WGT 2009 Thursday commentary [online V X.7]

DARKLIFE Online - V X.7

Wednesday, 3 June 2009

Thursday 28 May 2009

A year passed by so quickly and it was again the time for the blackest days in Germany. The 18th Wave Gotik Treffen. The black scene was ready to meet again in Leipzig. So what is so special about that festival? It is the biggest Gothic Festival and people from all over world come to join it. Unlike other festivals, it doesn't take place only at one location. The Wave Gotik Treffen spreads over the whole city of Leipzig. It's sensational. There are so many things you can do! Over 180 bands are playing at different locations, from small clubs, to open air stages, to the big halls, like the "Kohlrabizirkus" and the "Agra".

The idea of the Wave Gotik Treffen, also called WGT, arose in the year 1988, when 150 people came together for a meeting. The real first WGT took place in 1992 where about 1500 people gathered in Leipzig. Now there are about 20000 visitors every year. So you can say, that Leipzig is really black at Whitsuntide. Not only black, you can see lot's of colours there.

But there are not only concerts, you can visit museums, listen to readings, go to partys, meet other people or watch movies in the cinema. Even if there are so many places where you can go, the "Agra Hall" is still the central point. Here is the camping area, the big Agra concert hall and the shopping hall with traders from all over the world. There you can get everything that the black heart desires. So take your time for a little walk through the alleys and you can see a lot of nice styled people there.

That's another great thing about the WGT. The people are so creative with their outfits. For some it is the most important event in the year and they spend a lot of time to design some great outfits. Many things are home made and it's awesome to see the fondly designed outfits.

Get ready for four wonderful days in Leipzig!

For me and my boyfriend the WGT started on thursday afternoon, when we drove towards Leipzig. Our way is not really long, when I imagine, that some people come from the UK, Sweden, Spain, the US and even from Japan. But to spend 5 hours in the car with traffic jams won't never ever be a big fun. But finally we arrived at night and decided to get a drink at the "Sixtina". The "Sixtina" is a absinthery, where you can get over 100 sorts of absinth. That would take more than two weeks to try every taste. And it would be pretty expensive. But very delicious... Yes, I like absinthe! I confess. But I haven't tried anywhere near all of the varieties. Maybe five or six. And this in three years. Bad average, for the idea to try every taste.

The small bar is really pretty and even if you don't like absinthe (yes, I know, such people exist ^^), just take a look around, it's quite picturesque. The ceiling is painted like an old chapel, the walls are decorated with fetish photos and old absinthe posters and you can order soft drinks or b

eer there, you don't need to try the green fairy at all costs.

Unfortunately it's always pretty crowded there and sometimes, you need to leave, because it's impossible to get a seat. Or even a little bit free space to stand. If the weather is nice, you can sit outside, which relaxes the situation inside of the bar a little bit and you can enjoy your drink in a nice backyard with lots of plants and some small fountains. Here are also concerts, movies and readings.

We were lucky and got a nice place in the inside of the "Sixtina" and enjoyed our drinks. Absinthe doesn't need to be green to be tasty. For doing some party we were too exhausted, so we decided to go back to our hotel and get some sleep for being ready for the next four days.

Sarah Marx