by RAF KATIGBAK

While most 10th birthdays end in a pile of screaming kids collapsing after a cake and ice-cream sugar rush, this year's 10-year anniversary for Bal en Blanc will feature some of the most in-demand DJ talent in the world. Always a big production, the annual gay/straight gathering and spring celebration is pulling out all the stops with a host of fashion shows and cross-town events over four consecutive sweat-filled days.

Tonight, Thursday, April 8, while Unity II hosts Belgian new-waver Plastic Bertrand, house heads should make a stop at Upperclub for a night of sleek grooves from Hed Kandi label boss Mark Doyle. Anyone familiar with HK's best-selling CD comps knows what to expect: deep, sexy, slinky house for the chic and beautiful crowd.

Remember that Africanism CD that all self-respecting funky house lovers are required by law to own? The one that mixed scorching Afro-Latin rhythms with the relentless upbeat funk of disco and house? The one that you can always count on when you want to start a living-room dance party? Well, Africanism co-creator DJ Gregory will be taking over the decks at lower St-Laurent's Nexxt this Saturday for a dose of rhythmic disco funk. Also on hand will be two of Montreal's house music illuminati, Christian Pronovost and Jojoflores, so be prepared to work it all night!

The main event

Of course, Sunday is the big show at Palais des Congrès - and what a show it is! Arguably the best lineup Bal en Blanc has ever had, this year's guests include three of the top 10 DJs in the world (according to DJ Mag magazine). In an hommage to the club where it all began 10 years ago, the Playground House Room will feature Washington duo and prog-house ambassadors Deep Dish as well as circuit-party king and crowd favourite Peter Rauhofer, who will no doubt be rocking some fierce vocals and pop remixes. Hometown boys DJ Laflèche (official DJ of the BeB mix CD White Is Pure 3) and Jester round out the bill with their own recipes of thumping, late-night beats.

Over in the Aria Trance Room, Paul van Dyk returns, ready to show Montreal what it takes to be called "leader of the trance nation" (apparently it has more to do with playing records than increasing the trance nation's GNP by an impressive 12 per cent). Also, after blowing partygoers away with his set at last year's BeB, Dutch phenom Armin Van Buuren returns for another dose of uplifting tech-trance. With an ear for melody and a great on-deck personality (Van Buren loves to interact with the crowd), his set is certainly one to look forward to. Finally, Aria residents DJ Preach and Marco G have both been labelled ones to look out for on the local DJ scene and will no doubt be bringing their best to the turntables as well.

Keep on ticking

Before you head on down to the main event though, warm up those dancing shoes over at club Sky in the Village for T.O.'s DJ Shawn Riker, or head on down to Millennium where DJ Louis-Georges Cazabon will be heating it up. Also that night, on the hip hop tip, Wu Tang's Raekwon (aka Lex Diamonds) will be tearing shit up in Aria's afterhours hip hop room.

For those with the resilience to party on through Monday, the Off White au Cabaret à Mado is the place to be from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., and for the really hardcore, Off White Daylight will take the party from 1 p.m. to 3 a.m. at the Daylight Dayclub, with guests Robert de la Gauthier, Scott Free, Max Herbert and more.

More info at www.balenblanc.com

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