# Whitby Goth Weekend

Whitby Goth Weekend, abbreviated to WGW or nicknamed Whitby, is a twice-yearly music festival for the goth subculture, in Whitby, North Yorkshire, England, organised by Jo Hampshire. The event is an alternative music festival, consisting of two nights of live bands, and three days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) of alternative trade stalls at the Whitby Leisure Centre, and Whitby Brunswick Centre.
The term "Whitby Goth Weekend" is sometimes used as a generic term to describe events during the week in Whitby as a whole, although the name of the event and its associated logo are registered trademarks of Jo Hampshire of Top Mum Promotions.

## History

The origins of WGW are in a meeting of around forty of Hampshire's pen-pals in 1994. The first meeting was held in the Elsinore public house in Whitby along with the Little Angel, which continues to be a meeting point during the weekend. Hampshire said Whitby was chosen for its Dracula connections, although probably more so because the connection had already fostered a sense of acceptance on the part of locals and businesses rather than any inherent romanticism regarding the location. Until 1997, the festival was held yearly, after which it became twice-yearly in April and October. It has since grown into one of the world's most popular goth music events with thousands of attendees from across the UK and beyond.
In the mid-2000s the October weekend on or near Halloween began to attract large numbers of non-goths in Halloween, horror, historical, fantasy and sci-fi costume, which led to an increase in photographers and visitors. The weekend now attracts other alternative subcultures, including Victorian vampires, rockers, punks and steampunks. Some regulars consider it no longer a purely "goth" weekend, and it was acknowledged by Hampshire in the 2014 Whitby Goth Weekend Guide that in order to survive the event would have to diversify into other areas that have influenced goth. In recent years the costumed attendees now outnumber the goth attendees. Whitby Goth Weekend is now not as relevant on the Goth scene as it was 10-15 years ago.
The October 2007 festival was dedicated to the memory of the murdered Goth Sophie Lancaster (who had attended three Whitby Goth Weekends) and a collection of more than £3,000 was raised from various events to fund a memorial bench to her in the town.
Newbies who have not attended the event before are referred to as "Whitby Virgins". To help introduce them to the event, there was a WGW Virgins Meet Up on the Friday morning at the Spa until about 2014.
In 2016, concerns were raised by locals about disrespect being shown to the graves in St. Mary's Churchyard by photographers using them for photographic purposes which has resulted in a petition to have the area closed during the event. The proposal was supported by Whitby Goth Weekend, saying that "behaviour displayed in the churchyard is disrespectful and offensive". In 2016 The Bram Stoker Film Festival, which also took place in the town, rehashed a proposal to build a film set graveyard which photographers would be charged to use.
In June 2018 there was a breakdown in the relationship between WGW and SIV Live, who operate the Spa. WGW was therefore unable to book the Spa for bands for October 2018. In July a new promoter was found to put bands on at the Spa in October. Subsequently, WGW announced a different set of 2019 dates to those announced by the Spa and the new promoter, with bands at Abbey Wharf, a large pub in Whitby.

## Economy

The event results in business for the town in general, with attendees spending around 10,000 bed-nights in Whitby and the weekend contributing £1.1 million per annum to the local economy.

## Location and events

The "weekend" starts during the day on Friday and fringe events are held on Thursday, Sunday and Monday including club nights, markets, and a charity football match between visiting goth team Real Gothic, and local team Stokoemotiv Whitby. During the October/November event there is an independent custom car show, 'Whitby Kustom' in the grounds of West Cliff School. There are also several "meet ups" aimed at goths with a particular interest, e.g. Gothic Lolita.
The main event was held in the town's largest venue, the Whitby Pavilion (known as the Spa) and the Bizarre Bazaar 'Goth Market' is also held there and at Whitby Leisure Centre and the Brunswick Centre. Access to the Spa in the evening required a ticket and live bands played on both Friday and Saturday from 08:00 until about midnight. The Metropole was often used as an overspill venue for the Spa, with bands due to play the next evening/or playing from the previous evening. In recent years it has been used as a venue for the markets as well as the clubs, Manic Monday and Sexy Sunday. Crafty Cove (formerly RAW Nightclub) holding Shadow Factory and Monster Mash (Dead Skool Disco) and Abbey Wharf are used for official fringe events; other venues including The Resolution, The Rifle Club,The Metropole and the Whitby Rowing Club housing an official SOPHIE Lancaster Fundraising Event, Dark Souls and INVASION on the Sunday are used for unofficial events.
For many years there was a 1980's music night held at Laughtons. The night would traditionally end with the song Vagabonds. In 2010 this venue became a Wetherspoons Hotel, but the lineal descendant of the 80's night continues to take place on the Sunday night.

