Leipzig, Germany6th to 9th June 2014
23rd Wave Gotik Treffen 2014
Twenty-three 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. In 2014 the WGT takes place for the 23rd time. From June 6th to 9th again more than 20,000 Gothics from all over the world are expected to come together again in Leipzig to celebrate the Wave-Gotik-Treffen as THE international gathering of the dark family.
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 Industrial. 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: this year one can discover that Kate Bush's second cousin is also an angelic singer and that Australia is another a source of great Gothic rock. The concerts and events take place at around 40 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 green round of the open-air Parkbühne, as well as in large concert halls. The WGT program will also include beautiful classical music again, such as opera, musical, chamber music and Mozart's requiem as ballet.
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 as well as a big live action role play. People in historic clothing will gather in the park for a Victorian Picnic. 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. A special exhibition will present fantastic original artworks of HR Giger. This year, the AMI (Auto Mobil International) will take place at the same time as Wave-Gotik-Treffen for the first time. Therefore, the Leipzig Trade Fair organises an exclusive special exhibition showing historical hearses, as well as a professional photo shooting.
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.
Bands
Currently, following artists are confirmed (as of 20th March 2014)
!Distain (D) - 7JK (GB/PL) - Absolute Body Control (B) - Aeon Sable (D) - Ah Cama-Sotz (B) Dark Ambient Set - Albireon (I) - Alcest (F) - Anne Clark (GB) - Apoptygma Berzerk (N) - Ascetic: (AUS) - Asmodi Bizarr (D) - Beastmilk (FIN) - Beck Sian & Jonathan Kershaw (GB) - Bloodsucking Zombies From Outer Space (A) - Cécile Corbel (F) - Chrom (D) - Collection D'Arnell-Andréa (F) - D-Tox (S) - Der Fluch (D) - Desiderii Marginis (S) - Downstairs Left (D) - Edo Notarloberti & Viviana Scarinci (I) - Ext!ze (D) - FabrikC (D) - Faderhead (D) - Fetisch:Mensch (D) - Finsterforst (D) - Folk Noir (D) - Front Line Assembly (CDN) - Geistform (E) - God Module (USA) - Hamferd (FO) - Heimataerde (D) - Hexperos (I) - Hocico (MEX) - Hundreds (D) - I-M-R (D) - Ignis Fatuu (D) - Ikon (AUS) - Illuminate (D) - Imaginary War (D) - Imminent (B) - Ingrimm (D) - Inkubus Sukkubus (GB) - Job Karma (PL) - Joy Of Life (GB) - Katzkab (F) - Kiss The Anus Of A Black Cat (B) - Kitty In A Casket (A) - Klangstabil (D) - Konstruktivists (GB) - Lacrimas Profundere (D) - Lebanon Hanover (GB) - Little Nemo (F) - Mantus (D) - Martello (I) - MDS51 (D) - Nachtblut (D) - Nano Infect (GR) - No Sleep By The Machine (S) - Oomph! (D) - Oppenheimer MKII (GB) - Orphaned Land (IL) - Ost+Front (D) - Persephone (D) - Placebo Effect (D) exlusive one-off show 2014 - Pouppée Fabrikk (S) - Primordial (IRL) - Psygnosis (F) - Rainy Days Factory (P) - Rapalje (NL) - Remember Twilight (D) - Rotersand (D) - Sardh (D) - Saturmzlide (D) - Schneewittchen (D) - Sieben (GB) - Simi Nah (F) - Siva Six (GR) - Solitary Experiments (D) - Sonne Hagal (D) - Spetsnaz (S) - Tarja (FIN) - The Bellwether Syndicate (USA) - The Crüxshadows (USA) - The Devil And The Universe (A) - The Eternal Afflict (D) 25th anniversary show - The Fair Sex (D) 30th anniversary show with special guests - The Hiram Key (GB) - The Klinik (B) - The Lost Rivers (D) - The Marionettes (GB) - The Revolutionary Army Of The Infant Jesus (GB) - This Morn' Omina ( B) - Trepaneringsritualen (S) - UK Decay (GB) - Ulterior (GB) - Umbra Et Imago (D) - Untoten (D) - Varg (D) - Verdiana Raw (I) - Violet Tears (I) - Vomito Negro (B) - Wolfenmond (D) - XIV Dark Centuries (D) - Xotox (D) - XP8 (GB) - Yura Yura (F) - Zwielicht (D) - [:SITD:] (D)
More bands will be added constantly. Have an eye on www.wave-gotik-treffen.de
Tickets
Event Ticket
4-days tickets for all events during the 23rd Wave Gotik Treffen 2014 are available for 99 EUR in presale (incl. presale charges). The event ticket includes the authorization to use the following public transports (Cable Cars, Busses, Regional and City Trains) of the MDV ("Mitteldeutscher Verkehrsverbund") Zone 110 from 6th June 2014 12:00 PM to 10th June 2014 12:00 PM (without special routes). Like every year, there will be extra tours of the line until wee hours especially for attendees of the Wave Gotik Treffen.
Parking Vignette
In order to use the parking places on the Treffen Area, a parking vignette for 15 EUR (incl. presale charges) for the whole time of the festival is necessary. Important! Without a vignette you’re not allowed to park at the area.
Camping
Possible with Obsorge ticket, limited up to 9999 tickets for 25,- Euro (includes advance sale charges), contains the following service-package:
- Camping at the Treffen-Campground (agra-fairground)
- "Pfingstbote" ("Whitsun-herald") - the WGT program book
Important! Without an Obsorge ticket the entering and the use of the camping grounds is not possible. The Obsorge ticket is only valid in combination with an event ticket and has to be bought for each person separately.
