Whitby Gothic Weekend

Whitby Gothic Weekend, often abbreviated to WGW or simply referred to by attendees as Whitby, is a twice-yearly festival for goths, in Whitby, North Yorkshire, England, organised by Jo Hampshire who runs Top Mum Promotions.

Event history

The origins of WGW lie in an "ad hoc" meeting of around forty pen-pals who Hampshire had met through NME and which was arranged in 1994. [http://wgw.topmum.co.uk/about/history/ Whitby Gothic Weekend History] ] Hampshire states that Whitby was chosen for its Dracula connections, although probably more so because this had already fostered a sense of acceptance on the part of locals and businesses rather than any inherent romanticism regarding the location.

The festival was held yearly until 1997, when it became twice-yearly, now held in April and October. It has since grown into one of the most popular gothic events in the world, attracting attendees from across the UK and around the world. Most of the events are held at the town's 1,000 capacity Whitby Spa Pavilion (known just as ‘The spa’, this is also where the 'Goth Market' is held), however, other venues such as The Metropole Hotel are used for overspill and The Resolution Pub for unofficial events.

Although referred to as a "weekend" it includes events during the day on Friday and Saturday as well as fringe events on the Thursday, Sunday and Monday. These events include additional club nights, markets, and a charity football match between goths and the local newspaper on the Sunday. There are often unofficial day events that vary from year to year including sandcastle building competitions, picnics, photoshoots and boat trips.

The event often sells out and many more people attend than there are tickets available, resulting in booming business for Whitby pubs such as The Elsinore (where the WGW originally started) and The Little Angel. The October 2007 festival was dedicated to the memory of the murdered goth Sophie Lancaster and a collection was raised of over £3000 from various events to place a memorial bench to her in Whitby. [http://www.whitbygazette.co.uk/stories-of-the-week/Memorial-planned-for-murdered-goth.3318289.jp "Whitby Gazette" "Memorial planned for murdered goth girl" 09 October 2007] ] [ [http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/local-news/Goths-unite-in-tribute-bid.3231041.jp "Halifax Evening Courier" "Goths unite in tribute bid for tragic Sophie" 26 September 2007] ] [ [http://www.whitbygazette.co.uk/news/Sophie39s-memory-to-live-on.3436311.jp "Whitby Gazette" "Sophie's memory to live on" 02 November 2007] ]

Whitby Gothic Weekend alumni by year

(*) shows headline act for each night/event

*1994: All Living Fear*, Inkubus Sukkubus, Manuskript, Nightmoves, Thirteen Candles
*1995: Children On Stun*, Shadowmaker, Suspiria, The Horatii, Manuskript
*1996: London After Midnight*, The Marionettes, Corpus Delicti, Die Laughing, Midnight Configuration
*April 1997: Stun*, James Ray’s Gangwar, Dream Disciples, The Merry Thoughts, Libitina, Judith, Emma Conquest, Robed In Desire, The Tortured, Violet Times
*October 1997: Rosetta Stone*, Inkubus Sukkubus, Manuskript, The Horatii, Sunshine Blind, Psycho TV
*April 1998: Faith and the Muse*, Die Laughing, Nekromantik, All Living Fear*, These Crimson Dreams, Isobels Shrine
*October 1998: Rosetta Stone*, Funhouse, Nervosa, The Sisters Of Murphy* (tribute act), Faithful Dawn, Emma Conquest
*April 1999: Switchblade Symphony*, The Last Dance, Denyze & Ed Alleyne-Johnson, Manuskript*, This Burning Effigy, Star 80
*October 1999: The Breath Of Life*, Dream Disciples, Passion Play, The Narcissus Pool*, Sneaky Bat Machine, Sunshine Blind
*April 2000: Mesh*, Saints of Eden, The Chaos Engine, Sigue Sigue Sputnik*, VNV Nation, Putra-Chic
* October 2000: Clan of Xymox*, Screaming Dead, Mist Of Avalon, Inkubus Sukkubus*, Emma Conquest
*April 2001: Dream Disciples*, Attrition, Adfinem, The Faces Of Sarah, Je$us Loves Amerika, The Last Days, Seize
*October 2001: Andi Sexgang*, Sorrow, Dawn Of Oblivion, Cauda Pavonis, D.U.S.T., Finger Puppets, Swarf, Rome Burns
*April 2002: Paradise Lost*, Manuskript, Passion Play, Je$us Loves Amerika, Action Directe, Arkam Asylum, Little Match Girl, Synthetic
*October 2002: Last Rites*, The Narcissus Pool, Swarf, Beautiful Deadly Children, Ordinary Psycho, Season’s End, Spermwhale
*April 2003: Red Lorry Yellow Lorry*, Spares, Synthetic, Belisha, deadfilmstar, Scary Bitches, Psychophile, Torsohorse, The Ghost Of Lemora
*October 2003: Wayne Hussey*, All About Eve*, Faith and the Muse, Icon of Coil*, Sheep on Drugs, Manuskript, All Living Fear, Inkubus Sukkubus*, Rose McDowall, The Chaos Engine, Goteki, DeathBoy
*April 2004: The Damned*, Earth Loop Recall, Zombina and The Skeletones, The Mission*, Dream Disciples, Libitina
*October 2004: Alien Sex Fiend*, Zodiac Mindwarp*, Manuskript*, The Last Dance, Claytown troupe, Glass, Corrosion, Beautiful Deadly Children, Faetal
*April 2005: Gene Loves Jezebel*, Voltaire, Psychophile, Screaming Banshee Aircrew, In The Nursery*, Queen Adreena, Devilish Presley, Greenhaus
*October 2005: Doctor and the Medics*, NFD, DeathBoy, Katscan, Rico*, Mechanical Cabaret, The Modern, Neon Zoo
*April 2006: The Breath Of Life*, Frankenstein, History Of Guns, Manuskript*, Spares, Swarf, Zombina and The Skeletones
*October 2006: The Damned*, Uninvited Guest, Inertia, Katzenjammer Kabaret, Trauma Pet, Vampire Beach Babes, XPQ-21*, Xykogen
*April 2007: The Last Dance* The Crüxshadows*, The Sohodolls, D.U.S.T., Razorblade Kisses, Bella Morte, Machine Gun Symphony, Rome Burns
*October 2007: Friday:Cassandra Complex*, Crud, Ghost of Lemora, Voices of Masada, Saturday:The Birthday Massacre*, Sins of the Flesh, All Living Fear, Pro-jekt
*April 2008 Friday: Star Industry*, Skeletal Family, Cauda Pavonis, Dyonisis. Saturday: Clan of Xymox*, Mercurine, Screaming Banshee Aircrew, Snuff Radio.
*October 2008 Acts to be confirmed

External links

* [http://www.wgw.topmum.co.uk/ Whitby Gothic Weekend - Main Site]
* [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.gothic/browse_thread/thread/e55e991a33372744/f78db9fe23595ce2?lnk=gst Invite to the 1995 festival] posted to the alt.gothic Usenet newsgroup.
* [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/whats_on/article3797569.ece Whitby Gothic Weekend is a lesson in British tolerance]
* [http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/books/2007/10/bloody_good_reasons_to_visit_w.html Article in The Guardian by Sam Jordison]

References