Live Review: Prague Gothic Treffen - Prague 2025

Fuchs2, Bike Jesus, Prague, The Czech Republic
29th - 30th August 2025
Prague Gothic Treffen with Kalte Nacht, Natures Mortes, Rosegarden Funeral Party, Dark, Ashbury Heights, Mildreda

The 20th edition of Prague Gothic Treffen was more than just a festival - it was a jubilant anniversary, a gathering that once again sold out and brought together free spirits from all over the world.

Over the years, PGT has become not only a stage for concerts, but also a meeting point for a global community, a place where music, fashion, and friendship converge. This year’s edition felt particularly special, accompanied by events like the Gothic Cruise and Picnic, and offering a lineup that spanned a spectrum of genres - from Darkwave to Electro-Industrial, from Post-Punk atmospheres to catchy Synthpop.


Kalte Nacht

One of the weekend’s absolute highlights was KALTE NACHT. Their live show is nothing short of magical - an experience that vibrates with shimmering Electronics and the pulse of guitars, pulling the audience into a nocturnal trance. Nikos Konstantinidis’ music creates a dark yet luminous soundscape - textured, hypnotic, and alive - the perfect vessel for what unfolds on stage.



At the centre stands Myrto Stylou, a force of nature, her voice carrying something almost shamanic - part priestess, part wild spirit, both guiding and unsettling. Her presence is raw and untamed, yet deeply moving, like standing at the edge of a storm and feeling its pull. There is a darkness in her performance that is never bleak but charged with power, a ritual energy that makes every song feel like a spell being cast. Watching KALTE NACHT in Prague was like stepping into a dark temple where music becomes incantation, leaving the audience transformed.

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Natures Mortes

NATURES MORTES delivered a set that was as visceral as it was poetic - a full-blooded storm of VOCALS and GUITARS that hit with both force and elegance. Their music had a raw, almost cinematic intensity, with every chord and vocal line cutting deep, evoking longing and urgency. The interplay between the instruments created moments that felt simultaneously fragile and explosive, like being pulled into a wave that crashes and then lets you breathe again. The audience responded with fervour, swept up in the emotional power of the performance.

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Rosegarden Funeral Party

Flying in from the U.S., ROSEGARDEN FUNERAL PARTY brought a surge of dark energy and Post-Punk drama to the stage. Their set was a masterclass in atmosphere and intensity, led by Leiah Majors whose commanding vocals and magnetic stage presence fused vulnerability with ferocity.



Each song felt like an invocation - shimmering guitars wrapped around deep, propulsive basslines, while Leiah’s voice moved effortlessly from intimate confession to cathartic release. There was an unmistakable sense of urgency to their performance, as if each track was a message hurled into the void. The band’s chemistry radiated, and the Prague crowd responded with rapt attention, many discovering them live for the first time and leaving visibly impressed.

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Dark

DARK’s performance was another spellbinding moment. Rather than a typical concert, it felt like stepping into someone’s dream. With Nicole Willerton, Aleera De Lune, Benedicte Rosensverd, and Coffin Seller sharing the stage, it was a gathering of magnetic personalities, each adding their own shade to the atmosphere.



The performance was ritualistic, hypnotic, and charged with an energy that felt both dangerous and beautiful. Voices and visuals merged, creating an immersive experience where images and sound coalesced. Having first seen DARK at Cold Hearted Festival two years ago, it is remarkable to see how consistently they build entire worlds for their audience to step into - Prague’s haunting charm felt like the perfect setting.

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Ashbury Heights

ASHBURY HEIGHTS reminded everyone why they have been one of the most beloved acts in the scene since their debut. Having followed them since their first WGT show at WERK II in 2008, it’s a joy to see how they have evolved without ever losing that mix of sharpness and pop sensibility. Their set at PGT was irresistibly danceable, full of energy and cleverness, with Anders’ and Tea’s onstage chemistry electrifying the room.



‘Christ’ turned the floor into a frenzy, with the crowd dancing like there was no tomorrow. ASHBURY HEIGHTS continue to master the balance between glossy Pop hooks and sardonic wit, turning every song into a live hit. Seeing them again in Prague was a reminder of why their music continues to endure and inspire.

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Mildreda

And then came MILDREDA - one of the most anticipated performances of the anniversary edition, and a show that did not disappoint. This project has always lived on the edge, balancing between reason and madness, heaven and hell, the divine and the painfully human. Their music is full of allegories and symbols, woven into something both visceral and elegant.



On stage, the intensity was overwhelming: Salva’s precision anchoring Jan Dewulf’s raw emotionality, his heart laid completely bare as he delivered each lyric like a confession. It was their first time in Prague, and the reception was euphoric. As Jan shared that they are working on a new album, the excitement in the room made it clear that the audience is ready to follow them into whatever dark and beautiful territory they explore next.

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Prague Gothic Treffen XX was a fitting celebration of the festival’s two-decade legacy - sold out once again, vibrant, and uniting. It proved once more why this event continues to grow in popularity: it is not just a festival, but a ritual, a meeting ground, and a yearly pilgrimage for lovers of dark music and culture. This year’s edition offered not just concerts, but shared moments, rituals, and memories that will echo until next year, when Prague once again calls its tribe home.


All Pictures by Karolina Kratochwil