Alternative rap legend k-os added to Convergence Festival lineup in Oshawa, Ontario

The Convergence Music & Art Festival, which will transform downtown Oshawa into a hub of music, art and creativity Sept. 19-20, just earned an extra splash of cool with the announcement that k-os, a legendary rapper, singer, songwriter and producer, will be performing at BOND|ST Event Centre for the official after-party event.

Toronto-born, Whitby and Trinidad-raised, k-os (Kevin Brereton) has been a pioneer in the Canadian alternative rap scene since his first (of six) albums, Exit, was released in 2002. Two of his releases have gone platinum in Canada, including his 2004 album Joyful Rebellion, which contained the hit single ‘Crabbuckit’ and his 2006 release Atlantis: Hymns for Disco, with Sunday Morning.

A musician as well as a producer, k-os has written and produced nearly every part of of his albums and usually performs with a live band, which is traditionally uncommon in the hip hop genre.

Getting k-os to perform is a bit of a coup for the BOND|ST crew, but when his family still lives in Whitby it didn’t take six degrees of separation to find a connection.

“One of our bartenders knows him,” said BOND|ST’s Nick Marshall Diachenko, who gave a shout-out to Emma Stone for the hook-up. “We hired him to do a Halloween DJ set last October and we’ve kept in touch since and always planned to do a show with him.”

“We thought Convergence would be a good spot.”

Diachenko reached out to Convergence and festival director Krista Licsi and the show was added to the lineup as the official after-party event.

The show will be a ticketed event at the more intimate (capacity 400) TwoTwoTwo space downstairs, with the show kicking off as Valley ends its headline gig outside at 9 p.m.

Convergence is a free two-day event, organized by Oshawa Tourism that features Juno-nominated headliner Valley, alongside performances by Aysanabee, Frank Mighty, Zakisha and more on two stages in the heart of downtown.

Valley

Festival goers can also experience art up close in the Art Zone or walk through immersive art installations, with local artists Danielle Alexander, Jamaica Bridgett, Vicky the Real Artist, Vidhya Srijesh, Ally Wang and Theresa Wyatt live painting Muskoka chairs throughout Saturday at Civic Square.

A collaborative chalk mural will also be set up near the live painting area for all festival goers to contribute and there will be plenty of other family-friendly arts activities as part of the festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Civic Square.

A groundbreaking, immersive art experience called Dimension X will highlight the festival as well by “stretching the boundaries of imagination and curiosity” as local artists Chris Trubella, Milissa McKnight & Jason Dasti, Jordan Anderson, James Zirco Fisher and chrrie transform shipping containers into portals to extraordinary worlds.

Each container at Dimension X offers an interactive, multi-sensory installation that transports visitors to an alternate dimension. From glowing bioluminescent mushrooms to a time-warping bakery and eerie coral graveyards, festival-goers can expect to be captivated by the surreal and otherworldly.

The Strumbellas at the 2023 Convergence Festival in downtown Oshawa. Photo Year of the Drone/City of Oshawa

Friday will be devoted to the rise of hip hop and its culture in Oshawa and will be on display during the festival with RISE ‘til Infinity kicking off the opening day with a celebration of the legacy and future of ‘Hip Hop Kulture’ and its fusions.

RISE Til’ INFINITY, a new partnership between RISE Edutainment, Tanika iNsight Circles (Hip Hop Til’ INFINITY), the Oshawa Tourism division of the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion department at the Region of Durham, will showcase live performances from veteran hip hop artists Dan-e-o to rising Oshawa star Keysha Freshh, along with Tara Lord, live visual artist Sun Of Aquarius, DJs, beat boxers, break dancers and a BIPOC community marketplace.

For the full Convergence schedule and event map, visit convergenceoshawa.com.

For information on the K-os after party, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/k-os-official-after-party-convergence-festival-2025-tickets-1461998790739?aff=oddtdtcreator