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Denise Benson

@denisebenson

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Story & Chase Producer, Writer, Researcher, DJ & Mom. 🎼 lover. 🏀 fan. Queer. Author: Then & Now Toronto Nightlife History. @cherrybombtoronto
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Queer the rave! OUTRAVE (@outrave_docuseries) premieres this Sunday (Feb 5) at 9:30pm EST on @Revrytv. Watch then or on-demand, for free, on Revry - across all devices and platforms worldwide. Our musical journey begins in Toronto. Join us! #2slgbtq #rave #queer #toronto #revrytv #outrave by @denisebenson
3
4 years ago
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Thank you CHERRY BOMBers! What a night! The vibes were SO right, all of the performances & DJ sets absolutely fantastic, and there was so much pride, love and queer joy in the room!!! Here is a little taste of what it looked and felt like at CB Pride this past Saturday night, with lots more photos to come! Big thanks out to photographers @beth_hamersmash (colour, crowd photos) & @jesusssister (sepia, performer / stage shots) for their captures and to EVERYONE who joined us at Mod Club! taken in The Mod Club by @denisebenson
9
3 months ago
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the one ‘n only COZMIC CAT! Not only are we just FOUR DAYS away from CB PRIDE 2026, today we are also celebrating the boundless energy of CB co-founder @cozmiccatofficial 😺🎚️🏳️‍🌈 Those of you who enjoyed the sounds and vibes of S.H.E. Saturdays at 488 Yonge in the ‘90s, may recall that Cozmic once guested alongside me (Denise) when she was visiting back home (Coz was DJing, making music, and holding down a radio show in Philly at that time). We connected through music immediately. Flash forward to 2007, and the two of us decided to create this party we called CHERRY BOMB – with music and inclusivity at its heart right from our start! BIG THANKS to everyone who’s joined us on this journey so far! Check the next slide for more about my CB collaborator’s many incredible talents: COZMIC CAT (she / her) @cozmiccatofficial is a Toronto-based House and Electronic music DJ and producer celebrated for her dynamic, high-energy performances and boundary-crossing collaborations. As a Black, queer artist, she brings a distinctive perspective to the global music scene, blending electronic House with funk, disco, Latin, pop, soul, and Tech House, creating an inclusive, world-class sound that resonates across cultures and communities. Cozmic has released music on a range of international labels, and traveled globally to DJ at festivals and hotspots in Ibiza, Amsterdam, Ireland, France, South Africa, Australia, Fiji, Puerto Rico and Canada. She’s shared stages with iconic artists such as ANNA, Claptone, Horse Meat Disco, and Ultra Naté, and had her mixes aired on the likes of BBC Radio 1 Dance. Cozmic’s current release, “Lost In The Club” is out via @constantcircles, with TWO E.P.s soon to drop on U.K. label @he.she.they. Catch Cozmic on a number of stages and lineups this Pride week, including @wiggleroomtoronto on Sunday (June 28). BUT! The Cozmic one has been planning an EXTRA SPECIAL SET for CHERRY BOMB PRIDE (beginning right after performances by Jag Noir, Manny Dingo and Neno Freebird). Cozmic has extra love in her heart for you, CHERRY BOMBers! Why? …. “My fav thing about playing CB is the range of music I can explore with the crowd. It’s taken in The Mod Club by @denisebenson
39
4 months ago
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That was fun! Summer solstice done right! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️✨ Kicked off Pre-Pride festivities with a walk down the rainbow-covered Church Street. Stopped by @understorytoronto for delicious bites and drinks, took in the incredible art installations at @nuitroseto, and chatted with many amazing artists including the delightful @jamesfowlerart. We even walked away with a custom, original poem from @thedeliberateprosestore! 📝 The most perfect summer evening with my cutie girlfriend db, @denisebenson. ❤️ Thank you for tolerating my paparazzi ways 📸 #nuitrose #love #pride #torontopride #2slgbtqia by @denisebenson
4
4 months ago
