Minnesota Goth Events and Gatherings for June 2019

Welcome back to Minnesota Dark Scene, your guide to goth events and gatherings for June 2019. There is quite a lot happening this month as we hit the start of the summer concert season. Take a look and visit some old favorites or try something new this month. There is something for everyone.

Special Events

Minneapolis Oddities and Curiosities Expo

What: Art Show
When: Saturday, June 1, at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Minneapolis Convention Center (Minneapolis)

A day of all things odd and curious with tons of local and national vendors hosting tables featuring things like taxidermy, wet and dry preserved specimens, antiques, bone jewelry, skulls, and insects. There will also be a sideshow performance and live human suspension. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $20 for VIP, which includes early access, plus you can take classes on taxidermy for $100. The event is open to all ages.

Dark Energy Presents Summer Goth

What: Club Night
When: Saturday, June 1, at 9:30 p.m.
Where: Loring Bar and Restaurant (Minneapolis)

Dark Energy is hosting a night devoted to the return (we hope) of warmer weather. With the usual music to keep you stomping on the dance floor, it is a night to celebrate the giant blinding day star. Break out your favorite sunglasses and mesh shirts and feel free to dress to the theme however you interpret it, within reason, of course. DJs PRSPHNE, Grant Mayland, and Dungeonfreq will be spinning throughout the night. Cover is $5 and 18+.

Wax Poets.

What: Club Night
When: Thursday, June 6, at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Loring Bar and Restaurant (Minneapolis)

The ACME collective hosts its monthly gig, a night devoted to vinyl-only selections and visual art. This month features DJs Christian Thomas, Jacob Hoffman, Berndt, and 88 Project. Art is brought to you by Hannah Sicora, Leore Wohl, Bikvng, Haydnalxndrgenosky, Derek Meier, and Marissa Reeder. This show has a $5 cover before 9:30 and $10 after 9:30 and is 21+.

Potterheads Unite! Summer Mischief

What: Club Night
When: Friday, June 7, at 10:00 p.m.
Where: Ground Zero Nightclub (Minneapolis)

Come on down to Ground Zero for a night of eminently danceable beats and a love of all things Harry Potter. Music by DJ Overdrive and crew. Entry is $5 with costume or $10 without and 21+.  Reminder that Ground Zero is a cash-only bar.

Wax Lead, Temple, Zwaremachine, Hallows, and Hyperkarma

What: Concert
When: Saturday, June 8, at 9:00 p.m.
Where: Kitty Cat Klub (Minneapolis)

A night of excellent local music worth checking out. Wax Lead is a punk soundscapes band, Temple provides the death rock, Zwaremachine brings the industrial, Hallows offers postpunk, and Hyperkarma DJs between the sets. Cover is $6 and 21+.

Let’s Go Crazy VI: Transmission’s Annual Tribute to “the Artist”

What: Club Night
When: Saturday, June 8, at 9:00 p.m.
Where: First Avenue (Minneapolis)

Transmission devotes a night at First Avenue to the Purple One. They will be playing tons of Prince’s music, music he inspired, and bands connected with him. Dress in your best purple hues and celebrate his enormous talent. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door, and the event is 18+.

Verhalten, Hardhat P.I., Noneproj, Blood Quantum

What: Concert
When: Sunday, June 9, at 10:00 p.m.
Where: Loring Bar and Restaurant (Minneapolis)

Eyemyth Records brings Albuquerque, New Mexico–based Verhalten to town to perform the group’s experimental electronic sounds. They are accompanied by local talents Hardhat PI, Nonesproj, and Blood Quantum for a great night of music. Cover is $5 to $10 and 21+.

What: Concert
When: Thursday, June 13, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Fine Line (Minneapolis)

Los Angeles–based Depeche Mode tribute band Strangelove comes to town to play some of the best from Depeche Mode’s catalog. The group mixes sound and visuals to provide an experience as close to Depeche Mode as it can get. General admission is $20 and the reserved balcony spaces are $35, and the event is 18+.

Gothess Presents Soft Cell Pride Tribute

What: Club Night
When: Thursday, June 13, at 9:30 p.m.
Where: Honey (Minneapolis)

Gothess’s dance night this month pays tribute to Marc Almond and Soft Cell, providing tunes from many of the projects Almond has worked on. DJs Miss Q, DIE/ASPORA, and Le Fay provide the beats while VJ Wednesday handles the visuals. This month, a portion of the proceeds go to RAICES and Planned Parenthood Action. Cover is $5 and 21+.

Goth Prom XVI: Stygian Forest

What: Club Night
When: Friday, June 14, at 9:00 p.m.
Where: Loring Bar and Restaurant (Minneapolis)

Goth Prom returns this year for its Sweet Sixteen with a theme of Stygian Forest, asking: what is lurking in the darkest part of the woods? The annual event features amazing music, photo booths, entertainment, and more. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $35 for VIP, which includes a gift bag, a special VIP area, and more. This event is 18+.

June Judgement Day

What: Concert
When: Thursday, June 20, at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Nomad World Pub (Minneapolis)

Nomad World Pub brings you a night of rock with local bands Depotek, Teddy Brimstone, and Aiko. Tickets are $5 and 21+.

Dark Energy Presents Minuit Machine

What: Concert
When: Thursday, June 20, at 9:00 p.m.
Where: Loring Bar and Restaurant (Minneapolis)

Dark Energy’s June event brings in synthwave duo Minuit Machine from Paris, France. Deep, chilling vocals and haunting productions make them worth the time to check out. They have a new album called Infrarouge as of May 13th. Along with them is local support La Curandera and the Ritual, Hallows, and DJs Miss Q, Hyperkarma, and PRSPHNE. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door, and the event is 18+.

