Ottawa has fostered some of Canada’s hottest urban music stars, like GRAMMY-award winning Belly, former teen star and BET’s 106 & Park co-host Keshia Chanté, and hit maker Massari to name a few, so it seems only appropriate that the urban music scene be just as celebrated in the city as other music genres are at Ottawa’s dozens of music fests throughout the year.
If you’ve been dying for more hip-hop focused events in the National Capital Region, it looks like the time has finally come thanks to the recently formed Capital Region Association for Nurturing the Industry of Urban Music (CRANIUM). This organization is about to make sure that urban music, and urban culture as a whole, has a secure spot in Ottawa’s blooming music scene and community.
CRANIUM describes itself as a small, but tight-knit and focused organization that is focused on the promotion and success of local musicians and local music professionals and strives to make Ottawa a hub for the urban music scene – a place where independent, upcoming talent can connect with industry professionals that can help get their name out into the international scene.
The organization’s biggest community event is their three-day music festival, appropriately called CRANIUM Festival. The festival’s inaugural edition is this week and will feature 20 different hip-hop artists from across the region, and neighbouring cities like Toronto and Montreal, performing live shows at a couple of the hottest music venues in town: Queen St. Fare and Babylon Nightclub.
The festival offers a diverse lineup such as the multi-talented, Ottawa-born City Fidelia, known for his soulful poetry and rap that touches on hardships and experiences that deeply resonate with audiences. Other artists include R&B/hip-hop artist Mischa, rap and trap genius Lia Kloud and various DJs like Circa Beatz.
Don’t miss this chance to support Ottawa’s colourful and exciting urban scene and take in some awesome music! The festival runs Nov. 14th – 16th and tickets are on sale now. For the full festival lineup and to purchase tickets, visit the CRANIUM Festival website.
Header graphic: City Fidelia, Mischa and Lia Kloud
Photo Credit: CRANIUM