstötter from his successful band "Sizarr". He has now released his first solo LP this year as Jungstötter, which is miles away from Sizarr in terms of sound. The first associations conjure up Scott Walker or Anthony at the bar long after midnight indulging in a last whisky with Nick Cave. Demanding, deeply melancholic and quite unique. Absolute tip for stylistically open music lovers with a tendency toward depression.

Karies
(Post-)Punk, Alternative | Germany
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twjvZf7m6JI 
Another exciting young band from Germany, founded 2012 in Stuttgart. With their debut "Seid umschlungen, Millionen" they won some prizes and went on tour with "Turbostaat" and the "Sleaford Mods". You can expect morbid, grouchy (post-)punk and bulky noise-rock with German lyrics about dehumanization and world-weariness. Recommended for fans of Sonic Youth or Die Nerven.

Kellermensch
Indie, Progressive Rock, Art-Metal | Denmark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJWjoOxg2F8 
Their name may sound like a German cliché scene band, but that is misleading. The Danes, who were inspired by Dostojewski's "Notes from the Underground" (German: “Aufzeichnungen aus dem Kellerloch”), are stylistically rather close to the first albums of "Arcade Fire", with a more "metallic" note perhaps. Surely one of the most exciting bands this year, their live clips promise a pretty intense experience.

Kontravoid
Synth Wave | Canada
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeOEue2yQW4 
After leaving the synthpop band Parallels, Cameron Findlay started to release his own material under the name Kontravoid and has since been on the road with bands like Boy Harsher, Drab Majesty, Zanias and Schwefelgelb. If you’re into these bands, this gig is for you.

Light Asylum
Synth Wave | USA
https://vimeo.com/18846203 
Her hit "Dark Allies" runs every week in every club, finally Shannon Funchess comes to WGT, and it's high time. The live performance is one of the most energetic stage shows possible. Her stage presence and her organ are stunning and sweat-inducing, one hour of ecstatic dancing guaranteed. Mandatory event!

Meta Meat
Industrial, Performance Art | France
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0I1uiqVKRw 
Hugues Vilette and Phil Von might already be known to some lovers of electronic sounds through their participation in the experimental "Electroflamenco" project Von Magnet (founded in 1985). 2016 saw the release of the first album of their current project, which is largely based on hypnotic tribal rhythms created by Phil Von on stage, including flamenco dance on a cajon. An exciting and not quite everyday sight these
days in a genre where the concerts are otherwise dominated by open laptops.

October Burns Black
Gothic Rock | Great Britain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGaNAgMXNgk 
The brand new all-star band consisting of James Tramel (The Wake), Ger Egan (This Burning Effigy), Lars Kappeler (Sweet Ermengarde), Tommy Olsson (Theatre of Tragedy) and Simon Rippin (NFD) celebrates pure classic goth rock, which is painfully missed these days.

Pleasure Symbols
Synth Wave | Australia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAGGbuW9RUU 
Frozen rhythms, echoed voices, drifting guitars - let yourself collapse and dream. File next to Chromatics, Minuit Machine and Box And The Twins.

Sad Lovers & Giants
Wave | Great Britain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg5tBerJEfM 
Actually an absolute cult band, but they’re so sparse and stingy with releases that it seems advisable to mention them – especially for younger audiences. Hits like "Things We Never Did" or "50:50" are still played at every party, but many are certainly not aware of who is behind these hits.

Sally Dige
Synth Wave | Denmark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQIGbuRjQk4 
In 2016 she was already a guest at the WGT with her band "Cult Club", now she comes back as a solo artist. Finest eighties synth wave for dancing and dreaming.

Still Corners
Indie, Dreampop | Great Britain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5YOhcAof8I 
Still Corners play heartbreaking Dreampop with an eighties touch, comparable to bands like Beach House, Wild Nothing or the Chromatics. If you look at the play count on their Youtube clips, which are over 33 million, they shouldn't be an "insider tip" anymore. Nevertheless, here's the hint to the edge of the gothic plate and beyond.

Tamaryn
Indie, Dreampop | Neuseeland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C3YNBKSzgo 
My Bloody Valentine meets Siouxsie & The Banshees und Beach House. Dreampop meets Shoegaze and a bit of Retro-Synthpop.

Vowws
Postpunk, "Deathpop" | Australia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upmdIiroDPQ
The Australians, who already worked together with greats like Gary Numan and musicians from Swans during their early career, aptly call their music "Deathpop". They will find fans among people who are into other current bands like Ritual Howls, Actors or Bootblacks.

Void Vision
Synth Wave | USA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBeNbHLvdC4 
Singer and composer Shari Vari from Philadelphia is behind this one-woman project, which originally started as a duo with Hayden Payne (Phase Fatale). Her songs appeal to fans of the genre who are enthusiastic about Hante, Xeno & Oaklander or Martial Canterel.