Visit the Zen Lounge on October 1st for a showcase of Hamilton's rising underground hip-hop musicians.
As the nights get colder, Hamilton's music scene is heating up.
After what felt like years of hibernation, artists in the community are coming together to create socially distant live entertainment. 'Underground Vibes' is a yearly rap show organized by Kevin Williamson, or Ktriggs. This year, it'll be held on October 1st at The Zen Lounge.
"The event Underground Vibes, or U.V. for short, began in 2018 at a local venue on the Hamilton Mountain," said Ktriggs. "I've take it upon myself to bring back the UV show once a year as a showcase for upcoming artists in the city. I wanted to take bigger steps and move toward a larger venue to allow more space for performers and attendees."
The gig will include performances from hip-hop musicians Ktriggs, Lucky, Old Soul, Wes Gray, Tr4th, ParkFromCC, Caesar, Smoothie Lou, and DJ Grind Abrasion.
"I brought many of these artists into plans for shows I had scheduled before COVID-19 closed venues for events," said Ktriggs. "As I had not gotten an opportunity to work with most of the artists on the show previously, I wanted to make good on those previous commitments. Also the fact that every artist on this show is underground and upcoming from the local area, each of them has their own unique sound, and bring something different to the stage."
Although most restrictions regarding large gatherings have lifted across Ontario, in order to avoid a second wave, artists and art-lovers need to do their part to keep the community safe.
"In regards to COVID-19 restrictions, there are multiple in place to ensure the safety of the venue workers, performers and patrons," said Ktriggs. "Starting with the sale of tickets all being done based upon reservation with me beforehand, physical tickets will not be available for purchase at the door. Also, people will not be allowed to enter the venue without having their own mask or purchasing one from the attendant upon arrival. Another measure is socially distanced booths, where groups are limited to eight individuals. People will be allowed to take off their masks when sitting at their table drinking or eating, but they must put it back on if they are leaving the seat."
Grab a ticket while you can by messaging Ktriggs via Instagram.