FESTIVAL LINEUP
2010 PERFORMERS
Coming soon!
2009 PERFORMERS
Click here for Schedule
Divine Brown - R&B/Soul
(Saturday September 26)
For years, JUNO Award Winner and musical powerhouse Divine Brown (formerly Divine Earth Essence) has been quietly carving out her own history on the Canadian R&B and soul circuit. A kid who used to mimic the greats (Chaka! Aretha!) she heard on scratchy vinyl and filtered through radio waves, Divine paid her dues on the exhausting Toronto club circuit before she was old enough to legally hang out in bars, then honed her skills as a live performer with stints on the musical theatre stage, busting moves and belting her heart out as a cast member of shows like Ain't Misbehavin' and Rent.
Despite the fact that she didn't have a proper recording on store shelves, Divine's effervescent energy and formidable stage presence - not to mention her mind-blowing vocal range - made her a star before she finally released her much-anticipated self-titled debut in 2005. That album, bolstered by the strength of its gorgeous retro single 'Old-School Love' - a swooning return to a time of slow dancing and doo-wop choruses - cemented Divine's reputation as one of the country's strongest urban talents.
Three years later, Divine has returned with a tour-de-force album, a virtual trip through both the last half-century of soul music and the roller-coaster ride of love dubbed - appropriately - The Love Chronicles.
Tricky Moreira FLOW 93.5 – Host
(Saturday September 26th)
Tricky Moreira has been a key figure in the house music scene since it's inception; playing flawless sets at hundreds of local & international events across North America, Europe, The Middle East, & Asia. Moreira's technical knowledge and ability to manipulate music & sounds through turntable tactics & brilliant musical programming enabled him to be recognized world-over for his talents.
With a diploma in Broadcasting and serious skills that pay the bills behind the decks, Toronto's hit radio station The New FLOW 93.5FM boasts Tricky Moreira as one of their hot Dj's & On-Air Personalities for good reason: Moreira's show, 'This House', keeps the station's listeners bouncing to an earful of beautifully mixed house in it's many deep genres, being the only underground style show of it's kind on major market radio in Canada. 'This House' can also be heard nationally on ROGERS Digital TV CH 932, and has been syndicated in Russia on APEX FM, and in Germany & The UK on Noganic FM. Moreira's guests include a slew of acclaimed Dj's, producers, vocalists & artists including Tiesto, Byron Stingly, Jermaine Dupri, Dj Disciple, Pussycat Dolls, Talib Kweli, & P. Diddy just to name a few who lounge behind the walls of "his house". This House has been recognized worldwide for over six and a half years, winning Moreira many awards including Now Magazine's Best Local DJ 2008, Anokhi Vibe Magazine's Best On-Air Personality & DJ 2008, and Now Magazine's Readers' Choice Best On-Air Host 2008 among many other accolaides.
Grand Analog - Dub/Soul/Hip Hop
(Saturday September 26)
Grand Analog is a raw collective created in 2006. Its members are seasoned record collectors, musicians and self described beat junkies from around the way. You can easily find each of these characters honing the role of DJ at various local pubs and clubs in Toronto or Winnipeg. Band leader and creator, Odario Williams, describes the Grand Analog sound as a beautiful mess of rap'n'roll, dub and soul. "Grand Analog is unbalanced and dirty; never clean.
Grand Analog's retro heart and restless feet create an extensive touring schedule. The live show adds soul to the bloodline along with frequent stage jams and off the wall spontaneity. Both Calligraffiti and the live performance itself are critically acclaimed. Over the last two years, Grand Analog has already left their mark on prestigious showcases and festivals such as SXSW, Pop Montreal, the Halifax Pop Explosion, NXNE, JunoFest, and CMW plus a national tour opening for the Herbaliser and various Jazz and Folk Festivals nationwide.
Dwayne Morgan - Spoken Word
(Saturday September 26)
Dwayne Morgan began his career as a spoken word artist in 1993. He is the founder of Up From The Roots entertainment, which promotes the positive artistic contributions of African-Canadian and urban influenced artists. He is the recipient of the African Canadian Achievement Award, the Harry Jerome Award for Excellence in the Arts, and three Canadian Urban Music Awards. Dwayne has shared the stage with top Canadian artists such as Kardinal Offishall, Jully Black, K-OS, Nelly Furtado, Saukrates and Raine Maida, and has opened for international artists Alicia Keys and Mutabaruka. Dwayne has published three books, most recently, The Making of a Man, which followed The Man Behind The Mic, and Long Overdue. He is an active and highly recognized artist in Toronto’s urban music community, as well as the North American and global spoken word scenes.
