Guide GQ

Kids on TV frontman, DJ, and Canadian queer icon John Caffery unpacks his Working Conditions at LPM for Ottawa’s Nuit Blanche and comes to Pop Montréal the night after. We talked to him about sex work, sexy work, and going ’til dawn.

“It’s a strip-tease burlesque puppetry lip-synch sing-along,” artist Vincent Chevalier says of the performance he has planned for Faggity Ass Fridays, exceptionally at the Royal Phoenix this Saturday (Sept 1). Working in performance, photo, video, and the media collage of Tumblr, this seemingly self-obsessed queer artist will spill part of himself onto the stage one last time before he vacates Montréal next week. (Banner photo by David J. Romero).

As the students are taking back the streets and the politicians are preparing to seduce you with promises, promoter Eric Paradis and his team are getting ready for Montréal’s 8th Fetish Weekend on Labour Day. They too plan to take over the city and to seduce you, but, as opposed to the mastermind of our province, they will keep their kinky and creative promises. Photos by Savon+

This year Capital Pride presents two days of music at the Marion Dewar Plaza located at City Hall. “Our Saturday Alternative Stage is in its second year and we are very excited about this year’s line-up!” said Mark Power, Vice-President of the Capital Pride Committee.

Sampling the best of Ottawa’s late summer events, Sanita Fejzic reveals the highlights of Capital Pride and Cirque Bizarre; a last chance to see some rare photos at the National Gallery, 18th-centry comedy for the masses, and the perfect place to nerd out for a good cause…

Sanita Fejzic met up with Sebastien Provost and Sara Ainslie at Mercury Lounge to discuss their new production company House of SAS and its first week-long party, Cirque Bizarre from August 22 to 25 at the old Ottawa Jail Hostel.

It’s hard to believe that Pervers/cité’s closing party is only one night away! To make sure that everyone is properly exhausted for Sunday’s parade, POMPe and Benni E will bring in Baltimore queer rapper DDm to headline the event. We talked to the vogue MC about being a black, gay artist from a rough town, and about today’s queer hip-hop explosion.

“Everybody is the show” at Tyler Clarke and Saladin Khireche’s GayBash events. After years of salivating over their party photos, we learn how it all started, and what keeps them going. (Original photos by Daniel Payette)

This year’s Capital Pride week, held between August 17 and 26, is packed full with live music, parties, dance nights, and spectacles of all sorts. From dog shows to Halloween costumes and everything in between, it literally has something for everyone.

If you missed Fantasia, or if your taste for underground film is still not sated, Mascara & Popcorn’s programme of ballsy burlesque, homegrown horror, and indie cinema will restore your faith in the arthouse community, Aug 16-19. Don’t miss the special screening of Eisha Marjara’s “House for Sale” starring Atif Siddiqi on opening night!