OVERVIEW OF THE FESTIVAL
Wave Gotik Treffen (WGT) is a four day festival that takes place over the Whitsun Holiday (Pfingsten in Germany) each year. It takes
place in Leipzig, a city of half a million people located approximately 120km south of Berlin.
Unofficially WGT is attended by up to 30, 000 Goths from around the world giving the festival a very international flavour. Essentially 160
to 180 bands will play at about 20+ venues across the city. Your task is to travel between them seeing as many bands as possible,
while shopping at the biggest Goth market you will ever see, clubbing till you can’t stay awake, visiting the various Pagen/Medieval
villages and at some point finding time to eat and sleep.
There are many reasons to go to WGT but most people will be drawn by the huge list of bands that play. All music genres of the Goth
world will play at the festival, from Trad to EBM and from Goth Metal to Neo-Folk. You will get the chance to see large Headliner bands to
small unknown bands from all corners of the world. If you don't know any of the bands or if watching bands is not your thing then don't
worry, you still have shopping, night clubbing, and wonderful sight seeing that should keep you more than occupied.
It’s quite hard to describe the feeling of the festival, it has a fabulous laid back atmosphere, and it’s not intimate like many of the UK
festivals, although many of the venues are. I guess that's because there are so many ways to experience the festival that everybody will
find some way to enjoy themselves. The multinational nature of the festival adds huge amounts of enjoyment to the weekend. Knowing
that people have travelled from across the world to be here is very special. No other festival seems to encapsulate this in the same way
that WGT does. Eating outside the Agra is like eating at the United Nations, the languages and accents are from just about every corner
of the planet. If you fail to enjoy yourself here, then you may as well give up and crawl into your coffin (you will find one or two in the Agra
shopping hall normally, where you can have your photo taken!).
Of course the majority of people that you encounter will be German, but not just from Leipzig, like you most will have travelled many
miles to get to Leipzig. At the railway station (Hauptbahnhof) you will encounter a sea of black dressed people prior to the festival
starting, making you feel at home and safe from the moment you arrive. Leipzig itself is a wonderful City, just walking around the city is
most enjoyable, and most of the people in black are truly friendly, if you can’t find something, just ask, the chances are that they will
speak some English (or answer you with a broad American accent). And just to note that I have yet to see any trouble in the seven years
that I have attended, in any festival location.
As far as the festival goes I must admit that I am no authority; you may find that some of the information is not correct or out of date,
however I have tried to give an honest and realistic explanation of my own experiences or those of people that I know. I have no
connection with the organisers (although I do now help to moderate the official WGT website forum), if you have a question feel free to
join one of the forums listed on the ‘Links’ page.
My one real piece of advice is 'Plan Well', there is so much to do and see, and not really that much time. You should plan early too, if you
have the chance, from how you get to Leipzig, to what you take and what bands you want to see. If you have never been before then I
suggest that you make a plan, and try to stick to it, especially if you want to see certain bands. Many people find themselves shopping
all day and give themselves no time to see bands, that or you turn up for a band and find it packed and that you cant get in (a semi
regular occurrence). You need to set your priorities and plan the rest of the trip around them. You can always bank on public transport
being slower than you thought and more packed. For popular bands you will need to be at the venue at least a band if not two bands
before the band you want to see. Getting in to see some bands is always difficult, even at the Agra, the largest festival venue. Get there
early and remember Germans don't queue :) However don’t let me put you off by all this, you will have an excellent time, you will want to
come back next year, and next year you will promise yourself that you will plan better.
WGT is truly the Mecca of the Goth World, everybody should go at least once, although once you have the bug you will keep on coming
back, there is nothing else like it. My thanks to all those people that must spend so much time organising the festival. Keep up the good
work, see you all in Leipzig.
WANNA HELP IMPROVE THIS WEBSITE?
If you are willing I could do with more information on various subjects...
This site and domain has already cost me, so there is no money in it for you, just thanks from me and everybody who uses the info...
I will credit you on the ‘Credits and Help’ page...
Thank you in advance, See you in Leipzig!
Mark (aka sadgoth)
Wave Gotik Treffen (WGT) is a four day festival that takes place over the Whitsun Holiday (Pfingsten in Germany) each year. It takes
place in Leipzig, a city of half a million people located approximately 120km south of Berlin.
