DragonCon Gothic Shadows

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See also DragonCon for more information on the event as a whole.

Since 2004, Atlanta's DragonCon has hosted a programming track devoted to gothic culture and dark fantasy. Currently titled Gothic Shadows, the track runs during DragonCon (typically Labor Day weekend), and features panels spotlighting darkwave/gothic rock, horror fiction, vampires, and the darker side of popular culture in general.

Although distinct from DragonCon's Live Performance programming, Gothic Shadows features an array of speakers from the field of gothic and darkwave music. Past musicians have included members of Bella Morte, The Last Dance, The Crüxshadows, Ego Likeness, Voltaire, Abney Park, Paul Mercer (formerly of ethereal act The Changelings), and Atlanta-based death rock act Tears for the Dying.

Past literary guests have included best-selling author Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jim Butcher, L.A. Banks, Steven Savile, Cherie Priest, Angelique Armae, Rosemary Laurey, Lilith Saintcrow, as well as many others. Also participating on various panels were comics talents Todd Livingston, Ted Naifeh, and Scott Allie. Speakers such as noted occultist Michelle Belanger, paranormal investigator Patrick Burns, and Ghost Hunters/TAPS investigators Brian Harnois and Steve Gonsalves have given a metaphysical/supernatural touch to the programming.

The inaugural track in 2004 was titled Gothic Journeys, and was an outgrowth of noted fantasy author Storm Constantine's Grissecon. In 2005, the chairman of DragonCon asked Derek "Ruthven" Tatum if he would like to take over the track; Tatum agreed, but out of respect to Constantine's programming, strived to create a separate identity for the slightly new direction of the track (renaming the track Gothic Shadows in 2006 was part of this effort).