WGT 2009 – GENERAL INFORMATION
WAVE GOTIK TREFFEN (18th edition), the largest alternative festival in the world, took place between May 29 and June 01, 2009 in Leipzig, Germany. Check out the WGT Website for full details.
For many years the Treffen was celebrated as the largest gathering of the “dark family” in the world. All over the city more than 190 bands, projects and single artists performed on about 20 stages. The events took place for instance in the vaults of the Moritzbastei, in the splendid neoantique cupola hall of the Volkspalast, in the crypt of the Völkerschlachtdenkmal, a famous monument of the battle of 1813, as well as in large concert halls. The people from Leipzig are familiar with the Treffen after 17 years – the Gothic guests are welcome.
WGT (LEIPZIG) ATMOSPHERE
I will write more about what I felt and understood from my trip to Germany, and less about the live concerts I attended. Too overwhelming the feeling of seeing Melotron live (again) was, so I will just mention a few things instead of thoroughly reviewing the concerts. I took pics though, and the most impressive will follow my text.
The most fascinating thing during the Wave Gotik Treffen is the unique atmosphere that covers the whole city. Once a year about twenty thousand Gothics come home: to the Wave Gotik Treffen. Gothic fans from all over the world gather in Eastern Germany, turning Leipzig into a black celebration. I cannot describe the feeling one has when in the street, walking in Leipzig – the huge building city with an industrial atmosphere so suited for the Gotik Treffen. You see the straight, striking, perfect figures of people dressed in either black or very fluorescent green or pink. Most of the participants wear black, only silver jewelry and a lot off accessories. Women wear very high heeled shoes and somehow manage to wear them with such elegance that you may just die of envy…The photos of Gothic fans are a far better proof, and although I would love to put all my admiration for these special people in my description, words are far behind.
The experiences you have in a life time are the source of either fast or slow paced learning. In my case, the Wave Gotik Treffen experience was fast, enriching and rewarding. I had the chance to better understand why Romania is still a country under development (to put it mildly) and how far behind we are in terms of respect for others and joy of living.
WGT ORGANIZATION
The first thing that comes to my mind and definitely worth mentioning is the exquisite organization of the WGT. Mr. Cornelius Brach was of great assistance preparing the photo passes for the Romanian group for the 4 festival days. The pass allows a journalist to easily access the concert venues and take photos of any band during the first 3 songs of each live concert. Filming is totally forbidden, and still the security staff are very respectful when they tell you to stop filming. I own a nice Nikon D90 and I thought I could also film a little. Not a chance.
GERMAN HOSPITALITY
Now, from the way people were directing us to the ticket point and parking lot, the way they were showing everybody around to the way everyone sits in line and waits (for food, beer, tickets or just to get into the concert halls) I was totally impressed with the Germans. They all seem to calculate way in advance how to organize their time and energy in order to find the best and fastest solutions to everything. As I was walking around in the Agra and Kohlrabizircus, I noticed that people don’t bump into each other, that there is always space between you and everyone else, and that if you need help, there is always somebody there to assist you. German Gothic fans are nice and they like showing hospitality.
PARTICIPANTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
It was a very nice surprise to hear French, Spanish, Romanian and English spoken at the WGT, apart from German that seems to be a must have prerequisite at a Gothic festival. I have to admit though, that when it comes to the individuals at the WGT it is very hard to tell who is from where, as everyone is just dressed up head to toes, acts accordingly and speaks as they were part of a theater play.
MAPS AND DIRECTIONS
We couldn’t find a detailed map of Leipzig covering the WGT, not even at the Agra area (at least for the market, food courts, camping and main concert venues that lie here). I got my hands on a map, but it was not detailed enough. The schedule printed on the back, though, (including the start and end times of each band’s performance) was very detailed. But, hey, who needs a map? Once you plan to attend the WGT you should also plan on getting information from very nice people. Leipzig is a very friendly town, with large streets and buildings that you can easily recognize and use as future reference.
AGRA
The Agra area is a huge, clean and well organized festival space, including numberless music arenas and smaller halls, discos, food (German bratwurst for 2,50-3,50 Eur), drinks, parking (15 Eur/day). I figured out on the second day spent in the Agra that a glass of juice does not cost 4 Euro. Literally the glass costs 2 Euro and the drink inside another 2 Euro. Once you are done with the liquid in the glass, you can go back to the counter and they give you the 2 Euro back in exchange of the glass. Of course, there were no glasses, tissues or any other leftovers from everybody’s dinner on the ground. It seems that people in Germany have more trash cans than we do ;). A festival ticket to the WGT (including any concert you may want to attend in any arena of hall in Leipzig – 190 bands plus) costs 60 Eur in presale and 80 Eur if you purchase it at the ticket desk.
MELOTRON AT THE WGT 2009
After a high quality lineup among which Minerve, Frozen Plasma and Solitary Experiments, the last band that we saw on May 31 in Kohlrabicircus was Melotron. As we also had the pleasure to see Melotron live in Bucharest in Spice Club on January 24, 2009 it was a real pleasure to see them again. Andy, Edgar and Hilde were dressed in red and white as usual, and managed to keep the thousands of people who came to see them happy. The setlist was made up of their most popular songs and I have to confess that I could sing along without a problem! No, I don’t speak German, but Melotron’s music sinks in so smoothly that I started learning the lyrics in no time.
Setlist:
1. Auferstehung
2. Das Herz
3. Gib mir alles
4. Arroganz der Liebe
5. New Song
6. Menschenfresser
7. Maschinen aus Stahl
8. Der Anfang
9. Tanz mit dem Teufel
10. Nur Leben
11. Liebe ist Notwehr
12. Wohin
13. Kein Problem
14. Brüder
15. Wünsch mich nicht zurück
I am definitely going to attend the WGT every year.
Associated galleries: Participants * Solitary Experiments * Melotron * Frozen Plasma
Source: Viva Music
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