Five years ago, Jeffery “Dance Commandr” Joseph couldn’t have known that what started with a bunch of friends blasting their favorite goth music on a boat during a bachelor party would become a beloved annual event in Milwaukee.
The Goth Prom will celebrate its fifth anniversary this Friday and Saturday, Feb. 14-15, at Mad Planet — proudly maintaining its independent status despite the event’s rapid growth in numbers and in popularity. As evidence of that expansion, and in an effort to keep it at Mad Planet, the Goth Prom is now split across two days.
Appropriately enough for Valentine’s Day, Friday night is for Lovers and will feature a perfectly curated soundtrack to make hearts (whether red or black) pump while celebrating that special someone or simply embracing your true self. Special guest DJ Scary Lady Sarah will return to Mad Planet for the first time since the mid-’90s and will bring what’s described as “a darkly romantic evening where love and the night collide.”
The switch flips on Saturday night for Sinners, with the beats taking a grimier turn via the sounds of dark wave, goth and industrial to encourage guests to embrace the moment and be moved by the music. Taking the helm for that task as Saturday’s special guest DJ is Vic Dagger, who will set the stage for a wilder, darker and likely naughtier scene.
The event will crown a King, Queen and Kwing on both nights when the clock strikes 12, so all guests are encouraged to bust out their combat boots and best black attire for a lovely — or sinful — experience featuring dark jams and gothic vibes.