### Lineups

(*) indicates headline act for each night/event
| Event # | Title | Date | Bands (split into nights where applicable) | Bands (split into nights where applicable) | Bands (split into nights where applicable) | Bands (split into nights where applicable) |
| 1 | Whitby 1 | 2–4 September 1994 | Friday: Manuskript* | Saturday: Inkubus Sukkubus*, 13 Candles, Nightmoves, All Living Fear |
| 2 | Whitby 2 | 1–3 September 1995 | | Saturday: Children On Stun*, Shadowmaker, Suspiria, The Horatii, Manuskript |
| 3 | Whitby 3 | 27–29 September 1996 | The Marionettes*, Die Laughing, Midnight Configuration | London After Midnight*, Corpus Delicti |
| 4 | Whitby 4 | 25–26 April 1997 | Friday: James Ray's Gangwar*, Dream Disciples, Libitina | Saturday: Stun*, The Merry Thoughts, Judith | Sunday: Emma Conquest, Robed In Desire, The Tortured, Violet Times |
| 5 | Whitby 4.5 | 31 October – 1 November 1997 | Inkubus Sukkubus*, Manuskript, Psycho TV | Rosetta Stone*, The Horatii, Sunshine Blind |
| 6 | Whitby 5 | 24–25 April 1998 | Die Laughing*, Nekromantik | All Living Fear*, These Crimson Dreams, Isobels Shrine |
| 7 | Whitby 5.5 | 30–31 October 1998 | Sunshine Blind*, Funhouse, Nervosa, Dream Disciples (at overspill venue), Passion Play (at overspill venue) | Rosetta Stone*, Emma Conquest, Faithful Dawn, Sunshine Blind (at overspill venue), The Sisters Of Murphy (tribute act at overspill venue) |
| 8 | Whitby 6 | 23–24 April 1999 | Switchblade Symphony*, The Last Dance, Denyze & Ed Alleyne-Johnson | Manuskript*, This Burning Effigy, Star 80 |
| 9 | Whitby 6.5 | 5–6 November 1999 | Dream Disciples*, Manuskript, Passion Play, The Breath Of Life (band) (at overspill venue), Sneaky Bat Machine (at overspill venue) | The Breath Of Life*, The Narcissus Pool, The Chaos Engine, Sneaky Bat Machine, Manuskript (at overspill venue), Dream Disciples (at overspill venue), The Chaos Engine (at overspill venue) |
| 10 | Whitby 7 | 28–29 April 2000 | Mesh*, Saints of Eden, The Chaos Engine | Sigue Sigue Sputnik*, VNV Nation, Putra-Chic |
| 11 | Whitby 7.5 | 3–4 November 2000 | Clan of Xymox*, Screaming Dead, Mist Of Avalon | Inkubus Sukkubus*, Emma Conquest |
| 12 | Whitby 8 | 27–28 April 2001 | Dream Disciples*, Attrition, Adfinem | Je$us Loves Amerika, The Last Days, Seize, The Faces Of Sarah |
| 13 | Whitby 8.5 | 2–3 November 2001 | Andi Sex Gang*, Sorrow | D.U.S.T., Finger Puppets, Swarf, Rome Burns, Cauda Pavonis |
| 14 | WGW 9 | 26–27 April 2002 | Paradise Lost*, Manuskript, Passion Play, Je$us Loves Amerika | Action Directe, Arkam Asylum, Little Match Girl, Synthetic |
| 15 | WGW 9.5 | 1–2 November 2002 | Last Rites*, The Narcissus Pool, Swarf | Beautiful Deadly Children, Ordinary Psycho, Season's End, Spermwhale |
| 16 | WGW 10 | 11–12 April 2003 | Belisha, deadfilmstar, Scary Bitches, The Ghost Of Lemora, Torsohorse | Red Lorry Yellow Lorry*, Spares, Synthetic, Psychophile |
