In my opinion, San Diego Pride has two hearts: the parade and festival, and the Powerhouse Productions parties. And this year both hearts are pumpin’ hard!

The festival has several new stages for a total of 10 that will be set up in the two-day festival area. They will operate nonstop on Saturday, July 29, from 12:00 noon to 10:00 p.m. and Sunday, July 30, from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., showcasing more than 70 bands, performance artists and DJs. They include the Jack FM stage, where groups such as Flock of Seagulls, Tiffany, Jason & DeMarco (chart-rising, hot hit “Trying To Get To You”) and the 20-piece Orquesta Binacional de Mambo will perform.

The HiNRG Dance Floor stage, sponsored by Rocket magazine, is a welcome addition this year as well. DJ Jeremy, DJ Rob Harris, DJ Cesar and DJ Michael Carrera will guarantee you’ll keep your booty shaking in between the red-hot live performances of Liquid360, India and Debby Holiday.

San Diego-based Liquid360 is synthesizer programmer/engineer Mitch Williams and vocalist/DJ/producer Bruce Donally. They have been working in the recording industry for more than 10 years producing and recording national artists. During the past four years, they have turned their attention to dance music, remixing many popular artists such as Cher, Tweet, Black Eyed Peas, Gioia Bruno, Mya and Pink, to name a few.

A highly emotive approach to Latin music has led to Puerto Rico-born and Bronx, New York-raised India being dubbed, “The Princess of Salsa.” Her 1994 album, Dicen Que Soy, spent months on the Latin charts. According to JazzTimes: “[India] belts, she growls, she croons. She’s a huge talent.” Although her 1989 debut album, Breaking Night, featured hip-hop-influenced dance-pop, India’s subsequent releases have emphasized her Latin roots.

Debby Holiday’s latest dance hit, “Bring It On,” hit number 20 on the Billboard chart recently, “Half A Mile Away” went to number seven and “Dive” was number five. Currently, she is working with DJ Manny Lehman on her next remix single, “One World” (pulled off her self-titled album), to be released later this fall on Lehman’s upcoming Tommy Boy Silver CD. In addition to performing at the Rocket HiNRG Dance Floor, Holiday will also perform during Manny Lehman’s set at Circuit Daze at the San Diego Sports Arena Saturday night.

Speaking of Circuit Daze, Powerhouse Productions has planned a Pride weekend chock full of talented DJs. Things kick off Friday night aboard the California Spirit with the throbbing beats of New York’s DJ Joe Gauthreaux, who was named Out magazine’s “Hottest DJ of 2005.” The harbor cruise sails from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. and leaves from the B Street Pier.

Later Friday night, DJ Brett Henrichsen kicks it up a notch at the Pride Ball at 4th & B from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. In just five short years since his first DJ gig, Henrichsen has gone on to play at almost every major circuit event in the United States, including Gay Days in Orlando, New York Pride’s Dance on the Pier, San Diego’s Zoo Party, Cherry 8, White Party in both Palms Springs and Miami, Masterbeat New Year’s Los Angeles, Miami New Year’s and many more. Brett is one of the few U.S. circuit DJs to cross over to the international mainstream and routinely plays abroad in Amsterdam, Ibiza, London, Paris, Sydney, Sao Paulo and Rio.

DJ Manny Lehman is at the helm of Circuit Daze at the San Diego Sports Arena on Saturday night from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Lehman’s high-octane blend of aggressive, big-room vocals infused with hard tribal beats and slamming drums has landed him in the booths of virtually every important dance club in the country. He currently holds residencies at New York’s Roxy, Miami’s Crobar, D.C.’s Nation and Los Angeles’ Here.

Sunday is the world-famous Zoo Party. This year, the ever-popular Phil B. opens it up with his T-dance style made famous at the White Party, Sundance and MASS. Power-producer/DJ Tony Moran, whose peak-hour sets leave crowds wanting more (ever been to an Alegria party?), takes over after sunset. There’ll be a special performance by the beautiful and multi-talented Kristine W., who recently scored her 10th number one with “I’ll Be Your Light,” breaking the records of Madonna and Janet Jackson.

The closing party, Fete Accompli, features the return of DJ Abel, adding his remixing partner DJ Ralphi Rosario to make Rosabel. This will be the first time ever Rosabel performs in San Diego. Check them out from 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. at 4th & B. Already successful dance music artists individually, the duo has hit number one on the chart five times. 2000’s “Don’t You Want My Love” featured vocalist Debbie Jacobs-Rock, 2001’s “The Power” featured Jeanie Tracy and, in 2002, they spent a week at number one with “That Sound.” “Cha Cha Heels” from 2004 was another track featuring Tracy and their fifth number one, “Rhythm Intoxication,” came in 2006.

For more information about San Diego Pride, visit wwwsdpride.org. For more information on the Powerhouse Productions parties and to purchase tickets online, visit www.powerhouse-productions.com.