‘Let their freak flags fly’: Gallatin Labor Temple to host spooky Goth Ball

First held in a random Bozeman garage in 2005, the Montana Goth Ball has grown from a house party to celebration of the alt community complete with DJs and goth fashion.

The upcoming Goth Ball will take place on Oct. 11 at the Gallatin Labor Temple and is open to all ages. The only requirement? Wear all black.

The ball will have two live bands — Order of the Static Temple and Sun Occulter — and multiple DJs throughout the night.

Although the word goth can contain certain stereotypes, the Goth Ball is an event open to anyone looking to explore Bozeman’s counter-culture scene. James Weikert, who hosted the early garage Goth Balls, said the original events began as birthday parties.

“Whatever stereotypes you thought of, we're not that,” Weikert said. “We want to have a good time. We like this music that is considered dark and scary, whatever. It's different, and people are afraid of what's different, especially [in] Bozeman, which is still sort of a smaller city.”

Weikert said he has always enjoyed the Halloween season, goth music and fashion. He was also born in October, which inspired him to start throwing these parties with spooky touches and a goth theme.

“All my friends showed up, and they looked amazing. They really got it,” Weikert said. “So I decided, this might just be a yearly thing.”

In 2014, the Goth Balls paused because no one wanted to host them. However, Missoula-based filmmaker Sarah Suta — who would later claim the title of godmother of the Goth Balls — took over the organization in 2017. Then, when she moved in 2018, the Goth Ball followed her to Missoula.

Suta, who is organizing Missoula’s ball again this year, said she wants the event to be fun and open for people to be as spooky and silly as they would like.

“Also, just being a safe kind of place to have that, to have fun and listen to music that you like,” Suta said. “I love it when I can look out and I see people are really dancing, they're obviously really having a good time.”

20 years since the balls began, the tradition is going strong. Ethan Hoerr, a Bozeman-based performer, said he got permission from Suta to revive the event in Bozeman three years ago.

Hoerr said goth culture isn't as visible in Montana as it is in areas with larger populations, which is part of the reason an event like the Goth Ball matters so much. For those who participate in goth culture, the ball creates a space to come together, meet like-minded friends and enjoy oneself, he said.

“I think it's important, because I want it and I know other people want it too,” Hoerr said. “So I think the more people are aware that it exists here, the more cool stuff we can do. It’s just a sense of camaraderie and, once again, fun and expression through dance or fashion or makeup or whatever — just letting people let their freak flags fly.”

Hoerr said that he got into the goth scene late in his life and has since grown very fond of the culture.

“I guess I've always been kind of drawn to it. It deals with a lot of the darker elements of life, but it's also silly sometimes. The style and themes are very cool to me,” Hoerr said. “It's like an outlet for those kinds of [negative] feelings. It's not something that I want to feel all the time, but when I do feel them, it's a way for me to express them.”

Hoerr started his darkwave band, Sun Occulter, in 2019. “There's synth and guitar, and it's kind of atmospheric or ethereal — a little somber, I would say,” Hoerr said.

In addition to live music and dancing, Suta said the goth ball can bring people together and foster new friendships. “A couple of times ago, there was still a pretty good group of folks, and the stage was clear, and so a bunch of them just got on stage and they were all dancing together. It was just really sweet,” she said.

For those unfamiliar with goth culture but interested in attending, Hoerr offered some advice.

“Show up with an open mind, and I'm sure you'll meet some cool people. And you don't have to be a full goth to show up. Even if it's not for you, that's fine, but I definitely think you should give it a try,” Hoerr said. “The only other thing I would mention is you have to wear black. So if you don't, I'll give you a black trash bag.”

For more information on the upcoming Montana Goth Ball, visit its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/gothball/.