The night’s drawing in like a great dark thing, so my thoughts inevitably turn towards the exciting opportunities coming down the Goth Calendar! In particular I want to spotlight those I am lucky enough to be involved in and are doing great things for the subcultural community.
Goth City X
Ten years ago, UK goth mainstay Joel Heyes launched “Goth City” and inaugurated an ambitious, sprawling event for all the best causes. Multiple bands appeared at iconic venues around the Spiritual Home of English Goth, and there was even time for a panel discussion that featured such luminaries as legendary promoter John Keenan, musical and literary creator Rosie Lugosi, and even a loud-mouthed, self-declared spokesgoth!
Let us give thanks then that the irrepressible organiser has resurrected GCF for a tenth anniversary – and I’ll once again be delighted to be taking a chair for a panel discussion! You can join Joel, myself and the multi-talented Dr Trevor Bamford as we discuss ‘The State Of It: Goth in 2026’ before a live, likely drinking, audience! Anyone who has followed my blog knows we’ll be seeking to relentlessly cover a lot of topics – I’m really looking forward to this. Sound off in the comments about any topics you think we should be covering particularly!
Around our panel discussion are night after night of live entertainment, showcasing new and emerging artists that owe so much to the musical creativity spawned in Leeds decades ago, and now paying their respects by continuing that tradition. Please reward them, support this event – and I’ll see you there.
Night Tyne Festival
Regular followers will know I live in Newcastle and feel a particular attachment to the local scene. I was delighted to chat with organiser Rick Lanning about his upcoming event, the first goth festival for the North East – Night Tyne! There’s a good array of local bands on the bill as well as a place for “Byronic Sex and Exile”, hardest working goth outfit in the land!
Infuriatingly, and due to my own lack of planning, I’ll miss the opening night due to a clash. Instead I’ll be hurtling up the country to ensure I’m present for Saturday, as I’m really keen to support such an ambitious local event. As I’ve said many times on the blog, I believe your local goth scene is an integral cell in the Body Gothic – to which online goth comes a pale second. Don’t get me wrong – I love the web and the ability to talk (or argue furiously) with goths all around the world. But nothing beats a gig, club night or festival at your fingertips.
Very hopeful Rick gets all the support and encouragement to bring Night Tyne back again…
Tomorrow’s Ghosts / Whitby Goth Weekend
No discussion of events in the UK could pass without noting the definitive (and disputative) collection of events in Whitby! Tomorrow’s Ghosts continue their residency at the Pavilion, and solidify their grip on the town with a two-night spectacular show by golden age gurus The Mission – they’ll perform their debut album “God’s Own Medicine” in full on Friday, in this fortieth anniversary year. The following night they’ll play a variety of tracks from their impressive back catalogue.
Support comes in the form of foundational goth acts like The March Violets, and Lol Tolhurst who will be performing the music of The Cure which he co-founded with Robert Smith. Heavy hitters indeed, but I’ve mused previously on big festivals always relying on legacy acts; this will be Wayne Hussey’s ninth appearance in Whitby, five as a solo performer and the fourth time The Mission have topped the running order at the Pavilion since their debut in 2004.
An event as big as Whitby requires the biggest names in the live scene – but there’s a question to the wider scene about where the next headliners are coming from. In contrast, it’s great to see the March Violets on the bill after many years shut out – and opening act Tristwch Y Fenywod represent a great step towards truly new music at the festival. I’ve no concrete plans to attend myself – attending Whitby requires a lot of forward planning – but I may swing by for a day trip.
Despite its challenges, Whitby is still the trademark hub of UK goth events, after all – noting that Whitby Goth Weekend’s “Revenant” is delivering three nights of live alternative music at the Royal Hotel, and the popular “Goth at the Brewery” lets fit punters who can scale the cliff see three bands on Saturday afternoon – for free! A variety of options to suit the masses that will inevitably attend.
Carpe Noctum
On bleaker terms, I was saddened to learn that the venerable Leeds goth night “Carpe Noctum” is coming to an end after an unparalleled 27 years delivering first class DJing and an array of brilliant bands. Promoter Howard Rickards has delivered consistently on what I would consider the definitive goth night – no flash, gimmicks, unreliability or erratic behaviour. Just constant, hard graft to source and share fantastic national and international live acts, both legendary outfits and absolutely raw breaking bands needing their first experience on stage. Add to that a solid, dependable playlist willing to listen (but not tolerate) requests from punters all overlaid with a wry, biting Northern sense of humour.
I count myself extremely lucky to have known Howard since I first came to Leeds, and have learned at the side of his DJ desk ever since. Well, not any actual DJing skills I will admit, but my own forays into promotion have been modelled on Carpe Noctum’s tried and tested method of finding quality bands, good DJs, a decent venue and just making a night happen. If I emulated even a quarter of Howard’s success, I’ll count it as a damn good job.
The final event on 5 December will be sharply bittersweet, and I’ll be moving heaven and earth to get there. Appropriately enough, the very first event Howard organised was on this day in 1999. A very powerful legacy to retire on, a ringing endorsement of the longevity of the goth music subculture and confirmation of the vitality of goth events to the livelihood of the scene.
Thus concludes a dip into upcoming events I will be attending or at least strongly recommending. For even more opportunities to get out, enjoy and support events in your local scene, please consult the Goth Calendar. See you out there I hope!
Finally, my apologies to Patreons and regular followers – this is the delayed September update, so I will be writing again in October! As always, Patreons can chat to me directly about topics they’d want to see covered.
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