Since the demise The Zone and with it the monthly Goth music event Dance Macabre in 1999, the darker side of Swansea’s alternative music scene has been sorely lacking. Fortunately for the Robert Smiths, Sisters of Mercy devotees and otherwise photosensitive among us, HEXnight is here.

A welcome departure from the tired chart music that clings to the bars of Wind Street like a bad rash, DEAD OF NIGHT is a monthly DJ event dedicated to “the light and the dark of the darker side of music.” Everything from ‘80s pop to current Industrial and Goth rock is featured without a Top 10 in sight.

After three years of venue changes and technical difficulties, HEXNight and its crowd of more than 100 corseted followers has made its home at Swansea’s recently opened MilkwoodJam, an alternative venue situated in the middle of the city centre within sight of the Quadrant Bus Station. The location is more than convenient and there’s ample space to allow for several tables and a decently sized dance floor to support the rapidly growing fan base.

The crowds increase every month as HEXNight continues to take off. The event has become a way for Swansea’s Goths to make like-minded friends. Adrian Edworthy, DJ and mastermind behind the HEXNight phenomena says, “The social networking thing just happened. Everyone was just sick of there not being anything else around.”

Jessica Ramthun

HEXnight.com presents DEAD OF NIGHT. Goth, Industrial and Elektropop club night. Saturday 16th August at MilkwoodJam (50 Plymouth St, SA1 3QQ), 9pm till 2am, £3 entry. Confirmed future dates: 20th September, 18th October, 29 November, 27 December.

(as published in Buzz Magazine, August 2008)