by STEVE STRONG

Over the last 13 years the BBCM has established Black & Blue as one of the premier circuit parties in North America. The largest festival of its kind in the world, this year's event will feature 50 social, cultural and sporting events including art exhibitions, gay guided tours of Montreal and a gay volleyball tournament and will raise money for numerous charities and gay and lesbian associations. But the reason thousands of people flock to Montreal for Thanksgiving weekend is the world-class nightlife held at venues throughout the city.

For those looking for something a little risqué, the seven-day festival kicks off Wednesday, Oct. 8, at the popular peeler bar Campus with DJ Jerry and the Campus Dancers.

Thursday, Oct. 9, over at Stereo it's the Jock Ball, where revellers (dressed in athletic gear, of course) will sweat to the sounds of one of world's top circuit DJs, Joe Gauthreaux. This New Orleans native has headlined at some of the biggest circuit parties in North America (Blue Ball Philadelphia, Halloween in New Orleans, White Party in Miami). He made his Montreal debut at BBCM's Twist party, where he rocked the dancefloor with his mix of soulful house grooves, tribal techno and driving progressive house.

Friday, Oct. 10, is Fetish Friday as local bad boy painter, designer and DJ Zïlon and cohort DJ Lou K get nasty at Funhouse from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. for Bleu Nuit Evening. Expect everything from dark rock to noise and electro-glam as well as a special freak show performance with Cookie Cool, Esmeralda and Grace Garbage. Don't forget to dress the part (leather, latex, PVC, vinyl, uniforms, boots or black and blue).

Keep the party rocking over at Stereo at the official After Leather Ball with Miami jock DJ Abel, whose work with Ralphi Rosario (as Rosabel), Gloria Estefan, Donna Summer and Ottmar Liebert (?!) has made him a household name among circuit partiers the world over.

More fetish fun on Saturday, Oct. 11, as Zilon hosts Porno Pop Star at Cabaret Cléopatre (1230 St-Laurent) with performances by some of Quebec's porn industry elite. Schwing!

A-ten-shun! Two Military Balls will be held on Saturday, one at Metropolis with NYC's Manny Lehman and one at Stereo featuring remixer/producer DJ Tracy Young. Young is the go-to gal when stars like Madonna, P-Diddy, Lenny Kravitz, Cher, Ricky Martin and Dennis Rodman need a hot house DJ for a private party. Come see what all the fuss is about!

Sunday is, of course, the main event at the Big O, featuring James Andersen, Tedd Patterson, Mark Anthony, Mat Ste-Marie and Montreal favourite DJ Paulette who returns to rock the Montreal crowd.

For those diehard clubbers, on Monday, Oct. 13, the aptly named Recovery Parties will be happening at Stereo with Alain Vinet and Victor Calderone from 10 p.m. to noon and Metropolis with DJ Norm Robert and DJ Escape from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Yowza!

Black & Blue 2003 runs Wednesday, Oct. 8 to Tuesday, Oct. 14. More info at www.bbcm.org

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