| 17 | WGW X | 30 October – 1 November 2003 | Thursday: Inkubus Sukkubus*, Faith and the Muse, DeathBoy | Friday: Wayne Hussey*, The Chaos Engine, All Living Fear | Saturday: Icon of Coil*, Sheep on Drugs, Goteki | Sunday: All About Eve*, Manuskript, Rose McDowall |
| 18 | WGW 11 | 23–24 April 2004 | The Damned*, Earth Loop Recall, Zombina and the Skeletones | The Mission*, Dream Disciples, Libitina | |
| 19 | WGW 11.5 | 29–31 October 2004 | Manuskript*, The Last Dance, Corrosion, Faetal | Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction*, Claytown Troupe, Beautiful Deadly Children, Torsohorse | Alien Sex Fiend*, Glass, Ovni |
| 20 | WGW 12 | 22–23 April 2005 | Gene Loves Jezebel*, Voltaire, Psychophile, Screaming Banshee Aircrew | In the Nursery*, QueenAdreena, Devilish Presley, Greenhaus |
| 21 | WGW 12.5 | 28–29 October 2005 | Doctor and the Medics*, NFD, DeathBoy, Katscan | Rico*, Mechanical Cabaret, The Modern, Neon Zoo |
| 22 | WGW 13 | 21–22 April 2006 | Manuskript*, Swarf, Misty Woods & GDM, History Of Guns | The Breath Of Life*, Frankenstein, Zombina and the Skeletones, Spares |
| 23 | WGW 13.5 | 27–28 October 2006 | The Damned*, Vampire Beach Babes, Trauma Pet, Xykogen | XPQ-21*, Katzenjammer Kabarett, Inertia, Uninvited Guest |
| 24 | WGW 14 | 27–28 April 2007 | The Last Dance*, Sohodolls, D.U.S.T., RazorBladeKisses | The Crüxshadows*, Bella Morte, Machine Gun Symphony, Rome Burns |
| 25 | WGW 14.5 | 26–27 October 2007 | The Cassandra Complex*, Crud, Ghost of Lemora, Voices of Masada | The Birthday Massacre*, Sins of the Flesh, All Living Fear, Pro-jekt |
| 26 | WGW 15 | 26–27 April 2008 | Star Industry*, Skeletal Family, Cauda Pavonis, Dyonisis | Clan of Xymox*, Mercurine, Screaming Banshee Aircrew, Snuff Radio |
| 27 | WGW 15.5 | 31 October – 1 November 2008 | Specimen*, Christian Death, Rezurex | Wayne Hussey*, Voltaire, The Beauty of Gemina |
| 28 | WGW 16 | 24–26 April 2009 | Abney Park*, The Last Dance, Zeitgeist Zero | Diary of Dreams*, The House of Usher, RazorBladeKisses |
| 29 | WGW 16.5 | 30 October – 1 November 2009 | The Eden House*, Zombina and the Skeletones, Grooving In Green | Faith and The Muse*, Adoration, Rhombus |
| 30 | WGW 17 | 22–25 April 2010 | Justin Sullivan*, Deviant UK, In Isolation | Anne-Marie Hurst*, Pretentious Moi?, Vendemmian |
| 31 | WGW 17.5 | 29–31 October 2010 | Wayne Hussey (with special guests Simon Hinkler, Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls)*, Autumn Cannibals, The Last Cry | Manuskript*, The Stripper Project, Pro-jekt |
| 32 | WGW 18 | 25–27 March 2011 | Red Lorry Yellow Lorry*, Fuzzbox, Dr Arthur Krause, Black Moth, Dutch Order | The Damned*, Frankenstein, The Beauty Of Gemina, Luxury Stranger, Pink Hearse |
| 33 | WGW 18.5 | 4–6 November 2011 | Abney Park*, The Mist of Avalon, Devilish Presley, Cryogenica, Berlin Black | Chameleons vox*, Voltaire, Rhombus, The Dark Shadows, The Death Notes |
