First Gothicfest A Huge Success DVD Planned For 2006

CHICAGO – Gothicfest 2005, North America’s largest Gothic festival and expo, proved to be a great success, drawing roughly 1,000 people from around the world to the Odeum Expo Center just outside of Chicago.

“We feel this was a huge success,” said Jeffrey Swanson, producer and promoter. “It was the first time a Gothic festival and expo was held in an arena in the States.”

The Gothicfest film crew was on hand to capture the entire event for an upcoming performance DVD and documentary, due out in the spring of 2006 on Dark Star Records. The audio was captured on 24 tracks and will be mixed in 5.1 surround sound.

A 60-foot stage was split in two to provide alternating stages for the 20 performing artists, which included Hanzel Und Gretyl, Slick Idiot with En Esch and Guenter Schulz formerly of KMFDM, Project .44 with Levi Levi (The Thrill Kill Kult), Grigori 3, Slave Driver, Deepest Symphony, Ofearia, 13 Winters, Dies Mali, Rosenguard, Withering Soul, Drake, Reverend Agony, Rachael’s Surrender featuring Elysabeth Grant from Black Tape for a Blue Girl, Psionic, Methodical, Terminal Bliss, Ghost Orgy, Reverend Agony, and Dead Girls Corp., the Hollywood-based band that won a spot on the show through a contest in conjunction with Sonicbids. DJs Hellectro and Propaganda opened the show.

State of the art sound and lights were provided by Tantra Sound.

In addition to live music, Gothicfest hosted book signings, CD signings, autograph sessions, and numerous exhibit booths showcasing everything from fashion and body art to swords and sculptures to record companies and magazines. The popular beer garden in the front served Vampyre Vodka drinks and the food concession stands served Vamp NRG drinks.

Goodie bags containing CDs, stickers, postcards, and more were distributed courtesy of Jett Black of Nocturnal Movements.

Jeffrey A. Swanson, Bill Gingrich, and Blair Lehman of SGL Entertainment are already preparing for Gothicfest 2006.

For more information log onto: gothicfest.com.