Gothic future in Leipzig: WGT with exciting readings and lectures!

Gothic future in Leipzig: WGT with exciting readings and lectures!

On Sunday, June 8, 2025, the WGT International took place in the Leipzig Ballroom, an important event in Gothic culture that attracted numerous interested parties from all over the world. As part of this event, several English-language readings and lectures were offered that dealt with various aspects of the gothic and dark wave music subcultures. Loud MDR The program announced special highlights that took viewers deep into the multifaceted world of these scenes.

A central element of the program was the reading by Jonny Hall, a British DJ and music author. In his presentation entitled “The Dark Scene 500,” he highlighted the history of the dark wave and gothic scenes using 500 key pieces of music. Hall discussed the beginnings of gothic rock, industrial and various stylistic subgenres as well as their recent developments.

Gothic influences in burlesque and drag

Another highlight was a conversation about the influences of gothic elements in burlesque and drag. Eden Lost, a performance artist with Swedish-American roots, moderated this panel. It brought together well-known participants such as Noeline La Bouche and Antina Christ from Germany as well as Matija Black from Croatia and Devi Letalis from Austria. In this lively exchange, the connection between contemporary performance art and Gothic and industrial culture, personal artistic developments and pop culture cross-connections were discussed. The importance of queer self-empowerment within these artistic movements was also discussed.

The program was rounded off with a lecture by Magnus Ovhed, a meteorologist and expert on the Gothic scene. In his lecture “It was a dark and stormy night…” he examined the role of meteorological extremes in the imagery of Romanticism and Gothic culture. Ovhed, part of the Gothic community for over thirty years and a regular guest at the Wave-Gotik-Treffen, highlighted the connection between dramatic storms and literary clichés in the Gothic aesthetic.

The influence of Industrial Goth aesthetics

The event also offered a look at the Industrial Goth subculture, characterized by a raw, mechanical aesthetic. Loud Underground England This subculture combines abrasive beats with dystopian themes and is heavily inspired by industrial landscapes. The fashion features a utilitarian style with military-inspired garments, favoring functional pieces and many metal accessories. The color palette of the Industrial Goth scene is predominantly black with accents of steel gray or other metallic tones, highlighting the look as a symbol of resilience and personal expression.

The WGT International 2025 thus offered a stage for creative expression and in-depth discussions about developments in the gothic and dark wave scenes. With a diverse program that includes both artistic and thematic perspectives, the event is an essential highlight for fans and actors of the subculture.