Darkness once again took over Madrid on May 16 with the second edition of Spain Goth Day, a gathering organized by Dark Entries Spain, a project led by artist and promoter Bárbara Banu, who continues working to strengthen and give visibility to the goth and alternative scene within the Spanish underground landscape.

From 5:30 p.m., when the doors of Sala Pirandello opened, dozens of attendees began arriving – not only from different parts of Spain, but also from other countries – highlighting the increasingly international character of the event. The anticipation was palpable from the very beginning, with long conversations among friends, carefully crafted dark aesthetics, and an atmosphere that transformed the Madrid venue into a true refuge for lovers of post-punk, darkwave, gothic rock, synthpop and industrial.

With an estimated attendance of around 350 people, the festival consolidated itself as a resounding success, proving the growing interest and strong health of the dark scene both nationally and internationally. Throughout the day, the atmosphere remained highly participatory, with the audience singing, dancing, and fully engaging both in the live area and the DJ floor.

The program officially started at 6:00 p.m., structured across two distinct spaces. Room 1 hosted the main live performances, while Room 2 kept the club side of the event alive through DJ sets and performances.

The concerts began at 6:30 p.m. with Daniel Knutz, who performed from within the room in a more intimate format rather than a traditional stage setup, creating a strong sense of closeness with the audience. He was joined on stage by his wife, the artist HANKA, who performed a song with him, adding emotional depth and a strong sense of connection to the set.

At 7:30 p.m., Blood Desire took over -a project formed by Bárbara Banu and John Saints – delivering an intense and energetic gothic rock set that included both original material and covers warmly received by the crowd. Among the highlights was their rendition of Eurythmics’ Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), alongside fan favorites such as Hate Me and Welcome to My Dark World, which helped ignite the room and created one of the night’s most powerful moments.

At 8:10 p.m., Echoberyl – composed of Cecilia Dassonneville and Adriano Lacoangeli – delivered a deeply ritualistic darkwave performance that fully transformed the space. Their hypnotic, expressive dancing became contagious, leading the audience to follow them in an almost ceremonial, collective movement. Tracks such as Morgana and Salomé were performed and received with strong enthusiasm.

The live program closed at 9:30 p.m. with NNHMN (also known as Non Human), the duo formed by Lee Margot and Michal Laudarg. Their set turned the room into an explosion of collective energy, with a euphoric audience jumping non-stop in a celebratory atmosphere where even the artists themselves joined in. Tracks such as Cold Like Steel contributed to one of the most intense and liberating moments of the entire night.

Meanwhile, Room 2 kept the nocturnal club spirit alive from 6:00 p.m. with DJ AmyLadyGoth from Barcelona, followed by DJ Elbereth Noir from Chile, DJ Exploding Boy (Nuno) from Portugal, DJ Vade Retro (Arif) from London, and DJ Terrorissmo (Ray) from Austria. Each of them blended post-punk, EBM, synthwave, and darkwave classics with more contemporary sounds, reinforcing the event’s strong international identity.

One of the most memorable and widely discussed moments of the night was the appearance of Carmina de Bríes, who performed a piece inspired by Sopor Aeternus. Her theatrical, melancholic, and decadent staging perfectly captured the essence of the project’s aesthetic, adding an artistic and emotional layer that further enriched the festival experience.

The event also featured a dark market, alternative literature, and various community spaces, reinforcing its cultural and communal dimension far beyond the concerts themselves.

A beautiful way to celebrate such a special date for many as World Goth Day (May 22), reaffirming the sense of community, aesthetic resistance, and cultural celebration that connects dark alternative scenes around the world.

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