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Building a Community
Strengthening the City
We're Here - We're Queer - And we will see you in 2008!
What makes our Queer West Festivals successful year after year,
is that we are constantly reinventing ourselves, because we are outrageous
and positively revolutionary.In 2007 Queer West Fest added new venues
and city locations, more performers, vendors, community organizations
and new affiliated events. Now a welcoming week long celebration, for
all genders and sexualities..
Out
Traveler (Summer issue Cool Canada, 2007)
a division of PlanetOut Publishing Inc. an American gay travel magazine
had this to say about " Gay Toronto" These days the Queer
West Village in Parkdale and "Queer Street West," as a section
of Queen Street is now dubbed, Sizzle!
Queer West Fest Guide - Festival Overview | Official Events | Press Reviews | Related Events | Sponsors
Official Queer West Fest Week
2007 - Opening Night Party Held on Friday June
15 :: Rhino Bar & Grill -1249, 2nd floor, not
wheelchair accessible. Queer Queen Street West - 9
pm to 2:30 am - Cover $5 b4 11pm $8 after. The Gay West Community
Network brought Toronto its
first alternative Festival for queer culture. Having successfully coordinated
several queer focused events over the past several years, 2007 marks
the first year that a series of events are being presented over the
course of one week as part of the new Queer West Fest. It celebrates
all things that are queer positive. (media
reviews) So come out and celebrate all things cool with performances,
bands and DJ's to keep the beat going all night long. Book off the date
and time, for this not to be missed event. - Hosted by the fabulous
RIKKI REEVES.a Canadian drag queen and singer. A former member
of the B-Girlz troupe, Rikki is a prominent performer in Toronto's drag
scene. Her film and television performances include the short films
"Canada's Next Top Showgirl" and "B-girlz On Ice"
as well as the movie "Execution of Justice" starring Peter
Coyote. Rikki has also performed at Massey Hall (Toronto) and various
Pride Day celebrations across North America. www.rikkireeves.com
| www.therhino.ca
Queer Indie Bands Played from 9 pm to 11:00 pm, followed by 2 DJ's. till 2:30 am
A queer indie night of entertainment. Which is
one of the many reasons, Queer West Toronto is so popular now. The
opening and closing parties, sets out to celebrate all that's odd, sweet,
and just that little bit dirty about the alternaqueer music scene. Showcasing
everything from lovelorn acoustic pop, funk, trip hop, pop rock, glam
to garage punk and filthy beats
**RA:TIO BAND** - (9 PM) - There is no box with which
we fit in there are no rules and there is no sin there isn't one thing
that we haven't done so get on board and have some fun. You can't ask
ra:tio what it is they do best because they do it all. You can crank
it up and bring down the roof with songs like 8MILESIN and IMPOSSIBLE.
You can dance your ass off to songs like GEORDY and LOOKING AWAY. You
can rediscover the beauty of life with LIVE TO AIR and SO I'M TOLD or
you can simply turn down the lights and weep away to songs FOR LOVE
and FOR SURE I DON'T MIND. ra:tio is Shean Carmichael-lead singer and
rhythm guitar Bern Leitao-lead guitar and backing vocals Sydney Tam-bass
guitar and backing vocals Scot Allan-drums Web Site: www.myspace.com/ratiorocks
BRAZEN
CRUSH BAND- (9:45 PM) - is the new fruit of four veteran performers.
With a line-up that includes the stellar vocal talent of Stacy Ricker,
Jennifer Gillmor on fretted and fretless basses and cello, Cheryl Reid
on drums and Steve Sauvé on keys, the sound is highly original
ranging from down tempo groove, funk, jazz, hints of '80s alternative
and rootsy flavours.Brazen Crush offers elements to please many musical
palates. With a funky bassist/cellist and passionate singer, the
groove is always paramount. Add to that the jazzy keyboard stylings
and solid, creative drumming, and the regular use of cello instead of
bass, this is a band paving new musical roads. Audiences are captivated
by the top-notch musicianship, wide-ranging styles and engaging performance.
Up coming gigs, Pride Toronto. Web Sites:
www.brazencrush.ca
and www.myspace.com/brazencrush
TOMMYBOYFRIEND BAND - (10:30 PM) - Tomboyfriend is
bi poet (Ryan Kamstra (scratch), one illustrator and map-making social
activist ( Marlena Zuber), one guitarist and jackass inspired performance
artist (Karilynn Ming Ho), one robot and visual artist of the freak
show (Lindsay Fisher) and one bassist and scientist for the peoples
( Susan Bustos). They play songs about androgyny, promiscuity, the economic
opinion of Jeffrey Sachs, bisexuality, ultra-violence, high fashion,
the plight of heterosexuality. Kamstra, received a
BA from Queen's University and has self produced three albums. A book
of poetry, two books are currently grinding their way towards publication.
Up coming gigs: Pride Toronto, Alterna-Queer Web site:
www.myspace.com/tomboyfriend
| www.ryankamstra.com
MACKENZIE MACBRIDE BAND - (Cancelled
due to a bad case of Laryngitis) - Mackenzie MacBride,
transgendered lounge singer, is originally an East Coast gal who bedazzled
tourists with her electro-lounge act on B-grade cruise ships off the
coast of Bar Harbor, Maine Like a coffee stain on a wedding dress Mackenzie
and her music are unusual, controversial, and full of gritty imperfection.