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CHERRY BOMBers, we are now just 9 DAYS AWAY from welcoming you all to this year’s EXTRA special edition of CB PRIDE! With an absolutely stacked lineup of DJs and performers, this one will truly be a celebration of community, talent and our shared Pride. QUEER LOVE = POWER! Today, we’d like to welcome a certain King Charming back to the CHERRY BOMB stage and spotlight. They are a CB fave, our most frequent guest over the years of CHERRY BOMB PRIDE, and a beloved member of our extended Cherry Bomb fam – all with very good reason! If you’ve heard them spin, you’ll know our love is real. If you’ve not yet heard them play to a packed, up-for-it crowd, then we strongly suggest you jump at the chance to catch their peak-time set with us, on Saturday June 27! Without further ado, a little more about one of Toronto’s most dynamic and compelling DJs: SOUNDBOI (they / them) @dj.soundboi is a genre-blending force with deep roots in dancehall, world sounds, and electronic beats. Known for sharp transitions, bold energy, and taking crowds on a journey, they’ve played iconic queer spaces across Canada, the U.S. and Europe. Bass heavy, genre-fluid, no skips. Soundboi will have you sweating on the dancefloor! Watch this space for more artist profiles, event info and venue FAQs! 🍒🪩🏳️‍🌈 🔥 CHERRY BOMB PRIDE: QUEER LOVE = POWER! Saturday June 27 . 9pm - 3am ADVANCE TICKETS $25 (plus HST & service fees). Link in bio. Reserve your spot on the CB dancefloor. ** Advance tix are getting low ** $40 COVER at the DOOR MOD CLUB (@themodclub) . 722 College a Wheelchair Accessible, top-tier dance club & performance venue CHERRY BOMB is a fun, flirty, INCLUSIVE 19+ PARTY for Queer Women, Trans & Nonbinary people & ALL of our friends and allies. PLUR + Queer Love + Pride = Power! (CB PRIDE 2026 art & design by @timpsingleton) taken in The Mod Club by @denisebenson
14
4 months ago
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We are now just 11 DAYS AWAY from reconnecting on the CHERRY BOMB PRIDE dancefloor! This city is already deep into Pride Month, and getting more festive by the day! Coz and DB are working away behind the CB scenes, making sure we bring you all an absolutely incredible event on Saturday June 27th. As you’ve heard in this space, it will be a party from the moment doors open at 9pm – Denise Benson spins Queer Club Classics, Dyke Dancefloor Faves & Lesbionic Bangers from 9 to 10:30pm, followed directly by performances from Jag Noir, Manny Dingo and Neno Freebird – until we wrap at 3am. We have a few more DJs to shine the CB PRIDE Artist Spotlight on, including this fast-rising local who will make her CHERRY BOMB debut! We are stoked to bring you the sounds and energy of the one ‘n only: THIRDEYE (she / her) @thirdeye.wav is a Toronto-based DJ known for high-energy sets that keep people moving. Blending house, disco, club, techno, Latin, pop and beyond, her sound moves fluidly across genres while staying rooted in dancefloor energy. THIRDEYE has played major queer and sapphic festivals across Toronto, including Lavender Wild and All Things Go, as well as at a wide range of venues, including CODA, Rebel, Wiggle Room, and Crews & Tangos. Beyond the booth, she is a co-founder of Shorty Hotline, a collective dedicated to uplifting POC DJs in Toronto. Catch her closing out Cherry Bomb on June 27th! Watch this space for more artist profiles, event info and venue FAQs! 🍒🪩🏳️‍🌈 🔥 CHERRY BOMB PRIDE: QUEER LOVE = POWER! Saturday June 27 . 9pm - 3am ADVANCE TICKETS $25 (plus HST & service fees). Link in bio. $40 at the door. MOD CLUB (@themodclub) . 722 College a Wheelchair Accessible, top-tier dance club & performance venue CHERRY BOMB is a fun, flirty, INCLUSIVE 19+ PARTY for Queer Women, Trans & Nonbinary people & ALL of our friends and allies. PLUR + Queer Love + Pride = Power! (CB PRIDE 2026 art & design by @timpsingleton) taken in The Mod Club by @denisebenson
15
4 months ago
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Toronto: if you went out to lesbian, queer and uniquely mixed parties in the ‘90s, 2000s, 2010s and beyond, chances are you’re familiar with CB co-founder/DJ Denise Benson (aka dEnisE bEnson) from her events like S.H.E. Saturdays, Thirst, Dyke Nite, Bent, glide, Synchro and Savour. Perhaps you listened to Denise’s influential radio program – Mental Chatter on CKLN 88.1FM – or read her writing in Exclaim!, EYE Weekly or her book, Then & Now: Toronto Nightlife History. No matter when or where, Denise is known for bringing crowds and communities together through music and for always sounding a little bit different. DB brings a love of everything from indie, dub and disco to ragga, rave, house and more – leaning to bouncy beats, bendy basslines, and strong, sexy vocals. Above all, Denise has an ear for the QUEER in any sound, and has connected generations of 2SLGBTQIA+ folks on the ‘floor. This CB PRIDE, she’s creating a very special set for you all! From 9 - 10:30pm, Denise will mix Queer Club Classics, Dyke Dancefloor Faves and Lesbionic Bangers from past, present and future! Think: Latifah to Le Tigre, Peaches to The Beaches, Technotronic to Tove Lo, Robin S to…Robyn (!!), Yaz, Eurythmics, Janelle, Missy, Kehlani, Hayley, HAAi, Honey Dijon and heaps more. This set is most def ‘For the Girls!’ Watch this space for more artist profiles! 🍒🪩🏳️‍🌈 🔥 CHERRY BOMB PRIDE: QUEER LOVE = POWER! Saturday June 27 . 9pm - 3am ** We’ve planned this extra special event with ALL of our Cherry Bombers in mind. It’s a party from doors open to doors closed, with a huge range of talent, energy and sounds in the mix! ** ADVANCE TICKETS $25 (plus HST & service fees). Link in bio. $40 at the door. MOD CLUB (@themodclub) . 722 College Street a Wheelchair Accessible, top-tier dance club & performance venue CHERRY BOMB is a fun, flirty, INCLUSIVE 19+ PARTY for Queer Women, Trans & Nonbinary people & ALL of our friends and allies. PLUR + Queer Love + Pride = Power! (CB PRIDE 2026 art by @timpsingleton. Props to @kathrynboydfinearts for the newer DB photos & artist collage) #2slgbtqia #queertoronto #sapphic #lesbian #torontopride taken in The Mod Club by @denisebenson
25
4 months ago
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Ooooooh yeah! It’s no secret that your CHERRY BOMB resident DJs and co-founders, Cozmic Cat and Denise Benson, are both huge house heads, with a shared longtime love of disco, funk and all things soulful. This is a big part of what brought us together to launch CB some moons ago, and remains at CB’s core – just like our commitment to inclusivity and positive, respectful vibes. SO... you can imagine our joy at presenting a short set by the highly entertaining, deeply funky AND fun live vocalist @shahiinthesky! CHERRY BOMBers, put your hands together for the CB DEBUT of: SHAHI (she/her) Shahi Teruko (pronounced ‘Shah-high’) is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter whose magnetic stage presence blends disco, soul, and house into an unforgettable live experience. Formerly the frontwoman of the 9-piece funk ensemble The Soul Motivators (@soulmotivators), with whom she released two original full-length albums, Shahi now delivers immersive solo performances that transform every room into a dance floor she commands. She’s a power to be reckoned with—fearless, soulful, and irresistibly seductive. You DO NOT want to miss her midnight performance! Shahi is crafting a fresh, tight set of originals and covers (think Crystal Waters... if we’re lucky!) guaranteed to be highly memorable! Be prepared to smile, dance and sweat! Watch this space for more artist profiles! 🍒🪩🏳️‍🌈 🔥 CHERRY BOMB PRIDE: QUEER LOVE = POWER! Saturday June 27 . 9pm - 3am ADVANCE TICKETS $25 (plus HST & service fees). Link in bio. $40 at the door. MOD CLUB (@themodclub) . 722 College Street . a Wheelchair Accessible, top-tier dance club & performance venue CHERRY BOMB is a fun, flirty, INCLUSIVE 19+ PARTY for Queer Women, Trans & Nonbinary people & ALL of our friends and allies. PLUR + Queer Love + Pride = Power! (CB PRIDE 2026 art & design by @timpsingleton) taken in The Mod Club by @denisebenson
22
4 months ago
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Taking a moment to appreciate the past weekend of fun with my cutie Kathryn aka @despitethewaves. It was relaxing, rejuvenating and filled with spontaneous moments in this city we both love. Much needed! P.S. A shoutout to the amazing staff (and food!) at @stefanosdiner. You were fantastically on point & a highlight of our Saturday eve on Dundas West during the Fest! taken in Toronto Canada by @denisebenson
2
4 months ago
