Sat. March 8

DJ Matthew Griffin and Robert Read co-founded "Gotharama~ New England's Dark Music Festival" back in 2003 and set it in Providence. This year, they're bringing it to Cambridge, at the Middle East Downstairs Saturday March 8. They also wanted to bring in a national headliner, and that job went to the Virginia band Bella Morte, who mix goth and death rock and may remind you of an unholy (but of course!) cross between the Misfits and Alien Sex Field. Boston's Dreamchild (in photo), which has been on a bit of a hiatus while recording, is coming out to play - hey, what not? These are their people! They'll be unveiling aworld premiere of "In Bedlam," which they desciribe in typical Dreamchildspeak as "deranged and nightmarishly dramatic." They've also got a Nico song on the ready. They're not saying which one, but, hey, Nico's whole catalog, especially her post Velvet Underground work, would be fair game. We interviewed the brooding ex-model turned deep-voiced singer several times over the course of her career. Met her for an early afternoon interview once in Cambridge, and the first thing she said, after a sip of Bloody Mary, was, Some days, you wake up ... and you just wish you could die." And we were off to the races! Anyway, I digress. (Nico lived and performed before the goth world took shape, but you can certainly see where she would be their patron saint, especially being dead now.) Also on the Gotherama bill: Two bands from New York, Blacklist and The Hunt. There's also a one-night only reunion from Spindle Shanks and an opening set by Happy the Clown. (Note probable irony in band name.) Will DJs fill the downtime between live acts? You bet. DJ Mistress Laura (of WMBR 88.1's Bats in The Belfry), DJ Anrcanus and DJ Lost Boy will spin. Starts at 8 with a $12 advance ticket, $15 at the door.

472 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, 617-864-3278 www.mideastclub.com