You can order your tickets here
http://www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/karten.php (Germany)
http://www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/english/karten.php (Foreign Countries)
Additional festival information
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 http://www.leipzig.de/int/en/.
Music styles
All kinds of dark music: Gothic; EBM; Industrial; Ambient; Neofolk; Synth-pop, Goth-Metal etc.
Expected number of visitors
About 20,000
Info line
0049-341-2120862 / Email:
Photos
See “Photogallery” at the website
Important announcement regarding arrival to Leipzig / Markkleeberg by car
Since January 9th 2012 the bridge on the Bornaische Strasse (between Prinz-Eugen-Strasse and Lichtenstrasse) is completely closed for car traffic until June 2014 due to construction works. Car drivers should use one of the following alternative routes:
1) from Connewitzer Kreuz: via Wolfgang Heinze Str. - Koburger Brücke - B2 - Goethesteig - Bornaische Str.
2) from Connewitzer Kreuz: Arno Nitzsche Str. - Zwickauer Str. - Dankwartstr. - Dürrstr. - Siegfriedstr. - Bornaische Str.
The tram (line 11) will operate normally.
"low emission zone" in Leipzig
Since the 1st of March 2011 about 60 percent of the urban area of Leipzig has been declared a "low emission zone" to protect the environment from air pollution. Therefore within this zone only vehicles which have an official green sticker placed on the front windscreen are allowed. To obtain such a sticker, the vehicle must meet certain standards (i.e. age, type of fuel, diesel particulate filter etc.). This regulation is also valid for foreigners who travel to Leipzig by car. If you cannot show a valid sticker during a traffic check, you will have to pay a fine of 40 Euros. The stickers are available for about 5,- Euros at most car repair shops in Germany or via internet, e.g. the website of TÜV-Nord (6 Euros).
ATTENTION: The agra-area with parking lot and camping site can be reached via A38 / B2 without having to enter the "low emission zone"! (Please see the map of the zone below) That means it is possible for visitors to park their vehicle at the agra-parking lot (you will need a WGT parking ticket in this case, which can also be obtained on location) and reach all other locations by public transport. Please use the following links to find more information: http://www.lowemissionzones.eu
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 great 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 2014:
7JK - Ambient, Experimental | UK /Poland
Interesting collaboration of the manic violinist Matt Howden (Sieben) with the Polish Dark Ambient masters of Job Karma, which will both also perform separate shows at the WGT.
Aeon Sable - Gothic Rock | Germany
New hope for fans of classical sounds by the Fields and the Sisters.
Alcest - Post Rock, Shoegaze | France
Back again after their first live show at the WGT 2010, meanwhile much better known, also due to their comparatively catchy new album which was produced by Birgir Jón Birgisson (singer of Sigur Rós).
Ascetic - Gothic Rock, Post Punk | Australia
Young band from Melbourne in the tradition of Bauhaus, Joy Division and the Sisters.
Beck Sián - Folk | UK
The second cousin of Kate Bush (no joke!) presents fairy-like British "Ghost Folk"– even her voice is rather similar to that of her famous relative.
Cécile Corbel - Folk | France
Breton folk singer, who sings in several languages while playing the harp. She will perform twice, including one concert which will take place at the Pagan Village (Heidnisches Dorf).
I-M-R - Wave-Pop, Neofolk | Germany
This band was known in the past as "In My Rosary".
Imaginary War - Synthpop, Indie | Germany
Young and skillful modern synth pop band for fans of IAMX or recent Depeche Mode.
Kiss The Anus Of A Black Cat - Wave | Belgium
If you ignore the bizarre band name, you will get fine Wave Rock.
Konstruktivists - Industrial | UK
One of the last remained bands from the early phase of British Industrial of the 80ies with such contemporaries as Throbbing Gristle, Nurse With Wound, Whitehouse or Cabaret Voltaire.
Lebanon Hanover - Minimal, Wave | UK
The high-flyer of a booming genre.
Little Nemo - Cold Wave | France
One of the most important bands of the French "Cold Wave" or "Touching Pop" movement of the 80ies. Resurrected in 2008, now for the first time at the WGT.
MDS51 - Industrial | Germany
Young project for fans of November Növelet or similar stuff.
Oppenheimer MKII - Minimal Wave, Synthpop | UK
Cult band of the 80ies, known in the past as "Oppenheimer Analysis", active with the new name since the death of band member Martin Lloyd in April 2013.
Rainy Days Factory - Wave, Post Punk | Portugal
Fresh new band, whose idols must be Joy Division and The Cure.
The Bellwether Syndicate - Gothic Rock | USA
The new project of William Faith, founding member of Faith & The Muse.
The Devil And The Universe - Ghost Wave, Minimal, Dark Ambient | Austria
Obscure and interesting project with Ashley Dayour (Whispers In The Shadow), between modern Minimal Wave and occult Cold Meat sound, impressive live appearance with cowls and sleeping masks..
The Lost Rivers - Shoegaze, Noise Rock | Germany
The dark offspring of The Jesus And Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth.
The Marionettes - Gothic Rock | UK
Resurrected Goth Rock band from the 90ies.
The Revolutionary Army Of The Infant Jesus - Neofolk, Neo Classical, Experimental | UK
The return of an obscure band from Liverpool with an affection to Christian mysticism. Published 3 albums in the 80ies and 90ies and was at that time often compared to Current 93 and Dead Can Dance.
Trepaneringsritualen - Industrial | Sweden
Relatively young project with considerable cult status among connoisseurs. Pitch-black Death-Industrial in the manner of Brighter Death Now or Mental Destruction.
Verdiana Raw - Neoklassik, Dark Wave | Italy
Dreamy and at times slightly weird sounds of a classically educated singer and pianist, accompanied by guitar and percussion – somewhere between Tori Amos and Diamanda Galás.
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