| 34 | WGW 19 | 27–29 April 2012 | In The Nursery*, Ugly Buggs, The Spiritual Bat, Last July | Gene Loves Jezebel*, Die Laughing, The Bellwether Syndicate, Red Sun Revival, Dead Eyes Opened |
| 35 | WGW 19.5 | 2–4 November 2012 | Mesh*, Fangs On Fur, Inertia, Dutch Order, Last July | Alien Sex Fiend*, Blitzkid, All Living Fear, The Last Cry, Bad Pollyanna |
| 36 | WGW 20 | 26–28 April 2013 | Voltaire*, Doctor and the Medics, Zombina and the Skeletones, Pussycat and the Dirty Johnsons | Clan Of Xymox*, Skeletal Family, The Danse Society, Deviant UK, William Control |
| 37 | WGW 20.5 | 1–3 November 2013 | William Control*, Fearless Vampire Killers, Ashestoangels, Bad Pollyanna | Diary Of Dreams*, Bella Morte, Rabia Sorda, Method Cell |
| 38 | WGW 21 | 25–27 April 2014 | Toyah*, Vince Ray & The Boneshakers, Cold In Berlin, Alexa De Strange | New Model Army*, The Last Cry, UK Decay, Jordan Reyne |
| 39 | WGW 21.5 | 31 October – 2 November 2014 | Heaven 17*, Visage, Deviant UK, Black Volition | Voltaire*, Hugh Cornwell, Rhombus, Bad Pollyanna, Lesbian Bed Death |
| 40 | WGW 22 | 23–26 April 2015 | Thursday: The Birthday Massacre*, Abney Park*, The Red Paintings, Ashestoangels | Friday: The Crüxshadows*, Bella Morte*, Sigue Sigue Sputnik Electronic, The Last Dance | Saturday: Sex Gang Children*, Andi Sex Gang*, The Chameleons Vox*, Manuskript, Jordan Reyne | Sunday: The Damned*, William Control*, Doctor And The Medics, Pussycat And The Dirty Johnsons |
| 41 | WGW 22.5 | 30 October – 1 November 2015 | Altered Images*, Fearless Vampire Killers, Bad Pollyanna, Chasing Dragons | Spear of Destiny*, The Last Cry, Vince Ripper and the Rodent Show, In Isolation |
| 42 | WGW 23 | 22–24 April 2016 | Therapy?*, The Red Paintings, Lene Lovich, Hands Off Gretel | Wayne Hussey*, Fuzzbox, Rhombus, She Made Me Do It |
| 43 | WGW 23.5 | 4–6 November 2016 | Heaven 17*, Sigue Sigue Sputnik Electronic, Manuskript, Kitty in a Casket | The Mission*, Skeletal Family, Children On Stun, Chasing Dragons |
| 44 | WGW 24 | 21–23 April 2017 | Toyah*, Bad Pollyanna, Deviant UK, Healthy Junkies | Voltaire*, Abney Park*, The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing, Magic Eight Ball |
| 45 | WGW 24.5 | 27–28 October 2017 | Theatre of Hate*, The Membranes, Hands Off Gretel, Pussycat and the Johnsons | The Birthday Massacre*, Fuzzbox (cancelled), Vince Ripper and the Rodent Show, Massive Ego |
| 46 | WGW 25 | 27–29 April 2018 | Dr Haze's Circus of Horrors, Desmond O'Connor, Rayguns Look Real Enough | Aurelio Voltaire, The Last Cry, Sigue Sigue Sputnik Electronica, 1919 |
| 47 | WGW 25.5 | 25–28 October 2018 | Thursday @ Abbey Wharf: As Sirens Fall | Saturday @ Abbey Wharf: Soraya Vivian, Dead Ringers |
| 48 | WGW 26 | 11–14 April 2019 | Thursday @ Abbey Wharf: Chasing Dragons | Saturday @ Abbey Wharf: David Live (David Bowie tribute) |