Mackenzie's music fuses the angst of Glam with the intimacy of Lounge
and layers it over slowed down four-on-the-floor beats. Refusing to
take herself too seriously, Mackenzie then gets on top of this lo-fi
musical kick in the pants and belts out the typos of her life with "Dolly
Parton meets Tiny Tim" novelty vocals. "She has this amazing
voice." say festival organizer Bryen Dunn. "I always think
of Klaus Nomi." Up coming gigs, Pride Toronto. Web
sites: www.mackenziemacbride.com
and www.myspace.com/mackenziemacbride
DJ's alternating from 11 PM to Close
DJ 4EST - - 4est DJ's at HERMAPHRONITE the bi weekly
bi nite at the College St. Diner with DJ Catscratch and in June is doing
a gig at Gladstone Hotel Ballroom : for the FEMINIST PORN AWARDS Web
Site: www.myspace.com/dj4est
DJ PHIL VILL - - Phil when not DJing works for Puretracks
Inc (corporate.puretracks.com).
His recent gigs have included Trash, Hump Day Bump, Hot Potato Party
( www.myspace.com/hotpotatoparty)
He is influenced by Bjork - "Earth Intruders" (Spankrock Remix)
Souvenir - "Tic Tac" Groove Armada - "Get Down"
Patrick Wolf - "Magic Position" The Cliks - "Oh Yeah"
Donna Summer - "Bad Girls" Mark Ronson w/ Amy Winehouse -
"Valerie" Shout Out out Out Out's - "Self Loathing Rulz"
LCD Soundsystem - "All My Friends" Sophie Ellis Bextor - "My
and My Imagination"
The Details Queer
West Fest Week 2007 - Launch Party Friday June
15 :: Rhino Bar & Grill -1249 Queer Street West - 9
pm to 2:30 am - Cover $5 b4 11pm $8 after. .Hosted
by the fabulous Rikki Reeves. www.rikkireeves.com
| www.therhino.ca
Queer West Fest 2007 - Mix
and Mingle Community Fair - Took place on Saturday
June 16 :: Drake Hotel - 1150 Queer Street West - 3
pm to 5 pm - Door Prizes. Free Admission. Not wheelchair
Accessible. There was services for seniors to young adults
ranged from travel, health, lifestyle, sports, literature and more.
Sample products from local artists, craftspeople, and service providers;
Many had a chance to meet and greet many of these businesses and organizations
that are part of West Toronto's GLBT queer community. Community
Fair Participants
Queer West Fest Toronto - 3rd Annual Pride Parade on Bicycles
- Took place on Sunday June 17, 2007 View
of some 25 gay and lesbian cyclists from the Toronto's Gay West Bicycle
Club that took part in Queer West Fest 2007 - 3rd Annual Pride Parade
on Bikes - Sunday June 17. Members were taking leisurely tour along
Toronto’s waterfront from Sunnyside to the eastern Beaches with professional
tour guide Bryen Dunn (middle, orange t-shirt blue cap). Dunn is Toronto freelance writer.
The Queer West Fest Photo Album is now online Homo Bike Central Phone: 9 am to 9 pm 416-551-1709. | The Gay West Bicycle Club
Queer
West Fest 2007 - Java Knights - Public Forum - Held
on Tuesday June 19 :: Gladstone Hotel - 1214 Queer Street West,
Wheelchair Accessible - 7 pm to 9
pm with an after party until 11pm. Free. Guest Speaker:
Steven Bereznai is the author of Gay and Single...Forever?
10 Things Every Gay Guy Looking for Love (and Not Finding It) Needs
to Know.
Bereznai was the editor-in-chief of Fab magazine and Fab Style Quarterly from Dec. 2005 to April 2007, and his articles have appeared in The Toronto Star, VIA Destinations, Now, Xtra!, Icon, and of course, Fab.
His unpublished novella 3 Nights in Bangkok, "a gay love story powered by wit, charm, humor and a good deal of lust," won first runner up in Anvil Press' 3-Day Novel Contest in 2001. He's also spent 10 years at CBC Newsworld's national newsroom, working his way up from editorial assistant (glorified gopher) to chase producer to writer (and in some cases producer) for: CBC News: Sunday, Saturday Report, Canada Now, The National, as well as hourly news segments. Check out a sample chapter of his book, Gay and Single...Forever? At www.stevenbereznai.com | Java Knights Home Page 647-889-2313
Queer West Fest 2007 - Closing
Night Party - Knotty Knights - Was held Friday
June 22 :: Lot 16 Bar, No Cover 10 pm to 2:30 am. 1136 Queen
St W, 80's Dance Party - "The Only Gay in the Village" Featuring
DJ Triple-X spining new wave, punk, and junk from the 80's.
The bar was filled with to capacity with a large influx of
inner-city Parkdale -kids young and old, Bay Street CEO's, Trinity Bellwoods
queer hipsters and arty fags from Church and Wellesley, all having a
good time.
What fool said Toronto's gay men, lesbians and transgendered community can't party together. There are, certain people, that would like us to be divided. But its not working in Queer West Toronto. Here you can see the friendly a gay-straight mix hitting the tiny dance floor, around midnight. The partiers were girls, boys, girly boys, s/hes, butch dykes, riot grrrls, punk girls, punky boys, gay boys, dykes, faggy dykes, shims, dykie fags, lesbros, transmen and transwomen.
What with, the endless flow of Amsterdam, not to mention a fairly witty barstaff, and we had a fun-lovin’ at the Queer West Fest, closing night party. Lot 16, 1136 Queen Street West, Queer West Toronto Ontario. Lot 16, there's no place quite like it in Toronto.
Gay West Community "Network" has been around for nearly 10 years promoting queer events and happenings, as well as the multitude of queer-friendly establishments that are in the west end of Toronto. Parkdale/Trinity Bellwoods is a place to party, as well as a place to call home. For wonderful sightseeing tour in the heart of the Queer West a place where all orientations feel welcome Queer West Fest - Triple-X Productions info@themarsbar.com ( 416-551-1709)
Queer West Fest Guide - Overview 2008 | Overview 2007 | 2007 Official Events | | Related Events 2007 | Press Reviews | Sponsors