Hard Dance Minnesota Presents Gettin’ Ill at the Terminal

What: Club Night
When: Friday, June 21, at 9:00 p.m.
Where: Terminal Bar (Minneapolis)

Hard Dance Minnesota gets all the rave kids together this month for a night of high-BPM tracks. With a lineup featuring PJ Ducky, BLZRD b2b, AZNpersuasion, Evolve, and Rype. This event is $5 and 21+. Get there early; the location will fill up fast!

The Forbidden Bazaar Presents A Midsummer Nightmare

What: Club Night
When: Friday, June 21, at 10:00 p.m.
Where: Ground Zero Nightclub (Minneapolis)

The Forbidden Bazaar brings you a Midsummer Night’s Dream–themed event. Dress to the theme and enjoy the flow-friendly dance floor. DJs for the evening include DJ Noise. The usual entertainments will be on offer, including aerial acrobatics, fire magic, burlesque, suspension, a photo booth, and more. This event is 21+ and cover is $10 with a costume and $15 without.

The Elysium Society Goth Picnic

What: Picnic
When: Saturday, June 22, at 3:00 p.m.
Where: Minnehaha Falls (Minneapolis)

The Elysium Society hosts its annual goth picnic, bringing together local goths and their families for a day of grilling and games. Bring a chair, a fun outdoor-friendly game, and some food to share. We have a big community, and it’s always fun to have a relaxing day together. This is free and all ages. Bring the kids!

Hard Mondays Presents an Overdriven Birthday Bash

What: Club Night
When: Monday, June 24, at 10:00 p.m.
Where: The Front (Minneapolis)

Minneapolis’s favorite dark-scene haunt, Ground Zero, wouldn’t be what it is without the dedication of one man, DJ Overdrive/Chuck the Manager. This month, Hard Mondays pulls out the stops to celebrate his birthday with a night of dancing and fun. This event is free and 21+.

Wicked Arts Festival

What: Art Show
When: Friday, June 28, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: The Hook and Ladder (Minneapolis)

An evening of immersive arts with visual artists, special effects makeup, hair artists, burlesque, piano, belly dancing, and music from Plague of Stars, AfterTime, and Cwn Annwn.  Both Plague of Stars and Cwn Annwn are celebrating CD releases at this event as well. This event is $10 in advance or $12 at the door and 21+.

Novo Industrial Presents Child of Night, Shanghai Beach, and Hallows

What: Concert
When: Saturday, June 29, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Nomad World Pub (Minneapolis)

Novo Industrial is putting on another great show this month with Columbus, Ohio’s, Child of Night, a darkwave duo creating electronic, cold, and gloomy sounds. With them are Brooklyn, New York’s, Shanghai Beach, a dystopian synthpop- and electronica-style band, and new local band Hallows, which is supporting a number of shows this month. DJs Angelica and Grant Mayland spin the music between sets. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the show and 21+.

The Rope Record Release Show

What: Concert
When: Saturday, June 29, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Mortimers (Minneapolis)

Local heroes the Rope are hosting a record release for their new album Lillian. They will be performing along with War//Plague and Temple. This show is 21+.

Transmission Presents Dance Yrself Clean II

What: Club Night
When: Saturday, June 29, at 10:00 p.m.
Where: James Ballentine Uptown VFW (Minneapolis)

The original Dance Yrself Clean in February sold out in less than an hour, so it’s happening again! This event features music from artists and bands for whom Transmission have hosted album release parties as well as new music and classic tunes. Get your tickets early for this event. Tickets are $8, and the event is 21+.

Weekly Events

Transmission with DJ Jake Rudh

What: Club Night
When: Wednesdays at 10:00 p.m.
Where: Uptown VFW (Minneapolis)

For 17 years, DJ Jake Rudh has been bringing the best of ’80s new wave and synthpop to the clubs every Wednesday (and more recently to the airwaves on the Current every Thursday). Transmission is an amazing night of music, videos, dancing, and ’80s nostalgia for all fans, and there are people who have met and gotten married thanks to this unparalleled night of music. Come out and see what it’s all about; you won’t regret it. This event is 21+ and free!

Across the Board with DJ SLT

What: Radio Show
When: Fridays from 2:00 to 6:00 a.m. 
Where: 90.3 FM Minneapolis/106.7 FM St. Paul or online at KFAI Community Radio

DJ SLT has been bringing his wide-ranging musical interests to KFAI for over 10 years. His show features anything and everything from ’70s glam rock to EBM, industrial, pop, and all the David Bowie you never knew existed. DJ SLT frequently has theme nights, guest hosts, collaborations, and collectors’ corners to make a varied and greatly interesting radio show worth staying awake for. He also plays his own original works under the name Kradis.

Bondage A-Go-Go

What: Club Night
When: Saturdays from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Where: Ground Zero Nightclub (Minneapolis)

Ground Zero has been the goth community’s mainstay for 24 years. Today it is the best place to grab a drink and dance to the best music the goth world has to offer (and some it hasn’t). With three rotating DJs keeping the music fresh and interesting, it sets the scene for what’s going on in the back—where the in-house dominatrixes keep your blood pumping with safe and consensual scenes you can either watch or participate in (after signing up, staying sober until your time, and tipping the mistress). No photos, 21+, $7 cover, cash-only bar. Come casual or dress to impress.

So which of these events will you be attending? What events would you like to see featured in the future? Let us know in the comments section below or contact us via email. And don’t forget to add your events to the Twin Cities Geek Community Calendar!