Blips on the radar

>> Back to the beach--and the bunker--this weekend

by KRISTA

About three years ago Ray Junior, a hard-working guy from the south side of the river, burst onto the Montreal rave scene with a series of parties that kicked the happy-happy candy-raver set in the ass. Forget P.L.U.R. speak. With party names like Gloom, Apocalypse, Virus and Speed, Junior clearly isn't concerned with maintaining the love vibe.

Mind you, Ray always strives for top-notch production, paying careful attention to detail and safety at all times. Ray Junior also remains one of the only promoters around who consistently books more local DJs than out-of-towners (although a few are usually billed as being from somewhere else). This Friday, July 14, the third installment of Junior's now-infamous annual three-day Evolution Radar One event will take place atop Mont Radar, across from Quebec City. At Mont Radar's peak sits an old RCAF military bunker, from whence Evolution Radar One gets its name, and inside which the main event takes place.

As far as music at the event goes, attendees can expect the usual dose of Ray Junior's favourites: hard tech-trance and techno (to the point of hardcore), buffered at the beginning and end of the weekend by a smattering of good ol' beach party-style funky, filtery house. Kicking off the beach party below the bunker on Friday, from noon to midnight, are C-Jeff, Mario De Lapointe versus Dominik Bro, Yum Yum, former Gallery DJ Claude Mignacca and Mark P. The beach party picks up again on Saturday at noon with former big-time Lac St-Jean rave promoter-turned-DJ Dave Suarez, Preach, Laval's Red Lite residents Scott Free and Doc Slime (oh, gross) and Shamans.

At 9 p.m. on Saturday it's time to pack up the picnic basket and flipflops and head up to the bunker, where ERO's Flavour and One will open the main event. Then it's time for the big boys to bring the big noise. At midnight Montreal's Synthethesia will perform a mind-altering live set of tech-trance, followed by Sona resident and Inside Records owner Yaz from 1-3 a.m. Taking over the decks from 3-7 a.m., playing a serious selection of trippy trance and techno, are a pair from LSM Productions: Genie, resident at the Womb, Miami, and Boston-via-Montreal's Ajami of Sporadic Groove and Axis, Boston. As the sun begins to rise over the bunker Montreal's Analog Junkies take over for their live one-hour set of action-packed acid techno. Originally from Montpelier in the south of France, Module M will welcome the new day with a healthy dose of more tech-trance from seven to 9:30 a.m., and Districk of Montreal's DJ Kal spins until 11 a.m.

Bonzai recording artist G in the Box takes control of the decks from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and following G is Montreal favourite and Stereo Friday night resident XL. The final leg of the three-day rave-o-rama is marked by a live set from Ray Junior's ERO brainchild Mood Saver (I imagine there's hidden meaning in the name), Dominik Bro again, Steve Austin (Bionic Man jokes, anyone?) and Dghost. Local techno bad boy Iznogood has been charged with the heavy duty of closing up the night right from 7:30-9 p.m.

Evolution Radar One starts Friday, July 14 at noon. Tickets $45. For info call 450-625-7000 or go to www.rayjunior.com