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CHERRY BOMBers, rev those engines and message your crew ‘cause we are now **less than 3 weeks away** from the fun, flirty 🔥🔥🔥 of CB PRIDE 2026! We can’t wait to dance, sweat and celebrate with you all again OR to see your collective enjoyment as this year’s performers take to the stage! Today, we’d like to showcase the singular, seductive burlesque bird of fire who returns for their 3rd CB PRIDE in a row! By popular request, we present to you: NENO FREEBIRD (she / they / them) Neno Freebird (@_.xo.freebird.ox._) is an Afro-Indigenous 2Spirit Queer performance artist and fire like no other. Founding member of Toronto’s only Indigenous Burlesque Collective, “IndigiBabes,” this Bird has blazed stages with Les Femmes Fatales, Thirst Nation, The Royal Court, Under Wear, Indigenous Arts Fashion Festivals, Kreative Kulture, Montréal Suoni Festival and many more. Neno is known for their ultra seductive, crowd engaging and thought provoking moments through the art of seduction and storytelling dubbed Burlesque. Are you ready for this Bird of fire? ** NENO FREEBIRD, JAG NOIR and MANNY DINGO will perform in back-to-back-to-back original numbers, beginning at 10:30pm. Our doors open at 9pm and Mod Club has LOTS of excellent viewing spots on each of its two levels. Arrive early to catch a vibe and find YOUR sweet spots! ** Watch this space for more artist profiles! 🍒🪩🏳️‍🌈 CHERRY BOMB PRIDE: QUEER LOVE = POWER! Saturday June 27 . 9pm - 3am ADVANCE TICKETS $25 (plus HST & service fees). Link in bio. $40 at the door. MOD CLUB (@themodclub) . 722 College Street a wheelchair accessible, top-tier dance club & performance venue CHERRY BOMB is a fun, flirty, INCLUSIVE 19+ PARTY for Queer Women, Trans & Nonbinary people & ALL of our friends and allies. PLUR + Queer Love + Pride = Power! (CB PRIDE 2026 art & design by @timpsingleton) taken in The Mod Club by @denisebenson
12
4 months ago
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This was a fun weekly (glide Wednesdays), time period (mid ‘90s to mid 2000s T.O. was so alive with innovative music, events & venues) and place (Gypsy Co-op at 817 Queen West). I’m not one to look back and think things like ‘Those were the good old days’ - because I firmly believe every generation builds on the work and creative energy of those who came before. And also because humans of all generations and time periods most certainly make their own magic and memories. BUT I do very much appreciate all of the opportunities so many of us had to create, produce and play during this time period because there were far more independent venues of every size (along with a number of other factors). A city’s affordability plays a huge role in whose creative expression gets to be showcased and shared. Thanks for the flashback, @musicmilestonesyyzpod (I was looking for those glasses the other day!) taken in Queen St West, Toronto by @denisebenson
11
4 months ago
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Happy Pride Month, CHERRY BOMBers! It is absolutely starting to feel like Pride in T.O. The sun is shining, the temps are positively summer-like and the vibes are niiiiiice! We are now just 24 days away from CHERRY BOMB PRIDE and we can feel your excitement ‘cause advance tickets are selling fast AND there has been a lot of love pouring in for the artists you’ll see and hear with us this year! We’d like to introduce you to another performer who’ll soon make their CB debut! Fun story: this Prince first attended a CHERRY BOMB at our 2018 Pride party, while visiting from Halifax. He tells us that going to that party “definitely made an impact on me moving here,” which he did just 8 months later! MANNY DINGO (he / him) @princemannydingo is a Drag King hailing from Haliwood, Nova Scotia. Performing all around Canada since 2015 and taking up space in Toronto since 2019, Manny is a powerhouse performer who blends gymnastics with vogue and waacking, and looks to express a mix of femininity and masculinity, both on stage and off. Serving a mix of Prince, Lil Nas X and your favourite fashionable gay uncle, Manny can be seen on Crave TV’s ‘Drag Brunch Saved My Life’, in season 4 of CBC docu-series ‘Canada’s a Drag,’ and as part of fun, queer feature film Backspot. ** Manny is said to be cooking up a special bit of “drag-lesque” for CB PRIDE. Trust us – you don’t wanna miss! We recommend arriving on the early side ‘cause MANNY, JAG NOIR and NENO FREEBIRD will hit the stage, in back-to-back numbers, from 10:30pm. ** Watch this space for more artist profiles! 🍒🪩🏳️‍🌈 CHERRY BOMB PRIDE: QUEER LOVE = POWER! Saturday June 27 . 9pm - 3am ADVANCE TICKETS $25 (plus HST & service fees). Link in bio. $40 at the door. MOD CLUB (@themodclub) . 722 College Street A wheelchair accessible, top-tier dance club & performance venue CHERRY BOMB is a fun, flirty, INCLUSIVE 19+ PARTY for Queer Women, Trans & Nonbinary people & ALL of our friends and allies. PLUR + Queer Love + Pride = Power! (CB PRIDE 2026 art & design by @timpsingleton) taken in The Mod Club by @denisebenson
21
4 months ago
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