Square Viger is where it’s at!
26 July to 5 August | From 11:00 to 23:00

Official Meeting Place of participants and visitors of the Outgames! Square Viger is the gathering place in the heart of the action of the 1st World Outgames Montréal 2006. Come enjoy the many incredible shows scheduled to entertain you and meet up with your sporting compatriots. Or simply drop by for information on our many events, activities, festivities and this great city. A stone’s throw from the Gay Village and the Palais de congrès de Montréal, Square Viger is the central hub of activity: with 25 on-site booths, including Montréal 2006 information, GLISA, Copenhagen 2009, Antwerp Eurogames 2007, Holland Garden, assorted concessions, Outgames merchandise as well as the Labatt Blue Dry beer garden, it’s a great place to meet up with friends - new and old! Artistic Programme Square Viger kicks into action on 26 July until 5 August 2006 featuring not only the talents of our Outgames participants, but special local and international guest artists as well! Each night will feature a different theme and will be hosted by DJs, artists and MCs who will prove beyond a doubt just why Montréal is considered to be a gay-friendly destination par excellence and North America’s City of Festivals!

Holland Garden | All week

Artists: Surprises from Hollan

Cabaret Night
Break out the sequined dresses, feather boas and stiletto heels for Cabaret Night at Square Viger! Sizzling extravagance will delight participants and visitors alike.

Artists: Productions Réglisse
Entertainment: MC Réglisse
Music: Bobzilla
Happy Hour: Équipe Montréal

ILLUSION - CABARET Show with  Réglisse and guest artists. Female impersonators, extravagant costumes and make-up, lights, theatrics, dancing and song with David Poulin and Cindy Doucet.  Performances featuring Paris-come-Broadway musical numbers with more than 10 artists on stage.

Les Productions Réglisse has been around since 1998; the majority of its troupe has worked at the Folie’s de Paris at the Théâtre Impérial de Québec in Québec City and at the Folie’s de Paris in Lille, France.  With this French cabaret experience under their belt, Les Productions Réglisse specialises in variety shows featuring female impersonators, feather boas and sequins, striking imitations,  humour, stories, audience participation and even sometimes acrobats with the collaboration of CIRQUE BLANC.

Bobzilla
The phenomenon Bobzilla exploded onto the scene of the Montréal Gay Village in 1994.  Five incredible years of alterno-britpop music at the Sky Trash-room, followed by the electropop era ‘free for all mix’ in the legendary Bamboo Bar of Unity I and II.  All that intertwined with parties and events, each one more eccentric than the last.  Bobzilla has only one goal: get your butt moving !  Hee Haw !

Robert de la Gauthier
Robert, originally from Montreal, has 26 years of experience as a dj. Very versatile, plays many different styles of music and get the crowds crazy all over the globe, playing gay clubs, raves, and hetero clubs. Robert has produced many records and remixes as well as having a couple of record labels. He was the 1st Canadian dj to play house music, later on starting the techno and rave movement in Canada, then being the first Canadian dj to export in Europe and other countries, where he lived in Holland and Germany. Robert has written for Canadian, American and German music magazines and is now artistic director of « earth day Montreal ».

Disco Fever Night
Nostalgic for the Disco era? With Mado Lamotte as your host, this is a night that you won’t soon forget!

Artists: Boule Noire | Martha Wash | Stéphane Moraille
Entertainment: MC Mado Lamotte
Music: Mario Bros

DJ Mario Bros
For the last twenty years, Mario Bros has made his reputation in the diverse bars and discos of Montréal, including the Garage, Max, K.O.X and Sky. He has also actively participated in the Montréal and Burlington (Vermont) Gay Pride for the last three years.  In addition to his participation in  special events, Mario Bros also makes customized CDs for his clients, taking into account their particular musical styles and tastes. 

Versatile best describes the musical style of Mario Bros: he energizes his crowd as much with house, hip hop or pop.  You can’t resist!

In Montréal, in addition to being the resident DJ at the Sky Cabaret on Fridays and Saturdays, Mario Bros can be heard once a month at the Sky Pub Tea Dance and again, every third Thursday of the month, at the Kafka resto-bar on St. Charles Street in Old Longeuil, where he mostly plays lounge.

Favourite DJ: Peter Rauhofer for the quality of his remixes.

For booking and information: mariobross62@sympatico.ca

MADO Lamotte

Renowned celebrity of Montréal nightlife, Mado is a cross between a drag queen and a clown.  

For the last 19 years, she has created and hosted the craziest of evenings in Montréal gay bars.  Queen of kitsch and parody, she has become renown in Québec through her television appearances, her humourous articles in the monthly magazine, Fugues, and the weekly newspaper, ICI Montréal, and of course her infamous Bingo Nights at the Sky Pub, the Montréal Spectrum, the Montréal Casino and in the Just for Laughs Festival.

