- - - - - - - - - - -[ history ]- - - - - - - - - - - Convergence I (Chicago: June 23-25, 1995) The first ever Convergence took place in Chicago and was organized by Heather Spear and Gothpat. Many of the attendees stayed at the rock-n-roll Days Inn, when they were not attending the musical events. Bands from Convergence I were: Arcanta, The Machine In The Garden, Seraphim Gothique, Sunshine Blind, The Wake, Garden of Dreams, Trance To The Sun, Lestat, Mephisto Walz, and Lycia. As you may have guessed, bands were a big part of the first Convergence! The general feeling amongst Convergence-goers was that this was a good thing and should be done more often. Convergence II (Boston: August 9-11, 1996) With Convergence II, the tradition of voting in each year's host city was begun. Organized by Cusraque, C2 included performances by Johnny Indovina, Switchblade Symphony, Sunshine Blind, Valor's Christian Death, You Shriek, and One Of Us. C2 also expanded the scope of Convergence by organizing other, non-music activities, such as a cemetery tour, buffet dinner at The Middle East, and a fashion show. Convergence III (San Francisco: August 1-3, 1997) Convergence 3 was organized by Laudanum, with performances by Battery, This Ascension, John Koviak's SubVersion, Kill Sister Kill, Darkling Thrush, Seraphim Gothique, The Razor Skyline and Wench. A cemetery tour was also included in C3, as well as dancing at the Trocadero, a Mad Hatter's tea party, and a signing by
Jhonen Vasquez. Convergence IV (Toronto: August 21-23, 1998) Organizers this time around were Sheryl Kirby, Greg Clow, Siobhan Niloughlin, and Charlotte Ashley. Highlights of C4 included musical performances by Masochistic Religion, My Scarlet Life, the Changelings, Rhea's Obsession, Faith and the Muse, and An April March. Dinner at Movenpick Marche, a tour of Casa Loma, a 24 hour-long scavenger hunt, a visit to the Canadian National Exhibition, and a fancy-dress tea rounded out a Convergence weekend packed full of wonderful things to do, see, and hear. Convergence V (New Orleans: April 2-4, 1999) Reprising her role as Convergence organizer, Heather Spear joined forces with Misha Sand in order to bring Convergence to beautiful N'awlins. One thousand goths overran the streets of the French Quarter, partaking in the decadent soupy atmosphere. Band performances included Clan of Xymox, Mentallo & The Fixer, and The Cruxshadows along with local acts Ex-VoTo, cut.rate.box, Falling Janus, and New Dawn Fades. The A.G.F. Gift Swap, the Eldergoth Cocktail Hour, an Art Show, an Easter Egg Hunt, an Author Symposium featuring Poppy Z. Brite and others, brought everyone together in a spirit of fun and camaraderie. The awe-inspiring "Rougaroux Ball" was the grand finale, with DJ's Count Von Sexbat, LadyBee, and Fross.
. Convergence VI (Seattle: May 26-28, 2000) 2000 found a Convergence back on the West Coast. Pan Satyricon (aka Brian Freeman) and Violet Weary along with the rest of the CVI Society peered into their crystal balls and created a Convergence with many surprises for all to enjoy. The weekend followed its Steampunk theme with events like The Invocation: the CVI meet and greet, The Kiva Han Coffee complete with native dancers, The Elder Ball, The Merchants' Bazaar, The Exhumation: a historical tour of Seattle, and the first ever Goth Cruise: A Painted Ship upon a Painted Ocean. Voltaire, Attrition, Trance to the Sun, Faith & Disease, and Unto Ashes all put on memorable performances through out the weekend. Attendees were also found dancing to such DJs as Arcanus, Spin mistress Batty, Macross, Fross, Hana Solo, Scary Lady Sarah; Slowdive and Mistress Catherinna. The weekend culminated during the Seance of the Century where the convergence organizers were successful in raising spirit of Batwing Candlewaxxe, better known in the corporeal world as Peter Murphy (now forever known as "PFM" for short). The Godfather of Goth delighted all of the Convergence attendees with a
moving Acoustic set. Endless thanks to Misha Sand and Erica Jantos for their assistance in constructing the preceding text.
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