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The goth community in the Willamette Valley has been scattered for years.
Eugene has Ghost House at John Henry’s. It is good. It is community. It is growing. But it is still early in its new life. It is very much a venue first, with lights on the DJs. That is not a knock. That is the truth of the space and what it supports.
Lebanon has Dark Bloom, where the owners have put something together that is truly wonderful. It is small but has so much potential, especially in its back room. It proves people here want a space like this. But like Eugene, it will take time. Time, and people who keep showing up.
Salem has tried. Small efforts that never last. Developers, landlords, and churches weigh heavy on the city. They keep doors closed and chase profit. But underneath, the community still waits for a place to rise.
Portland has places. Some are good. Most are echoes. Cargo cults chasing stories instead of building presence. It is a long drive for a night that doesn’t always feel alive.
Then there is your couch. Spotify, Netflix, and Instagram keep people distracted. They give the illusion of connection while you sit alone. That is another reason there has been no goth night in the mid valley.
And let’s not forget the parties in the woods. They are fun. But they are micro festivals with all the challenges that come with them. Safety. Comfort. Convenience. All the things the goth community needs to gather regularly and build a deep presence in the smaller towns of the valley.
This is the truth of goth culture in the Willamette Valley.
And that is why we stopped talking about “investment in the community” and did it. We put down more than five thousand dollars of our own money to buy the gear. The speakers. The subs. The lights. The projectors. Not a dream. Not a slogan. A full system, built and ready.
Now the choice is not ours. It is yours.
The gear is here. The mixes are ready. What is missing is the space. And it cannot just be the DJs hustling venues. That only goes so far. It has to be the crowd.
If you want a goth night in the Willamette Valley, you have the power. Ask the places you go. Ask the venues you already trust. Ask them to bring us in. When they hear it from the people, they listen. When they see the demand, the doors open.
This is how scenes are built. Not by one DJ. Not by one venue. By people asking, showing up, and making themselves seen.
So talk to your spots. Talk to your coffee shop. Talk to your bar. Talk to your community center. Tell them what you want. Tell them who you want. Bring your friends with you.
That is how we carve out a space that lasts. That is how we make home.
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