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Three cheers
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Gimme an L, a G, a B, a T! It’s time to party to the tune of Divers/Cité, rolling out a who’s who of homo and homo-friendly singers, bands and DJs for their annual pride week bash. Let’s hope the weather cooperates so we can all shake it, swing it and sing along to great music in the great outdoors from Tuesday, July 28 to Sunday, Aug. 2 (more about that programming below). But whether or not the skies open yet again, D/C has some exciting indoor shows in store, including the brand new Cabaret de Minuit: The New York Series, featuring three promising performers from the Big Apple, at the Opus Hotel’s Koko Bar (8 Sherbrooke W.), for $12. On Tuesday, it’s Billie Holiday channeller Joey Arias, who worked with David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Klaus Nomi in the ’70s and more recently played the Mistress of Seduction in Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity. On Wednesday, it’s young trannie triple threat Geo Wyeth, an actor, musician and spoken-word slammer; and on Thursday, singer Justin Bond—perhaps best known for his drag character Kiki of Kiki & Herb—is joined by pianist Our Lady G. Dream teamsAs for the outdoor offerings, all shows take place in and around Parc Émilie-Gamelin, and spectators will be solicited for $2 donations from a team of friendly drag queens. The party starts at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, when DJ Mister Smith On Wednesday at the Loto-Québec stage at 6 p.m., Sex Garage invites fans of flashy electro and indie rock to witness the style and the fitness of Fritz Helder & the Phantoms. As easy on the ears as they are big on the ego (their debut album is titled Greatest Hits: Platinum Edition), these boys and girls have charmed the likes of Nelly Furtado, who made them the first band on her new label, Nelstar, and Karl Lagerfeld, who’s referenced in their song “Lagerfeld Lady.” Joining them are Femme and Pom Pom War, two acts that pair sleaze rock, synths and beats with ecstatic results, and electro queen DJ Mini, small in stature but big on beats. Ready your devil horn for Traffic on Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Loto-Québec stage, starring the anglo rock sensation that young francophones can’t get enough of, the one, the only Jonas. He’s supported by blues and boogie rock maven Nanette Workman, as well as pop, rock and folk singer Angel Forrest. Big trance, grand danseOn Friday, Israeli psy-trance quartet Infected Mushroom (now based in L.A.) do double duty, playing the Loto-Québec stage’s New Society party at 9:30 p.m. (preceded by DJs Insomnia and Wizz, who kick off the Friends for Life Bike Rally afterparty at 5:30 p.m.) and hitting Nuit Trance at Théâtre Telus, bookended by Montreal’s DJ Clown and Nick Pilon (11 p.m., $45). On Saturday, it’s David Morales’s turn to spread himself thin, but don’t worry, Also on Saturday night, at the Studio Juste pour rire (10 p.m., $30), Lesbomonde boasts a great line-up this year, with Stink Mitt’s Betti Forde and le Tigre’s JD Samson spinning in the electro room, Torus in the R&B room and Alyson Calagna and Lady McCoy in the house room. On Sunday at 1 p.m., all manner of entertainment will emanate from the Berri/Ontario stage’s La Grande Danse, from DJs Alain Vinet, Mexico’s Isaac Escalante and Brazil’s Ana Paula to live house band Magic Solutions from Spain (joined by singer Marisa Machado) to jazz-fusion-folk violinist Dr. Draw to the Jeune Ballet du Québec. Over at the Loto-Québec stage, Le Grand Bal has Latino music and dance, including a salsa course to kick things off at 3 p.m., the feelgood groove of Oka, who mix and match didgeridoo and dance beats with reggae and dub, the Madonna experience with V.Nus and the Grammy-nominated Latina stylings of India, who’ll be joined by a troupe of dancers. FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT MUSIC |
warms up the crowd at the Loto-Québec stage (Ste-Catherine and St-Hubert). Come 7:30 p.m., it’s the 10th annual edition of 1, Boulevard des Rêves, a procession of 29 Québécois music vedettes such as Marjo, solo star and onetime singer for Corbeau (of “Illégal” fame), Dawn Tyler Watson, Johanne Blouin, Nancy Martinez and Patsy Gallant.
folks, the beats will be as bulbous as ever. He spins at the Loto-Québec stage’s Sunset Party at 8 p.m., following a full afternoon of house and techno with DJs Jeremy Khamkeo from Toronto, Israel’s Yinon Yahel and D/C fixture Nicola Torriero. Morales takes over the decks at Telus (midnight, $90), followed by Peter Rauhofer, rocking your body from 4–10 a.m.
