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Pride celebrations are one of the few sacred dates on the Gay High Holiday Calendar. As a community, it’s not as important to note how much the traditions have changed over the years as it is to remember how they have stayed the same, and for all the right reasons. Divers/Cité, having long dropped “Pride” from its tagline, enters into its second decade of providing Montréalers and her dear friends from across the globe, a weeklong celebration of “all together, different”. This year’s installment comes packed with the punches along with a bold move on the part of the planning organization to move the festival site to the Old Port.

The scenic setting of the Old Port’s Quai Jacques-Cartier provides a backdrop for such events as the Cirque du Soleil so, a couple of shifts, shuffles and twirls and the move to greener pastures seems like a win-win, on paper anyways. Location aside, below you will find the real reasons to go to D/C20, just in case you might have been on the fence.

We all are in for a treat when Dutch duo Chocolate Puma make their debut on the D/C stage for the inaugural version of their “Ooh La La” programme on Friday, August 3. You might remember Chocolate Puma for their classic remix of Boris Dlugosch’s “Never Enough” back in 2001, but they have remixed and released their own brand of cheeky house under various guises, and have been doing so for the last 20 years.

Over at the Loto Québec Stage, (Friday Aug 3) Apocalipstik will bring us back to the days of Homorama and SexGarage, which brought us the then little-known punk outfit (The) Gossip in 2005. Apocalipstik runs in association with Royal Phoenix talent booker and co-owner Val Desjardins along with Sally & Tyler, the maverick promo duo behind the fab GayBash events. Get ready for some sass, sleaze and fun beats with DJs B’UGO, Frantastik & Montag along with live performances by Fanny Bloom, GLAM GAM Productions, Kid Savant and Sarah Neufield of Arcade Fire.

Load up on the sunblock, water, clock in those carefully-timed meals and disco-naps and get set for Saturday’s Sunset Party, which promises to be an interesting mash-up of styles and sounds. Alyson Calagna will deliver us evil with her brand of organic-fused “Omtronica”, while David Herrero from Spain dishes out his own sound stylings (some of which is championed by Richie Hawtin). From David Morales’ Def Mix camp, Hector Romero rounds the day off with his signature classic house sound.

On the sister stage and with a cast of thousands, Montreal’s reigning drag persona Mado will christen the Old Port with an iron-sequined glove. The 15th edition of Mascara (banner photo), promises nothing short being the biggest gender-bender this side of Wigstock.

If you didn’t fall into the rabbit hole that is Stereo for Peter Rauhofer’s set, make a beeline back to the Old Port to catch Spain’s Chus & Ceballos as they embark on a 4-hour DJ set starting at 5pm. Local Alain Jackinsky and house deity David Morales provide the bookends to the 10th Anniversary of La Grande Danse. If you lean more towards doing the hustle, Boogie Wonder Band carry out their annual homage to everything disco at Le Grand Bal on the Loto Quebéc Stage.

Still have feelings in your legs? Head on over to Stereo to catch local duo Casa Nostra, comprised of Montréal DJ/producer Nicola Torriero and DJ Jonny Marciano for the D/C Ball. Both Torriero and Marciano have amassed longstanding careers in the clubs of Montreal, but together, they are even more a force to be reckoned with. With a reprise after La Grande Danse, Chus & Ceballos return to Stereo to deliver the swan song of the festival.

Divers/cité

July 30 – Aug 4, 2012

www.diverscite.org

Photo via www.qualiafolk.com