Unofficially WGT is attended by up to 30, 000 Goths from around the world giving the festival a very international flavour. Essentially 160
to 180 bands will play at about 20+ venues across the city. Your task is to travel between them seeing as many bands as possible,
while shopping at the biggest Goth market you will ever see, clubbing till you can’t stay awake, visiting the various Pagen/Medieval
villages and at some point finding time to eat and sleep.
There are many reasons to go to WGT but most people will be drawn by the huge list of bands that play. All music genres of the Goth
world will play at the festival, from Trad to EBM and from Goth Metal to Neo-Folk. You will get the chance to see large Headliner bands to
small unknown bands from all corners of the world. If you don't know any of the bands or if watching bands is not your thing then don't
worry, you still have shopping, night clubbing, and wonderful sight seeing that should keep you more than occupied.
It’s quite hard to describe the feeling of the festival, it has a fabulous laid back atmosphere, and it’s not intimate like many of the UK
festivals, although many of the venues are. I guess that's because there are so many ways to experience the festival that everybody will
find some way to enjoy themselves. The multinational nature of the festival adds huge amounts of enjoyment to the weekend. Knowing
that people have travelled from across the world to be here is very special. No other festival seems to encapsulate this in the same way
that WGT does. Eating outside the Agra is like eating at the United Nations, the languages and accents are from just about every corner
of the planet. If you fail to enjoy yourself here, then you may as well give up and crawl into your coffin (you will find one or two in the Agra
shopping hall normally, where you can have your photo taken!).
Of course the majority of people that you encounter will be German, but not just from Leipzig, like you most will have travelled many
miles to get to Leipzig. At the railway station (Hauptbahnhof) you will encounter a sea of black dressed people prior to the festival
starting, making you feel at home and safe from the moment you arrive. Leipzig itself is a wonderful City, just walking around the city is
most enjoyable, and most of the people in black are truly friendly, if you can’t find something, just ask, the chances are that they will
speak some English (or answer you with a broad American accent). And just to note that I have yet to see any trouble in the seven years
that I have attended, in any festival location.
As far as the festival goes I must admit that I am no authority; you may find that some of the information is not correct or out of date,
however I have tried to give an honest and realistic explanation of my own experiences or those of people that I know. I have no
connection with the organisers (although I do now help to moderate the official WGT website forum), if you have a question feel free to
join one of the forums listed on the ‘Links’ page.
My one real piece of advice is 'Plan Well', there is so much to do and see, and not really that much time. You should plan early too, if you
have the chance, from how you get to Leipzig, to what you take and what bands you want to see. If you have never been before then I
suggest that you make a plan, and try to stick to it, especially if you want to see certain bands. Many people find themselves shopping
all day and give themselves no time to see bands, that or you turn up for a band and find it packed and that you cant get in (a semi
regular occurrence). You need to set your priorities and plan the rest of the trip around them. You can always bank on public transport
being slower than you thought and more packed. For popular bands you will need to be at the venue at least a band if not two bands
before the band you want to see. Getting in to see some bands is always difficult, even at the Agra, the largest festival venue. Get there
early and remember Germans don't queue :) However don’t let me put you off by all this, you will have an excellent time, you will want to
come back next year, and next year you will promise yourself that you will plan better.
WGT is truly the Mecca of the Goth World, everybody should go at least once, although once you have the bug you will keep on coming
back, there is nothing else like it. My thanks to all those people that must spend so much time organising the festival. Keep up the good
work, see you all in Leipzig.
WANNA HELP IMPROVE THIS WEBSITE?
If you are willing I could do with more information on various subjects...
- How do you get to Leipzig? Mode of Transport, from and to, when do you start looking for flights/hotels what airlines do you use
- Are you from the US, Canada, South Africa, Australia or any other part of the world, how do you get to Leipzig?
- Hotel reviews (look at the Hotel Listing page, I have started, but I need more info especially from a Goths point of view).
- Camping do's and don’ts, best pitch, recommended type of tent, cooking, facilities, neighbours, camping supply locations etc
- Venue reviews, sound quality, bars, location of toilets
- Good Restaurants/Bars in Leipzig
- Anything else...
This site and domain has already cost me, so there is no money in it for you, just thanks from me and everybody who uses the info...
I will credit you on the ‘Credits and Help’ page...
Thank you in advance, See you in Leipzig!
Mark (aka sadgoth)
| Some rather nice paint work on my new Leather Jacket...see you in Leipzig |
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