by RAF KATIGBAK

Sponsorship is weird. Okay, so I understand that most of the time it's a necessary evil: promoters need the cash, companies with cash need the cred of being associated with certain events, fine. Hell, sometimes sponsorship even makes sense, like cigarettes and fireworks. Simple enough: cigarettes kinda work like Roman candles, and if you use either of them for too long it'll probably be dangerous for you (although Roman candles get bonus points 'cause you can dress up like a wizard at the mountain on Sundays and yell "Fireball!" as you shoot them at those medieval revivalists). But when companies and the events they sponsor seem so diametrically opposed (cigarettes/tennis and beer/car racing), it makes me wonder, who's got their Bad Idea Jeans on again? This Friday, Sept. 3, it seems the good folks at Molson have created an event that may top the list of "strangest combinations since milk and orange juice." That's right, it's another installment of Molson's Nuit Blanche at La Ronde. I don't know about all y'all, but for me, after a night of excessive drinking, there's nothing I'd rather do than strap my drunk-ass self into a rollercoaster (or go for a spin in The Rotor, eewww). At least there'll be the soothing house sounds of Christian Pronovost to ease what will surely be a wild ride. Tickets are $30 in advance; the party goes from 11 p.m.–5 a.m.

While corporate culture vultures quickly descend on the once proudly independent dance scene, leave it to outspoken guys like Dave Clarke (pictured right) to stir up some shit. While his anti-drug and well-documented and bitter critiques of the music industry (not helped by his contract battles with his old record label) have polarized some punters, his music is, in a word, untouchable. Certainly one of my favourite DJs, you can always count on Clarke to bring it in a hard and funky way. Catch him at Aria on Friday.

Always a favourite of Montreal D&B heads, Saturday night catch scratch wizard Freaky Flow and MC Flipside at Cafe Chaos. Go even further underground at the Ou est le DJ??? II party with The Coffee Man, AJ, Clown, CyberiumRaver and DJ Pout. Call 1-888-3435 for details. Sunday, of course, is the long awaited return of 514 productions' Cream event featuring huge names like Desyn Masiello, Ferry Corsten, John Digweed, Sander Kleinenberg, and Deep Dish at the Bell Centre. While over at Stereo, Chicago legend and original Hot Mix Five member Ralphi Rosario makes a very special appearance.

Tonight, Sept. 2, bid a fond farewell to the once weekly drum & bass party Next Level at Saphir. While tonight may be the Last Level, at least resident Corey K has decided to pull the plug in style, offering up some special prize giveaways, booze giveaways, special guests (Sase One) and as many classic hits and new bomb cuts as your ears can handle.

After guesting at Next Level and IDJ's Summer Breeze last July, tonight DJ Rue will be making his way to Fluid Thursday's alongside guest Somsay and resident jocks Galaksy, Sarcastic and Axionfigga.

Fireball! Fireball! Fireball! Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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