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The "Wave-Gotik-Treffen"
- a personal preamble
by Bruno Kramm, Das Ich
When I experienced the first "Wave-Gotik-Treffen" it was actual the second in it's history but the first one to connect the dark scene of both parts of Germany and nobody could suspect how important the event would become in the next years. A small group of idealistic young people from Leipzig decided to give a new face to the old, discarded, even West German meaning of "festival". There was a concept giving a new dimension to scene life among many boring events that are pushed only by big artists. Up to then a concert used to be a self presentation of the artist and the audience was forced to inactivity. Now there was an atmosphere of meeting each other, becoming acquainted with one another and exchanging thoughts with other members of the society which is called "Treffen" family till today. It was meant to be a platform for the scene's spirit that combines all cultural areas; to celebrate it's self - consciousness and give new impulses to the future. When I walked through the festival, which was rather small then, I was aware of the tempting perspective of the vision.
No matter if they prefer EBM, Industrial, Gothic Rock, Electro, Neofolk, Dark Wave or simple literature, art, culture and styling, or romantic, fetish, Middle Ages - there is one thing connecting all of us: fascination of a life style often described, smiled at and recently reviled but never understood. On the face of it there is the freedom to wear black and imaginative clothes common to all visitors of the "Treffen" around the world.
Nearly 10 years later and in a new millennium the same thing holds true: "Treffen" is different and will never be obsolete because it is the centre of an ambivalent grown and moving scene. There have been smaller and bigger lacks of organisation of course. Other organizers often complained about these but it could never change one fact: this "Treffen" has a soul and it's society is bigger than ever. By now it is almost as big as Woodstock and this makes it the biggest and unique event of the dark scene in the world.
Although it got this big, the festival never loses the magic of fantastic movement and it's reincarnation every year. Every scene member is looking forward to the event of the year - The "Wave-Gotik-Treffen" - no matter in which corner of the world they live, if it is South America, USA, Japan or Europe. One example is the small Industrial / Gothic society from Milwaukee/Wisconsin in the United States that I got to know personally. These people save their money for more than one year and dream with enthusiasm and expectations about their trip to the old world and of becoming acquainted with others and feeling comfortable among the scene family even months before "Treffen".
"Treffen" is a special event to us musicians too. The actual performance is less important because it is a society of like - minded people and highlight of the gloomy festival session. That is why hardly any artist of a band has missed to take part in the event since "Treffen" has more to offer than just concerts and discos in countless halls or along the Club Mile and a harmonious togetherness of Wavers, Gothics, EBM, Industrial freaks, Neofolk fans. Medieval markets, readings, classical choir performances, theatre, roll plays and the huge camping area show the cultural variety and charm Leipzig 4 days and nights to a indescribable spectacle of black arts. So let's celebrate a party of senses in the year 2000 and when the end is near yearn for the next "Treffen"...
Bruno Kramm,
Das Ich
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