NEWSWIRE

Yorkfest 2005:
Rock your way to school with k-os

This year’s free big bash and "everything-you-want-to-know-about-York" festival is back with a bang. The event is set to take place Wednesday at the Harry Arthurs Common on York's Keele campus. The York University Student Centre in conjunction with the Underground are presenting Yorkfest, which is the largest one day event at the University.

Now in its 10th year, Yorkfest provides a great opportunity for new musical talent to shoulder up to big name bands during a mainstage concert. Each year the musical act component of Yorkfest grows and changes to accommodate students’ taste in music and performances.

The talented musical groups set to perform this year include former York film & video student Kevin Brereton, better known as k-os. Sometimes described as a hip-hop revolutionary, Brereton is a rising star in the hip-hop world., As k-os he defies convention, casts aside the stereotypes associated with rap artists and pushes for change. His socially significant lyrics are powerful and his performances are memorizing. He told the Edmonton Journal he was trying to redefine hip-hop through his music videos. "It’s like I keep saying, you have to keep yourself grounded. I’m just trying to redefine what a role model is, what hip-hop is. A role model is a case study; there’s room to be flawed and make mistakes but the media changes that." In an interview for the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, Brereton said he learned that narrow musical definitions would restrict him from singing as well as rapping, and from adding acoustic guitar and piano to hip-hop's usual soundscape. But he did it anyway. "It's just how I express myself," says Brereton modestly. "It doesn't make me a revolutionary." After his gig at York, k-os heads off to the US for concerts in Philadelphia (Sept. 24) and New York (Sept. 26).

The Cheap Suits were born in a basement in Scarborough. What started as a one-off performance for their high-school talent night has turned into a promising career for these young upstarts. Five years later, the band has found its footing and sound and is ready to roll with their catchy blend of pop, punk, ska and soul.

Rising from the ashes of London, Ont. based band POPJOY, The Joys are a four-piece group that mixes many musical influences, resulting in a sound that is both contemporary and classic in its origins, and served up with heaping doses of energy.

Liam Titcomb is a native of Toronto and he isn’t afraid to make music his own way. Titcomb’s debut album features a pop base with an underlying folk flavour. His poetic lyrics and vibrant voice have a slight country feel.

Controller.Controller has an energetic sound that is rhythmic post-punk rock, taking a cue from late 70s and early 80s bands like P.I.L., The Slits and Joy Division. Controller.Controller is all about tension and opposition, juxtaposing discordant and jagged rhythms with disarmingly pretty melody and counter-melody.

Jully Black is known for her signature rasp and soul-stirring voice. She captured the ears of rappers like Choclair, Kardinal Offishall and Baby Blue Soundcrew, who recruited Jully to sing and write on their singles. Her association with Canada's hip-hop elite became a launching pad for her career and now she's received four Juno Award nominations and four MuchMusic Video Award nominations.

Also featured is the band Biggs Philosophies. The winners of York’s 2005 Battle of the Bands, this group's indie-rock sound is post-punk and gives new meaning to the term "atomic". Headed for stardom, they’ve returned to their York roots for Yorkfest.

In addition to the concert, York’s many student services and clubs offer informative displays in the York Village. This year the village area will highlight more services on-campus than in previous years; and host over 80 tables including clubs, services and companies all offering tons of prizes and giveaways.

Check the Yorkfest Web site for a full event schedule.