Her two greatest successes to date are : the drag queen show, Mascara - la nuit des drags that she has organised, coordinated and hosted for the last nine years, presented to over 25 000 people during Gay Pride festivities, and her just as infamous Cabaret Mado, created in May 2002, that doesn’t cease to attract incredible crowds of locals and tourists alike. 

Exuberant, provocative and extravagant, Mado Lamotte is a colourful character right out of an adult  comic book.  She is incontestably a unique phenomenon born from a new generation of comedians.   

Inspired by the universe of Michel Tremblay, a child of Fanfreluche, Mado Lamotte is unmistakebly the most fabulous eccentric in Québec :  the new star of the new millenium! 

Stéphane Moraille
Haitian-born singer-songwriter Stéphane Moraille first makes her mark in the underground world of House music with the Shauna Davis Project in 1995. The cross over hit single "Get Away" obtained multi platinum sales, reaches the top of the world's Dance charts and gets nominated for a Juno and Much Music Video Award. Stéphane becomes the face of Shauna Davis and tours Europe's, Canada and the US hottest club venues where she shares the stage with among others, Diana King and David Morales.

In 1997, she sings Montreal's collective Bran Van 3000's signature track "Drinking In LA" on the album "Glee". The song becomes a huge radio hit in Canada and the album is certified gold. After a bidding war in the US, "Glee" was released worldwide in 1998 by Capitol Records. "Drinking In LA" has then topped the world's alternative and pop charts including a 2nd position in the prestigious UK Top 40 Billboard. The song was also featured in numerous films, TV and ad campaigns.

She takes a break from the Music scene in 2000 and goes back to law school !!! Fortunately, the sunny, funky, Montreal based House group Les Couch Potatoes came to rescue and brings her back where she belongs: on stage and in the studio. Les Couch Potatoes' album is praised by the critics and Stéphane has a riot on stage with them in the clubs, at the Montreal's Francofolies Festival and in various private affairs for Cirque du Soleil or Montreal's Grand Prix.

A seasoned performer, in the recent years Stéphane has been doing what she does best, rock the stage. Stephane was given the honour to sing on many editions of the Black & Blue Festival at the Montreal Olympic Stadium, in front of crowds of over 13 000 people for their annual fundraising event, she also galvanized audience at the Montreal International Jazz Fest and during the Gay Pride celebrations in Montreal, accompanied by a string orchestra where she gave a master performance and electrified the crowd of 50 000 for La Grande Danse . Gifted with an impressive instrument, a deep emotion and a contagious joy for life, Stephane Moraille, a true lioness on stage, gives it up every time.

She is now in the lab working on her long-awaited solo effort that, in her own words "got her working her thang like you would not believe baby child..."

Martha Wash

From being the powerhouse vocalist behind C+C Music Factory's classic Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now), to seeing her debut solo single Carry On reach the #1 spot - in her own name - Martha has unquestionably made her mark in music history.

Beginning her musical journey in the late 1970's as one half of the disco group Two Tons of Fun, Martha scored a Grammy Nomination for a song that was destined to become a cult classic. Yes, It's Raining Men.

In 1993, The CD, "Martha Wash", her first-solo, produced three #1 dance singles; Carry On, Give It To You, and Runaround. Success continued to follow Martha with her second solo CD in 1997. “The Collection” featured highlights from her twenty year-long career. Martha then collaborated in 2000 with “Small Voices Calling” on their Sounds Of A Better World CD - a project to benefit a variety of charities which find innovative ways of supporting children in their environment. The song, Listen To The People, saw her riding high on the charts once again.

In 2004, she began her own record company, Purple Rose Records, and immediately saw the first single, You Lift Me Up soar high into the top five on Billboard Magazine's Club Play Chart. It's been a long and bumpy road for Martha; however, she continues to spread a positive message to unite people worldwide. Whether she is belting out a house groove or delivering a church-inspired gospel piece, you can be sure that her music will capture your attention and take its place in music history.

Georges « Boule Noire » Thurston

Who hasn’t been caught humming or singing « Aimes-tu la vie comme moi? » and « Aimer d’amour »? This last hit resulted in two gold records for Boule Noire in 1979. 

Surprise ! He’s back!  In 1991, he attacks European turntables and receives a platinum record for a million copies sold.  It goes without saying that this success spills over to the new generation of adoring Canadian dance fans who will move to his groove on July 28 in Viger Square!

Georges Thurston acquired the nickname of Boule Noire because of his hair: an immense afro that has become his trademark.

