Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2023… 30th Anniversary…May 26th-May 29th 2023… Festival Review by Tzina Dovve (DJ Lady Davinia)…

Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2023… 30th Anniversary… May 26th-May 29th 2023… Festival Review by Tzina Dovve (DJ Lady Davinia)…

Wave-Gotik-Treffen… Leipzig… Germany… The largest and longest running international goth festival on this planet took place once again over the Whitsun weekend at the end of May celebrating four days of darkness one more time. With over 20.000 thousand goths from all corners of the globe gathering for yet another year to celebrate this dark celebration Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2023 was no doubt a special one this year as it celebrated its 30th Anniversary. Beginning back in 1992, little did the two young goth lads that started it all imagine how vast this festival would become over the next three decades. Leipzig covered in black for yet another year where goths of all ages and backgrounds gathered together in this iconic city to enjoy one thing they all have in common…music…and goth culture… With over 200 international bands on the bill this year across the 40 or so venues spread throughout the city and the various operas, picnics, parties and much more going on at this festival there was more than plenty to visit and party… Despite the heat and blistering sun winklepickers, fishnets, leather and lace, velvet and pvc clad goths relished their visit at this non-stop festival… Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2023… 30th Anniversary…

One of the highlights of Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2023, if one must choose, is the largest venue of this festival, Agra Halle, where a number of headline bands took to the stage this year… The legendary Ikon band made their fourth appearance at WGT this year, as the opening act on Friday May 26th… flying in all the way from Melbourne, Australia. The band performed an exceptional show playing a fine selection of tunes throughout their long music career, followed by the classic U.K. goth band The Chameleons and headliners Lord Of The Lost… The latter performed a dynamic show with a full Agra cheering and singing at the top of their lungs to their tunes… Germany is definitely proud of its bands and it shows… Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2023… 30th Anniversary…

Another highlight at this year’s Wave-Gotik-Treffen is Ghosting’s appearance on Saturday May 27th at the venue Felsenkeller… A reunion show as Sascha took to the stage again after years of absence accompanied by original member Francesco D’Angelo (from 1989), playing Ghosting classics like ‘Lion King’, ‘Die Baby Die’, ‘Bombed The World’ and surprising his audience with his cover version of the classic Sisters Of Mercy track ‘Amphetamine Logic’. Although Sascha had no full band with him on stage this time his fans were more than content to see Ghosting perform again after a decade or so ago… A very touching and sentimental performance for those old enough to remember Ghosting’s first WGT appearance back in 1992 (1st Leipzig WGT)… but also an honour for Ghosting’s younger fans to see for the first time… Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2023… 30th Anniversary…

Back to the largest venue of this festival, Agra Halle, classic oldschool bands along the lines of Front 242, Front Line Assembly, Diary Of Dreams, The Mission and newer bands such as Lebanon Hanover and Cold Cave who performed a midnight special on Saturday May 27th… all took to the stage with pride and delivered shows that kept the audience in awe… and cheering for more… Another highlight at Agra Halle this year is Deine Lakaien’s ‘Dark Star Special’ on Sunday May 28th… An elegant performance by this duo with crystal clear sound and Veljanov’s eloquent and haunting voice… The classic masterpieces ‘Reincarnation’, ‘Down, Down, Down’, ‘Love Me To The End’ and of course ‘Dark Star’ were just a few of the tracks performed on the night… A very touching performance amongst the 10.000 or so black clad goths in the crowd… Definitely a night to remember… Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2023… 30th Anniversary…

More classic oldschool bands were on the bill this year along the lines of the great Corpus Delicti, Aeon Sable, BFG, Skeletal Family, The March Violets and the atmospheric Rosa Crux as well as some newschool bands along the lines of the uplifting Ash Code, Rosegarden Funeral Party, Under The Skin, Kaelan Mikla, Paradox Obscur and Harsh Symmetry just to name a few… This festival has always catered for all tastes of the goth genre and leaves no-one disappointed… From goth rock/metal to industrial/Ebm/fetish to dark wave/electro to dark synth to cold wave to neofolk/classical and so on… It’s all here at this fabulous festival… Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2023… 30th Anniversary…

Wave-Gotik-Treffen… Leipzig… Germany… More highlights of the 30th Anniversary this year was the ever so popular extravagant Victorian Picnic held on Friday May 26th at Clara-Zetlin-Park and the newer SteamPunk Picnic on Saturday May 27th… Two days where people of all ages gathered to parade their flamboyant elaborate outfits and enjoy some fine wine, picnic treats and the blistering sun… Let’s not forget the Pagan Village which takes you back in time each time you visit… From folk music to blacksmiths, from medieval markets to the best fruit wine you have ever tasted… Most definitely a must for all visitors of this festival… Plenty of parties to choose from this year with many great international DJs spinning fine goth tunes at the various venues across the city… Leipzig after midnight was even more captivating this year with goths dressed to a tee and backcombed hair at its highest peak… From the oldschool ‘When We Were Young’ parties at the venue Taubcentral, to the DJ events at the nightclub Darkflower, to every goth’s fave, Moritzbastei… Highlight this year was the Geisterwelt Nights party on Sunday May 28th in the Oberkeller dungeon of this goth haven where DJ Silent Order and DJ Marlen took us on an adventurous goth trip with their exceptional selection of tunes… The dark dancefloor was set on fire til the wee hours of the morning where a black cloud of smoke lingered in the air… So many bands… sooo many parties and so much to enjoy in such little time… Choices and sacrifices have to be made every year at this festival and of course comfy goth boots… in order to see as much as possible… This year was no exception… Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2023… 30th Anniversary…

Wave-Gotik-Treffen… Leipzig… Germany… May 26th-May 29th 2023… 30th Anniversary… The four days of this dark celebration came to an end too quickly for the 20.000 or so goths attending this fabulous festival for yet another year… New friends were made and older friends re-united once again.. So much to do and so many things to see in so little time… Not enough time… A wave of sadness and nostalgia lingered in the air as the city emptied the following day.. Time to go home but everyone’s heart was still in Wave-Gotik- Treffen mode… The largest and longest running international goth festival on this planet… Thank you Leipzig for your hospitality one more time and to all the WGT team who made this 30th Anniversary a special one… Remember…everyday is a goth day… Until next year everyone… By Tzina Dovve (DJ Lady Davinia)…