New Democrat member of Parliament Charlie Angus continues to play coy amid speculation he may announce his entry into the NDP leadership race at an event in downtown Toronto next weekend.

The MP for Timmins—James Bay is hosting a party at the Horseshoe Tavern on Queen Street West on February 26, along with Toronto-based musician Jason Collett. A Facebook page created for the event says the party will feature “a killer line up of musicians” and “maybe a few speeches.”

“Come out and get active in what will be one fantastic and wild ride,” the description reads.

New Democrats are curious when an announcement from Angus might come and one source told iPolitics they suspect that will happen at the Toronto event. When asked Saturday whether he plans to make a leadership announcement at the tavern, Angus provided a delightfully cryptic answer.

“Come by the shoe and see,” he wrote in an email. “It will be a fun day.”

The event page on Facebook also features a cover photo that says: “Got your back! Comptez sur moi!”

Angus stepped down as NDP caucus chair in November, and also dropped his indigenous affairs critic role to consider a possible leadership bid. He’s been tapped as a “top contender” for the position.

The MP, who has represented his Northern Ontario riding in the House of Commons since 2004, is well-known for championing indigenous rights issues. In particular, he’s been a vocal advocate for Attawapiskat — a First Nation in Angus’s riding that declared a state of emergency in 2016 after a number of youth suicide attempts — and has been relentlessly calling on the federal government to end discrimination against aboriginal children.

Before entering federal politics, Angus worked in several lines of work, including journalism and construction. In the 1980s, he and his wife, Brit Griffin, ran a homeless shelter out of a house they purchased in downtown Toronto.

Angus has also written several books and used to be a member of punk rock band L’Étranger. He is currently the lead singer for Grievous Angels, an alternative country band born in Toronto.

British Columbia MP Peter Julian was the first to register as an NDP leadership candidate in late December and officially announced his bid last weekend. According to the Elections Canada website, Julian remains the only registered candidate to date.

Quebec MP Guy Caron also passed off his critic roles earlier this month, and said he “can’t wait to announce” his decision by the end of February.

Other Dippers who have publicly expressed some interest in running to replace outgoing leader Thomas Mulcair include ex-union leader Sid Ryan and Ontario NDP MPP Jagmeet Singh. Insiders have also told iPolitics Manitoba MP Niki Ashton is likely to run.

During a technical briefing held Friday at the NDP headquarters in Ottawa, the party’s national director mapped out how the leadership race will take shape and announced the debate line-up.

The NDP’s website says that its new leader “will be selected no later than October 29th, 2017.”