Leeds Festival of Gothica presents a Gothic Takeover at Leeds City Museum  

Saturday 23 May | 11am–5pm | FREE ENTRY
Leeds City Museum

Leeds Festival of Gothica will transform Leeds City Museum into a celebration of all things dark and macabre on Saturday 23rd May, with a spectacular FREE Gothic Takeover in homage to World Goth Day in the subculture’s spiritual birthplace of Leeds.

Running from 11am to 5pm the immersive event will feature live music, spoken word, an alternative market, talks, art, performances, architecture walks and a guided tour of the Music
Leeds Us exhibition.

The event will be officially opened by acclaimed novelist, poet, and March Violet Rosie Garland. Guests can wander through the FREE Alternative Market which webs its way through the museum spaces including Brodrick Hall, the Thoresby Room, the Upper Circle, and exhibition galleries showcasing the very best dark artisans.

Zeitgeist Zero will be spinning dark alternative sounds In Brodrick Hall and their vocalist Teresa Dead will be promoting the production of her gothumentary ‘It’s not easy being strange’.

In the Herbarium Café, visitors can immerse themselves in dark piano recitals curated by Leeds International Piano Competition on the Gothic Piano which has been styled by students from PINC College. The café will also host a spoken word performance from Rosie Garland alongside an acoustic set from the legendary British Pagan band Inkubus Sukkubus ahead of their evening performance at Boom Leeds.

Additional highlights include:
● Victorian-inspired portraits by artist Ellie Andrews
● Two FREE bookable talks in the Denny Room:
o Who Is the Real Dracula? by Georgian Balog at 12.30pm
o Evil Amongst Us: Scapegoats, Suspicion, and the Folk Devils of the Satanic Panic by Dr Bethan Juliet Oakes at 1.30pm
● Live music curated by Leeds Conservatoire within the Leeds Music Leads Us exhibition from 1pm–3pm
● A FREE guided exhibition tour of Music Leeds Us at 3pm
● Bookable Brutalist architecture walks around Leeds led by The Biro Guy at 11.30am and 2.30pm

There also a host of other opportunities beyond the museum in venues and independent businesses across Leeds city centre:
● OK Comics will showcase a curated collection of essential gothic graphic novels
● Ankave Coffee and Cocktail Bar have a special offer which is unlocked by saying Gothica including a secret menu!
● Goth club history comes alive at The HiFi Club with an afternoon event by Le Phonographique from 1pm–6pm at one of the original venues that helped shape the goth scene (18+)
● Yorkshire Ghost Tours have a bookable Leeds Ghost Tour which departs from Leeds Corn Exchange at 6.30pm and 8pm.
● Evening live music continues with Inkubus Sukkubus performing at Boom with support from The Exceptional Mr Hyde
● Late-night celebrations culminate with Nox Club’s Gothic Discotheque at Wharf Chambers from 11.30pm to 4pm

Leeds Festival of Gothica upholds the alternative culture of Leeds from celebrating the legacy of the past to promoting the evolving future of the scene.

For further details, bookings, and updates:
● Instagram: @leedsfestivalofgothica
● Facebook: Leeds Festival of Gothica
● Email: leedsfestivalofgothica@gmail.com

Event Information
Leeds Festival of Gothica – Gothic Takeover
Saturday 23 May
11am–5pm
FREE ENTRY
Leeds City Museum