fab's Pride DJ guide

As the gays gather for Toronto Pride, die-hard circuit followers and club-kids-at-heart are looking to hit the dancefloors, and it’s easy to get lost in the choices. Resident dance music aficionado Eduardo Sabate highlights some of the DJs spinning throughout the city to help you navigate this special week.

Cajjmere Wray (TO)
A staple in Toronto’s club scene, Cajjmere Wray gets the crowd grooving with his top-40 remixes, progressive house and electribal tunes. His remixes include the hit single “Over It (Cry Baby),” which stayed on the top-10 dance charts for nearly six months.   Wed, June 27, 10pm. The Barn, 418 Church St. thebarnnightclub.com

Micke Hi (Sweden)
From a small Swedish town straight to the big-city clubs, Micke Hi keeps the crowd dancing with terrific tribal-house beats. This DJ provides nothing but sexy rhythms and vocals. Thurs, June 28, 9pm. fly, 8 Gloucester St. flynightclub.com

Gavin T (Miami)
Gavin T is sure to bring the heat during his set at Blaze, the first-ever gay party thrown at the Hard Rock Café. A resident at Miami’s Club Boi, Gavin specializes in your hips and groin with a sweltering mix of hip hop, reggaeton, dancehall and bachata.
Fri, June 29, 7pm. Hard Rock Café, 279 Yonge St. hardrockcafe.com

MC Flipside (TO)
Canada’s most recognized dance-music DJ, producer and vocalist, MC Flipside has headlined alongside the Black Eyed Peas, Wu-Tang Clan and Deee-Lite. When he picks up the mic, the roof blows off. Fri, June 29, 9pm. Central Stage, Church St.

Honey Dijon (NYC)
Gigs for Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Rick Owens and other tastemakers have made Honey Dijon one of the most sought-after DJs in the fashion scene. She draws from a wide repertoire of musical styles: old-school Chicago house, disco, tech house, tribal, funk, soul and R&B.
Sat, June 30, 1–8pm. Sugar Beach, foot of Lower Jarvis St. prismtoronto.com

Hector Fonseca (NYC)
Credited with starting the electribal house music sound, producer and DJ Hector Fonseca’s remixes include “Heart Attack” and “U Ain’t That Good,” which reached the Billboard top 10.
Fri, June 29, 10pm. The Guvernment, 132 Queen’s Quay E. prismtoronto.com

Larry Tee (NYC)
House/pop DJ and producer Larry Tee helped launch a number of careers: RuPaul, the Scissor Sisters, Peaches, to name a few. He coined the term electroclash, a style that combines synthpop, techno, punk and performance art.
Fri, June 29, 10pm. The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St W. garrisontoronto.com

Tony Moran (NYC)
Grammy-nominated producer and tribal-house DJ Tony Moran has written for, remixed and produced all kinds of people: Michael Jackson, Gloria Estefan, Cher, Céline Dion, Deborah Cox — even the London Symphony Orchestra.
Fri, June 29, 10pm. The Guvernment, 132 Queen’s Quay E. prismtoronto.com

Deko-ze (TO)
Deko-ze has been shaking up the Toronto underground scene for years with his fusion of house, tribal, progressive and tech-trance. He’s guaranteed to rock the crowd and create one hell of a night and early morning. Sat, June 30, 1pm. Wellesley Stage, Yonge and Wellesley.

Denise Benson (TO)
One of Toronto’s most respected DJs, radio personalities and music writers, Denise Benson shows off her skills in the booth by spinning crowd-hyping house and electronic tracks. Sat, June 30, 9pm. Revival, 783 College St. revivalbar.com

DUCK SAUCE (NYC/MTL)
Armand Van Helden and Atrack are Duck Sauce and you know them from their ultra-dance hit “Barbra Streisand.” They are crazy and insanely talented Djs who know how to drive a crowd into a frenzy. They’ll be shaking the earth at the Digital Dreams festival this weekend. 11am The Flats at Molson Canadian Amphitheatre, 909 Lake Shore Blvd. $110 advance. Digitaldreamsfest,.com

Lady Miss Kier (NYC)
It’s almost a tradition that the Deee-liteful Lady Miss Kier comes to spin for us at Pride. The bodacious redhead and her bag of ’90s house tricks are a guaranteed party. If we’re lucky, she’ll also get on the mic to sing along and slap a tambourine.
Sat, June 30, 10pm. The Barn, 418 Church St. thebarnnightclub.com

Peter Rauhofer (Austira)
Grammy winner, house/tribal DJ, producer and remixer Peter Rauhofer is the founder of Star69 Entertainment. This guy rules the gay dance circuit right now. Sun, July 1, 10pm. The Guvernment, 132 Queen’s Quay E. prismtoronto.com

Richie Santana (NYC)
House/tribal/tech DJ and producer Richie Santana has remixed numerous Billboard top 10s, including “Melancholy Rose” and “Looking for Love,”and has collaborated with Chus & Ceballos, Victor Calderone and Peter Bailey. Sat, June 30, 11pm. Central Stage, Church St.

JJ Rock (TO)
JJ Rock has been tearing up clubs and airwaves for a decade with her hip hop and R&B jams fused with dancehall, reggae and soca. She’s opened for some major urban artists: Keri Hilson, Q-Tip, Ray J, Little Brother, MOP and Evidence Sat, June 30, 10pm. Pacha Lounge, 1305 Dundas St W. pachalounge.net

Micky Friedmann (Germany)
One of the sexiest DJs in the world, Micky Friedmann prides himself on the unpredictability of his sets, whether he’s spinning tech, vocal or electro-house. An Israeli-born German with a background in ballet and modelling, Friedmann is a true renaissance man in the DJ booth. Sat, June 30, 10pm. Kool Haus, 132 Queen’s Quay E. prismtoronto.com

Chus & Ceballos (Spain)
Chus & Ceballos are a notorious pair of house/tribal DJs from Madrid. They created the Iberican Sound concept, which has influenced house music worldwide and made Spain one of the world’s top club destinations.  Sat, June 30, 10pm. Kool Haus, 132 Queen’s Quay E. prismtoronto.com