by RAF KATIGBAK

It's the end of the Festival Montréal en Lumière this Saturday, Feb. 26, and it's time to go out with a bang (not literally, I hope). Despite being perhaps the most incredible waste of electricity ever (also, I hate to think the monthly Hydro bill they hound me for is going to pay craptacular street performers in front of Place des Arts... "Oooh, jugglers!"), the fest does have one thing going for it, and that's the Nuit Blanche. It seems the rest of Montreal is slowly catching on to what 15-year-old candy ravers and sweaty pit boys have known for over a decade: staying up all night and partying is fuckin' awesome! Add to that the fact that you can now stumble into the Montreal Museum on Fine Arts at 4 in the morning, really, really high, and trip out over how Battlestar Galactica and ancient Egypt are cosmically linked, and you have perhaps the best night of the year.

Of course, the big event that will no doubt blow the roof off the Darling Foundry is the Nuit Electronik (moved from the originally planned venue, Musée Juste Pour Rire), featuring Matthew Herbert on the tables at 1 a.m. and the inimitable Ricardo Villalobos at 3 a.m. Make sure to get there earlier, though, to catch the collective improv madness between Steve Beaupré, Scott "Deadbeat" Monteith, Mike Shannon, Mossa and Jay Hunsberger, from 9 p.m. on.

Anyone arriving at the SAT between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. may just get beaned in the head by the ultimate frisbee competition happening outside. Of course, it's a fitting beginning to what is sure to be a full-on mindblower. SAT's La Nuit Chaude will star Philly's techno impresario Nigel Richard on the decks. Also on hand will be DJ Mini, Maüs, Leo Cruz, Matthew Burton, Vega and the Autist. Don't miss it!

Another, if unrelated, Saturday all-nighter goes down when Boogieworks Productions launch their new Ignition nights at 7250 St-Hubert, corner Jean-Talon. Boasting DJs Eloi Brunelle, François Lebaron, Fancyfhreek, M.Dee and NYC's Steven Caicedo, it may be worth the trek off the beaten path.

Just got word from Robosapien Recordings head Jon Asencio. Their new comp NUVO is hot off the press and will soon be invading record stores like those skeletal aliens from They Live. Fortunately, unlike Rowdy Roddy Piper, you won't need to have a 15-minute brawl about putting on special sunglasses to find them. Just look for the comp with local luminaries Les Georges Leningrad, Lesbians on Ecstasy, World Provider and the Unireverse! If they're not already sold out, that is...

Breakbeat freaks, rejoice! You've got a few options for frantic rhythms and sub-sub-bass rumblings about town on Friday, Feb. 25. First it's the five-year anniversary of Junglist Fridays at Blue Dog. Alongside hosts Stabba and Krinjah, you've got DJs RCola, Stalker, Mayday, Generic, MC Big Trigg & MC Y. You've also got champagne and tons of free shit! Montreal massive, represent!

White line's in the middle of the road. It's the worst place to drive. Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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