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Montreal, August 16, 2022 – The 31st edition of the internationally acclaimed “BLACK & BLUE” LGBTQ+ Festival will be held during the weekend of Canadian Thanksgiving and American Columbus Day, from October 6 to 10. “After the postponement of the 2020 and 2021 editions due to the health constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the conditions are now in place for the return of Black & Blue this year with great enthusiasm, because we will present the main event of the Festival in a truly unique spectacular venue for us, with a very innovative concept”, indicated the President of the BBCM Foundation, Robert J. Vezina.
The main event will be presented for the very first time under the theme “Black & Blue 360°” at La TOHU, Montreal’s Circus Arts City, on Sunday October 9, from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. Monday morning. For its return after two years of absence, the 2022 Black & Blue will offer a multidisciplinary circular concept with a central 360° stage in an immersive 360° hall with electronic music by guest DJs and multiple performances, under the artistic direction of Louis Guillemette, an artist, designer and teacher at the National Circus School with many achievements to his credit and well known in the LGBTQ+ community. Also in the concept and production team, Fred Gouin will be the technical manager and Daniel Brazeau will be the lighting designer.
In its planning for the 2022 event, the organizing committee chose to strategically favor local DJs who had already been approached and engaged for the 30th anniversary edition, in 2021, but which was postponed. “We believe that the current context, in particular due to several challenges coming out of the pandemic, is ideal to support such a decision, especially since all DJs, artists and cultural workers have suffered particularly since March 2020. But we will also be adding new talents this year such as top-quality performances in dance and circus arts”, according to committee members.
Montreal talent in the spotlight!
The BBCM Foundation is proud to promote and support local talent and to put forward this original event concept that will appeal to a large clientele of regulars and new fans. Here is the list of DJs already known through Black & Blue and/or popular on the Montreal nightlife scene, who will perform during the main event at La TOHU (in alphabetical order):
DJ Alain Jackinsky, DJ Ian Key, DJ Lady McCoy, DJ Luc Raymond, DJ Maus, DJs St-Denis (DJ duo Alain Vinet & Steve Aries), DJ Stéfane Lippé, et DJ Stephan Grondin.
The other activities of the 2022 Festival
In addition to the main event of La TOHU, the Black & Blue 2022 Festival offers several other activities, including some in special alliance with the organizers of District Events and Pitbull Events, a first of its kind. “In this post-pandemic period when life is getting back to normal, we believe it is important to work in collaboration with other major organizers of similar events in the community, in solidarity rather than in competition. This is why we are happy to underline this strategic collaboration carried out with these two important players, Pascal Lefebvre (District) and Francis Gaudreault (Pitbull), which will allow everyone to share promotional advantages and promote touristic attractiveness, in particular”, explains the President of the BBCM Foundation.
Here is the list of other scheduled activities as of August 16:
THURSDAY OCTOBER 6
- VIP LAUNCH COCKTAIL with the COMMITTEE and PARTNERS at LE NORMANDIE tavern, DJ DanYUL
- TWINKLE EVENING with disco-pop karaoke theme, sponsored by Sauna G.I. Joe, at LE NORMANDIE tavern
- AFTER-TWINKLE at G.I. Joe
FRIDAY OCTOBER 7
- COCKTAIL 6 to 9 hosted by MAISON PLEIN CŒUR at BAR LE COCKTAIL
- BLACK & BLUE LEATHER BALL at the LION D’OR, sponsored by Sauna I. Joe, presented by BBCM in collaboration with Pitbull Events and District Events, DJ Ashley Gauthier and DJ Chris Mortagua
- AFTER-LEATHER BALL at I. Joe
SATURDAY 8 OCTOBER
- HAPPY HOUR (5 to 10) ‘UNIFORM’ BLACK & BLUE at STUD BAR, DJ Rémi Trottier and DJ André Morin
- DISTRICT PARTY at CLUB SODA presented by District Events in collaboration with BBCM and Pitbull Events, DJ Paskal Daze and DJ Aron
OTHER AFFILIATED ACTIVITIES
Several other affiliated activities are organized during the Festival, including visits to the McCord Museum, meals at Restaurant Le Saloon, visits to Club La Cité (official gym). There will also be a promotional Black & Blue pre-party at Bar La Fierté at Camping Fierté on September 24th.
CARNIVAL OF COLORS OF MONTREAL
It should also be noted that the BBCM Foundation is organizing during the same weekend, from October 7 to 9, a major free and general public component called the CARNAVAL DES COULEURS, whose main outdoor stage will be at the Quartier des Spectacles for the first time this year: www.carnavaldescouleurs.org
BLACK & BLUE TICKETS AND PASSES
You can already get the Week-end VIP passes and the Festival VIP passes, the combo ticket for the three major evenings (LA TOHU main event, Leather Ball at the Lion d’or and District Party at Club Soda), as well as the individual tickets for Black & Blue 360° (regular and VIP) on the BBCM Foundation website https://bbcm.org/black-and-blue/tickets-passes/ Please note that the VIP status at the main event gives access to a free coat check at La Tohu and access to the VIP lounge overlooking the circular dance floor with snacks and fruit. For more information: www.bbcm.org or the facebook.com/FondationBBCM page or by email: [email protected]
PARTNERS AND SPONSORS as of August 16
The Black & Blue Festival 2022 benefits from the support of multiple partners and sponsors: the grant partners Tourism Québec and Tourism Montréal, as well as the following private and/or community partners: Magazine Fugues, Air Canada, A&U America’s AIDS Magazine, Inspired Media / The Buzz Toronto, Edge Media USA, Pitbull Events, BOI Magazine Chicago, Pink Banana Media USA, Club La Cité, District Events, MyGayToronto, Gay Calgary Magazine, Shaun Proulx Media Toronto, Sauna G.I. Joe, Boutique Armada Men’s Room, Canal M – Vues et Voix radio, Winter Party Miami, Outlook TV, Gay Van (Vancouver), Magazine La Scena Musicale, Restaurant Le Saloon, McCord-Stewart Museum, Tavern Le Normandie, Pride Montréal, Quartier Latin medical clinic, Maison Plein Cœur, Dan Saycool video production, RJV Communications – public relations & special events, The Walrus Magazine Toronto, Rivendell Media USA – The LGBT Media Company, GRIP (Pyschosocial research and intervention group), Dominion T-Shirts, Festival du Nouveau Cinéma de Montréal, Sauna Oasis, Aura Web Solutions, Paskulin Design, Nexus Radio USA, EMQ, et CISM 89.3 FM.
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