Dragon Con Announces 2023 Authors, Music Lineup, and Celebrity Guests

Dragon Con, the huge multi-genre fan convention, has revealed much of its guest lineup for 2023, and once again the list includes many authors and musical acts that will be familiar to steampunk fans. It takes place over Labor Day weekend at multiple locations in downtown Atlanta.

Musical guests include Frenchy and the Punk, Nathaniel Johnstone, and Valentine Wolfe, all of whom are known for appearances at steampunk events.

Frenchy and the Punk will be coming off a summer tour of the U.K. and Europe, including a performance at the giant Asylum Steampunk Festival in Lincoln, U.K. In addition to playing in the duo, Scott Helland will present his Guitarmy of One solo show.

Also appearing will be Landloch’d, an acoustic Celtic/Pirate music duo; Wakefire, a Celtic rock band from Michigan; and “comedy rock geek” Mikey Mason.

Author guests include Kevin J. Anderson, Jim Butcher, A.J. Hartley, Leanna Renee Hieber, Gail Z. Martin, Cherie Priest, Cat Rambo, and S.M. Stirling. Priest is the author of the groundbreaking Clockwork Century novels but is no longer active in the genre.

Joe Benitez, creator of the popular Lady Mechanika comic book series, will also be on hand.

Celebrity Guests

Many folks attend Dragon Con to meet celebrities, and this time the event appears to have a special treat for fans of Firefly, as cast members Nathan Fillion, Sean Maher, and Jewel Staite are all scheduled. Fillion also starred in Castle, which featured a memorable episode in which steampunk played a central role.

Doctor Who will be well represented with appearances by Jodie Whittaker, who portrayed the 13th Doctor, and Mandip Gill, who played companion Yasmin Khan. Other celebrity guests include Andy Serkis, Henry Ian Cusick, Freddie Prinze Jr., Omid Abtahi, Eliza Taylor, and Bob Morley.

New additions (6/16/2023): Star Trek: Strange New Worlds stars Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, and Celia Rose Gooding. Orville cast members Scott Grimes, Jessica Szohr, Peter Macon, and Adrianne Palicki.

More new additions (6/18/2023): George Takei, Christina Chong and Celia Rose Gooding (both from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds), Dust Bowl Faeries.

Fan Tracks

Dragon Con offers tracks covering almost every conceivable fan interest. Most steampunk programming is in the Alternate & Historical Fiction Track, but the convention also has tracks for fans of anime/manga, British media, costuming, fantasy, horror, Star Wars, Star Trek, and other interests.

Other highlights include costume contests, an art show, artist alley, Saturday’s Dragon Con parade, and presentation of the Dragon Awards recognizing the best in books, comics, TV, movies, and games.

The convention is scheduled for Aug. 31-Sept. 4 at five downtown hotels plus AmericasMart, which hosts the vendor hall and artist alley. The Alternate & Historical Fiction panels will be held in the Courtland Grand Hotel (formerly known as the Sheraton Atlanta), which has been their home in previous years. Learn more on the website.

This story was updated with information about new celebrity appearances.