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Those who think queer music begins with showtunes and ends with Melissa Etheridge might be shocked by the quality of the musicmakers gracing stages during this year’s Pride festivities. A sampling of some out ‘n’ proud highlights:
Scandalnavia Saturday (June 26), 7:30 pm Pride Stage South Defiantly lo-fi locals who tear outta the garage with a stripped-down aesthetic and quirky-good tunes (a tribute to the CNE Cyclone?) bolstered by powerhouse Natasha Pike’s stream-of-consciousness rhymes.
Lesbians on Ecstasy Saturday (June 26), 9 pm Pride Stage South Montreal art-dykes compose a fucked-up love letter to lesbionic anthems, with digital hardcore twists on classics by the likes of Melissa Etheridge and the Indigo Girls. Perversely hysterical.
Gentleman Reg Saturday (June 26), 4:30 pm Pride Stage North Sweet sometime Hidden Camera’s fragile boy-meets-boy and cathartic heartache stories turned into indie pop ballads.
The Jane Waynes Saturday (June 26), 9 pm Pride Stage North Down-home urban cowqueer strummers prove messed-up relationships and lonely hearts know no gender.
Andrew Spice Saturday (June 26), 3:31 pm Fruit Loopz Indoor Stage Classically trained, Manitoba-bred prodigy and OutMusic nominee wrenches emotion-packed baroque pop from piano keys.
