by RAF KATIGBAK

For the last 13 years, the Red Party has given Montreal’s lasciviously leather-inclined a reason to let winter winds whip across their buttless chaps as they brave the February frost for several decadent days of drinking, dining, DJs—and this year, even diving kicks.

Once again, Montreal’s BBCM organization promises to, over four days, spread more bro-mance than the opening weekend of Brokeback Mountain in the closeted cornfields of the American Midwest. It all gets going on Thursday, Feb. 16, at the epicentre of all things campy and hilarious in the village, Cabaret Mado, starting at 10 p.m. Mister Smith will be manning the manly decks at this opening party.

Friday, Feb. 17, make sure you hit Parking for the Maison Plein Coeur benefit, with tunes provided by onetime Stereo and Red Lite resident Stephan Grondin, a familiar BBCM staple. Expect the same kind of big-room energy as on his numerous mix CDs for the BBCM crew.

Saturday, Feb. 18, come and cheer the home team from noon to 5 p.m. at the Pacifix Soccer Festival 2006, where groups from across North America meet at the Gymnase Centre-Sud (2093 de la Visitation), for some friendly competition in preparation for the Flash Outgames (scheduled from July 29 to Aug. 5). Another great off-circuit event that adds truth to the old saying, you can kick the boys out of the ball but... well, you get the picture.

Saturday night, of course, it’s the main event, the big Red Party, and this year it’s so huge that a single space couldn’t possibly contain all the juicy goodness within. Split into two parts in two neighbouring clubs, the Red Party promises to be yet another marathon big-room bender. Part one starts at Montreal’s “hottest and largest gay/mixed bar” Parking, with fresh-faced upstart DJ Alain Jackinsky, whose gigs at Sky Pub and Saloon have soulful-house fans abuzz, and headliner David Knapp who, aside from being touted as “the original circuit-party DJ,” took no small part in the early-’90s South Beach nightlife explosion.

Following that, don’t be surprised if, at around 3 a.m., you see a herd of hot homo hunks in red studded stroker chaps scuttling down Ste-Catherine towards Circus. The second event will feature local boy Stefane Lippe and the return of New York’s Manny Lehman. Definitely a crowd favourite, Lehman (aka the Latin from Manhattan) will no doubt be bringing some of his patented positive, high-energy sounds to the crowd (did somebody say vocals?).

Speaking of Manhattan, Sunday’s Recovery Party at Unity II is chock full o’ Roxy as two of the New York club’s residents, James Andersen and Joe Gauthreaux, lay down some recuperation in the form of thumping, bumping house. Make sure to pace yourself, play safe—and party on, Montreal!

For more info, call 875-7026 #201, or go to www.bbcm.org

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