Musician, composer and producer extraordinaire, Boule Noire always keeps you on your toes.  His success spans Disco, Soul, R&B, Funk, Reggae, Cool Pop, Rock and will soon include Lounge, a style where he likes to experiment. Scheduled for release in the autumn of 2006, a box set of two CDs, entitled Dernier appel and Out to Lounge and including an innovative videography, will crown the 30 year-long career of Boule Noire.   This release will signify the passing of the baton from Boule Noir to Georges Thurston, who will survive the legend through custom compositions and his Montréal recording studio, Soul Studio.

Info: locordeau@aol.com | Soul Studio : (514) 521-6782

Sarah Cochrane and Matt Stern
Matt Stern and Sarah Cochrane come together for an intimate and spirited performance that's sure to get you grooving. Come experience the warmth and generosity of these two Montreal artists at Viger Square on July 28th 2006, and you will be humming their sweet melodies all the way home. In English, French and Spanish.

Welcome Night!
In unison with the Outgames Opening Ceremony, the Welcome Night will reflect the warmth and hospitality of Montréal!

Music: Niski | Patrick Guay

Niski

Niski, also know as Alain Jackinsky, has been flavoring Montréal’s house music scene for the last five years. At the age of 25, his residencies at Montréal’s legendary clubs Parking, Sky, Reunion after-hours, and chick resto-club Saloon to name a few, have gained him strong appreciation. Playing house music in a very happy-edgy-colorful-vocal-tribal-dirty-electro way, he is slowly and wisely building himself a name in the industry. Studying in music-college, working hard behind the decks, learning all there is to learn, he is is following his dream of making people feel alive and happy with music. 

This little man’s got soul!

DJ Patrick Guay

If music be the food of love... play on. The unspoken mantra for dancer, choreographer, DJ Patrick Guay. Patrick's unique love for music began as a child and flourished while studying dance to become a choreographer. In 1992, Patrick and his troupe of dancers won a prestigious first prize finish in a college contest. The largest in Québec, Canada.

In 1995, Patrick began his odyssey into Montreal nightlife by presenting his imaginative and colorful shows in the gay village's largest clubs such as, K.O.X., Sky, Unity and Storm. Catching the eye of Montreal's top party promoters such as Bad Boy Club Montreal (BBCM), Bal en Blanc and Divers Cite. Patrick has created and performed in shows with crowds from 800 to 50,000 people.

Since 2002, Patrick has worked hard to define his style, appealing to a wider audience and recognition. Patrick credits SPP Production's Sunday sermon entitled, "Church" as allowing him to make progress and solidify his name amongst the DJ rank. Patrick defines his style as, "A touch of tribal beats within a house trance set, with some vocals."

Whether behind the turntables or in the show, the future seems bright for this rising star. As he continues to explore and unleash his artistry with turntables and dancefloors. Dancer, choreographer, DJ Patrick Guay, is a forced to be reckoned with. Are you ready to dance?

World Beat Night
Montréal is known the world over for its urban mix of voices, colours and beats from around the globe. In recognition of this cultural diversity, the Outgames offer a musical window to the world.

Artists: Capoeira | Danielle Lemieux
Music: D.J. Sylvie G
Happy Hour: Team Ottawa

Mexico Folklorigay
Mexico Folklorigay team comes all the way from colorful Mexico to Montreal's Outgames 2006 to present a sample of the rich and joyful folklore of their country.

Each of Mexico's many regions is home of a particular culture which is the result of the interplay of people who have come to live therre from practically all over the wrld in an uninterrupted stream several thousand years old.

Landscapes, climates, languages, crafts, customs, religions, cooking, legends, traditions, music, have contributed to the making of the mosaic of cultures that is present day Mexico.

A team of four dancers: Cornelio Chavez, Moises Arias, Jose Carlos Ruiz and Anabel Valdez, under the artistic direction of Cornelio, will perform a series of short pieces from seven of Mexico's most characteristic cultural regions. They wear the typical regional costumes and are faithful to traditional choreographies while introducing a modern gay touch, allowing, for instance, a fair amount of flirtation amog the male members of the group and for Cornelio's travestism.

This professional gay dance team offer their public a humorous and accomplished show which people from any background will certainly enjoy!

Capoeira
Capoeira is an aesthetically spectacular martial art/dance. Originally conceived in the time of Afro-Brazilian slavery, this liberation fight-dance has evolved into a fascinating mix of corporal movements demanding high energy, agility and flexibility. The unpredictably fluid movements and percussion music used to dictate this dance mesmerize our audiences, giving them a brief glimpse of Brazil’s heart and soul. The crescendo of rhythm, sound and movement end in a spectacular explosion and display of Brazilian culture …