TOMORROW’S GHOSTS 2025 – Line Up Announced For Whitby Goth Festival

Then TOMORROW’S GHOSTS HALLOWEEN GATHERING 2025 is here to serve.

With the velvet curtain having only just fallen at Whitby’s ultimate Gothic weekender after another sell-out triumph, the festival is supremely pleased to announce its return next year.

Landing on Halloween itself, block out Friday 31st October and Saturday 1st November 2025 in the calendar now as TGF confirms it will be back bigger and blacker than ever before.

Officially announcing its line up today, TOMORROW’S GHOSTS 2025 is thrilled to announce its Friday headliner as: FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM. Infernal Gothic Rock forefathers, the Nephilim have long staked their place in history as one of the genre’s most significant artists. After a splintering set at the festival in 2022 and with the brutal tones of its closer “Last Exit for The Lost” no doubt still ringing in the ears of those who were there, in 2025 Carl McCoy and co. will return next year to reclaim their headlining crown. Owning a boundary-pushing arsenal crammed with masterful singles such as “Moonchild”, “Psychonaut”, “For Her Light” and countless more, bow down for the return of the “dust and death” kings in 2025.

And from Gothic overlords past to those of tomorrow, LORD OF THE LOST will be picking up the gauntlet as Saturday nights hell-raising headliners. Amongst the usual insipid fare of the UK-hosted Eurovision of 2023, a genre-bending German Gothic Metal band tore the Song Contest a new one with their emphatic entry “Blood & Glitter”. Blowing everything else out of the water, while winning over hordes of new fans in the UK Goth community, that band was LORD OF THE LOST. Affirming themselves as a major force for the future of Gothic Rock, skyrocketing streaming figures and sell-out shows have surrounded them ever since. With a devilish stage presence and a sound that blends elements of metal, industrial, glam, rock and pop; catch this seismic subcultural success story in Whitby airing cuts from works like ‘Empyrean’, ‘Thornstar’, ‘Judas’ and of course ‘Blood & Glitter’.

Pictured: Fields of the Nephilim // Lord of the Lost

Next year’s HALLOWEEN GATHERING will also be struck by the return of two VERY SPECIAL GUESTS… On Halloween itself, TOMORROW’S GHOSTS 2025 will give a warm welcome to CLAN OF XYMOX. Owning a fusion of Gothic and electronic definitively their own, the Dutch doomsters will be back at the festival for the first time since 2019. Progenitors of Darkwave and one of the Goth genre’s most prolific prodigal sons, Clan of Xymox have been behind a steady flow of critically acclaimed albums since their formation at the beginning of the eighties. From the release of their self-titled debut (1985), to mid-period greats like ‘Creatures’ (1999) and ‘Notes Of The Underground’ (2001), through to triumphant recent trilogy ‘Spider on the Wall’ (2020), ‘Limbo’ (2021) and 2024’s exultant ‘Exodus’; expect a mesmeric trip back through the archives of their extensive oeuvre with founder Ronny Moorings firmly at the helm.

Whilst on the Saturday night, festival goers will be blessed by a visitation from BALAAM AND THE ANGEL. Cementing their status as worthy VERY SPECIAL GUESTS after their pulverising set at TGF in 2022, the Cannock Goth originals will be back in Whitby next year to perform ‘The Greatest Story Ever Told’, exclusively for the crowd. The iconic debut album that began a near 40 year career for the band, ‘The Greatest Story Ever Told’ was released by Virgin Records back in 1987. Sounding as resonant today as it did upon its release, the band’s set at Tomorrow’s Ghosts 2025 promises a tantalising opportunity to hear early jewels like “New Kind of Love”, “The Wave”, “Slow Down” and “Never End” as performed by the original, untainted, line-up who laid them down all those years ago.

And there’s plenty more treats to be found elsewhere at next year’s HALLOWEEN GATHERING.

Berlin’s pioneering Darkwave / Post-Punk outfit PINK TURNS BLUE will be marking 40 years since their formation with a rousing set in Whitby. Emerging from the fear and uncertainty of a divided Cold War Germany, the band have gone on to release 11 full-length LPs and will be dipping into highlights from across their coveted collection at the fest.

And while only 10 years into their career, Italian band ASH CODE have more than earned their place on the 2025 line up. Hailing from Naples, the trio have placed themselves at the forefront of an all new wave of Darkwave and neo Post-Punk, with a formidable trio of albums to date that echo the dark underground currents of their 1980s predecessors, while reverberating with a vitality all their own. Touring the world with an electrifying live show, catch them at TGF 2025 while you can.

Elsewhere, Gothic Americana trailblazers HEATHEN APOSTLES should feel right at home at TOMORROW’S GHOSTS. Influenced equally by Bauhaus as they are Howlin’ Wolf; since 2013 Mather Louth (Radio Noir) and Chopper Franklin (The Cramps, Mau Maus), with the addition of Thomas Lorioux (Kings of Nuthin’, Legendary Shack Shakers) and Luis Mascaro on violin have brewed an intoxicating sonic blend. Immerse yourself in the heady sounds and dark narratives of songs from their 2024 album ‘The In Between’, plus cuts from across their other six studio albums to date, at next year’s festival.

In addition to all of this it’s confirmed that an exhilarating new full-band project from Aaron Stainthorpe (My Dying Bride) and bassist/vocalist Tombs, HIGH PARASITE completes the epic and diverse 2025 line-up. With their magnificent debut album ‘Forever We Burn’ now out in the world, and with a coveted slot supporting Cradle of Filth at UK & Ireland venues this Winter; expect to see the Gothic newcomers firing on all cylinders at Whitby Pavilion in 2025. In fact catch them while you can was we expect them to be huge by them time they get around to playing for TGF in Whitby

As per previous years, alt/rock DJ royalty CARPE NOCTUM will be burning the midnight oil and bringing the tunes as they reprise their notorious death disco into the early hours.

Around the site, attendees can also expect to see the return of the Gothic and Alternative markets, as well as other special events – to be confirmed in due course.