With TOMORROW’S GHOSTS due to return for a HALLOWEEN GATHERING later this year, the festival completes its 2023 line-up with the announcement of its exceptional Friday night headliners…
The Mission
Roll out the black carpet, the UK’s goth-rock overlords are landing in Whitby this Autumn… From major label deals to winning countless accolades, media stories of rock’n’roll excess and a fanatical following who could never get enough, The Mission redefined what it meant to be Goth and have been defying expectations ever since.
Formed in late 1985 from the ashes of The Sisters of Mercy, ex-members Wayne Hussey and Craig Adams would enlist the significant talents of Simon Hinkler and Mick Brown to create one of the most respected goth-rock and live acts of all time: The Mission.
Striking gold with 1986 Top-40 hit single “Stay with Me” and their debut album “God’s Own Medicine”, The Mission’s earliest releases on a major label would preempt a landslide of 13 more hits over the next eight years, including anthemic classics such as “Wasteland”, “Tower of Strength”, “Beyond the Pale”, “Deliverance” and “Butterfly On A Wheel”. Releasing seven albums at the height of their powers, from 1986’s landmark debut ‘God’s Own Medicine’ and its epic follow-up ‘Children’ through to the mid-nineties albums ‘Neverland’ and ‘Blue’, the band would also amass total album sales north of four million sales worldwide.
Splitting in 1996 due to “the general craziness of their existence”, The Mission regrouped with a reconfigured lineup in 1999 for a wildly successful world tour and the recording of arguably the finest album of their career, ‘AurA’, which charted at No. 1 in the German alternative chart for eight consecutive weeks in 2001.
Performing with 3/4 of the original line-up from 2011 to this day – Wayne Hussey, Craig Adams, Simon Hinkler with the addition of Alex Baum on drums – The Mission have continued to release groundbreaking new albums (such as ‘The Brightest Light’ and ‘Another Fall from Grace’) while continuing to excite their devoted fanbase and critics alike.
No strangers to deafening huge crowds while supporting the likes of U2, The Cure The Cult, HIM and Robert Plant over the years, or conquering vast live arenas in their own right, from countless SOLD-OUT residencies to headlining the Reading Festival TWICE; The Mission have earned one of the most fearsome live reputations in the business. Confirmed to be bringing some of that main stage swagger to the intimate confines of the Whitby Pavilion for this year’s Tomorrow’s Ghosts Festival’s Halloween Gathering, expect a headline slot for the ages when Wayne Hussey and co. come to town.
The Event
Hosted at the Whitby Pavilion between the 27th to 29th October, the Tomorrow’s Ghosts Halloween Gathering is the UK’s ultimate gothic destination festival. Following the runaway success of the SOLD OUT Halloween 2022 edition, the festival will be back at the birthplace of Dracula once more for a weekend celebrating the very finest the dark arts have to offer.
Unveiling the first names confirmed to be appearing the 2023 event earlier this year, THE MISSION join a bill also boasting a Saturday night headline set to die from Finnish ‘Goth ‘n’ Roll’ supremos THE 69 EYES; supporting slots from some Very Special Guests including Kirk Brandon’s 80s’ scene originals THEATRE OF HATE and Yorkshire’s own post punk mavericks THE MARCH VIOLETS; plus an exclusively curated performance of ‘Singles & EPs 1983-86’ from Leeds legends SALVATION especially for Whitby ‘23; and appearances from Blackpool’s leading industrial rock outfit AUGER and Whitby goth scene legends WESTENRA.
Offering a celebration of the gothic subculture on all levels; look out for markets, performances, club nights and more, across Whitby throughout the weekend.
Hosting choice club nights each night at the Whitby Pavilion, alt/rock DJ royalty Carpe Noctum will be taking the reins for a death disco into the early hours.
The Gothic and Alternative markets at the festival are FREE entry and are open between 10AM – 5PM on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Partners
As with the 2022 edition, the Tomorrow’s Ghosts festival will be partnering with the Sophie Lancaster Foundation. A charity committed to stamping out prejudice, hatred and intolerance everywhere, the ideals of the Sophie Lancaster Foundation and Tomorrow’s Ghosts couldn’t be any closer aligned. 16 years on from Sophie’s tragic passing in a vile hate-related crime, Tomorrow’s Ghosts will be supporting the exceptional work of the Sophie Lancaster Foundation throughout the weekend.
The festival will also be teaming up with the exceptional, Vive Le Rock Magazine, who will be the festival’s official media partner for 2023.
Tickets
Remaining tickets for Tomorrow’s Ghosts Festival Halloween Gathering 2023 are on general sale now.
Tickets are priced as follows:
Friday Tickets – £42.00 Advance STBF
Saturday Tickets – £42.00 Advance STBF
Weekend Tickets – £82.00 Advance STBF
Ages 8+. Under 14s to be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18 at all times.
Over 18s only for after show club night events.
Doors 6.00pm / Curfew 2.00am
Tomorrow’s Ghosts Festival – Halloween Gathering Line Up
Friday 27th October 2023
THE MISSION
Very Special Guests
THEATRE OF HATE + WESTENRA
Saturday 28th October 2023
THE 69 EYES
Very Special Guests
THE MARCH VIOLETS + SALVATION – A Whitby Exclusive Performing…‘A Singles & EPs 1983-86’ Set + AUGER
CLUB NIGHT HOSTS CARPE NOCTUM