Marc Trinidad - Comedian
(Saturday September 26th)
Born and raised on the twin island republic of Trinidad and Tobago, it soon became evident that 4,800 square kilometers of Caribbean island paradise could not contain the talent and aspirations of Marc Trinidad for long.
A chance meeting, and a reputation for detail, professionalism and razor sharp wit, led to his introduction into the world of performance art as the contracted promotional characters for Kentucky Fried Chicken and PEPSI. Seeking to validate this newfound calling, the fiery Leo attacked the local theatre community, performing in productions such as “Black Comedy” “Whose wife is it anyway?” and “To hell wit dat” which went on to perform at the 9th Annual World AIDS Conference held in Berlin. It was this International exposure that fueled his comedic appetite.
In ’95 he teamed with fellow thespian Clifford Learmond to create a sketch comedy duo called “Two drinks minimum,” which proceeded to take over their country in a comedy coup d’etat. Writing, producing and starring in such shows as “Life in a brown paper bag” “Cracking up on D Rocks” “Comedy Lane” and “Two cobeaux and a sponge cake,” their meteoric rise culminated in MC duties at the International Exposition held in Trinidad in 1996.
Having exhausted his growth potential in the islands and armed with a desire to further his education, Marc packed his bags and migrated to Toronto, Canada. Within months of his arrival he was invited to perform on the routinely sold out “Nubian Disciples All Black Comedy Review”, held at Yuk Yuks Super club in downtown Toronto (the world’s largest chain of comedy clubs). A standing ovation the first time on stage, proved to him that uprooting his family had not been in vain. He became a regular feature thereafter, which gave him the opportunity to open for such international acts as Doug E. Fresh, Tommy Davidson, and Dave Chappelle. His popularity on this show was a catalyst for invitations from across Canada, the U.S.A and the UK.
Television was inevitable, and in Aug ’01 he landed a spot as a featured comedian on Canada’s Comedy Network on “After Hours with Kenny Robinson”. Soon after, he made history by becoming the first Canadian comedian to appear on BET’s Comic View (03 season), and was voted Best Comic ’04 at the Soul’d Out Comedy Festival held in Toronto, Canada.
Baby Boyz – Hip Hop Dance
(Saturday September 26)
You might have seen them on Breakfast Television, MTV, YTV, in music videos, At the Chris Brown show at the Hershey Centre, The Sean Paul / Ne-Yo Concert at the Molson Amphitheatre or the R & B Soul Ball featuring Keith Sweat, En Vogue, Aaron Hall and Silk, where they were the only group that received a standing ovation at the end of their performance.
This group has been on the urban scene for 6 years claiming numerous accolades and accomplishments, the dancer’s electrifying, energetic, and dynamic stage performance has brought audiences to their feet everywhere from GTA to Ghana – West Africa where they were invited to take part in the Panafest celebrations. This dance group is going places’.
Their mission is to encourage our youths to develop self respect, self confidence and do positive activities that will lead to a positive outcome.
Baque De Bamba – Urban Afro-Brazilian Drumming
(performance Saturday September 26 + workshop Friday September 25)
Aline Morales grew up learning from many different experiences while traveling and playing with some of the most traditional music schools in the North-east of Brazil. In 2002 she was already teaching music and developing her career as a singer and percussionist when she moved to Toronto-Canada to start her own Maracatu group (music rhythm from Recife Brazil). Today she leads the Aline Morale’s Band where she plays her own compositions and keeps teaching music through her drumming project Baque de Bamba. She is also the lead singer and percussionist of the Sambacana group where she performs some of the most popular bossa-nova and mpb tunes.
Maracatu, coco, afoxe and ciranda are just some of the traditional brazilian drumming rhythms that are part of Baque de Bamba repertoire. The group performances are an electrifying mix of all this influences with a touch of modern urban culture.
S3 - Sick Sound Syndrome - Beatboxing
(Saturday September 26)
This 5 member collective of vocal percussionists have taken the streets by storm with their spin on the 5th element of hip hop.....Beatboxing. Alongside 2005 Scribble Jam Beatbox Champion J-Beetz, "Sick Sound Syndrome" has in a short time, become a force to contend with in the world of Hip Hop. Each member brings their own unique sound to the stage, and when those sounds combine, look out!
DJ Fase – Mixing
(workshop Friday September 25)
DJ Fase was pleasantly surprised when awarded the distinction of being t dot’s best DJ by Now Magazine in 2004. He has opened for the likes of K-os, The Roots, Afrikaa Bambaataa, John Legend and Blackalicious to name a few. Fase is the man behind Footwork Tuesdays, Toronto’s longest running Hip-Hop, Funk, Soul night which he started in 2000. Along with two other weekly club residencies, Fase imparts his musical bravado on Stylistic Endeavors, a weekly Friday radio show on CIUT 89.5FM. As producer of the hip-hop duo Abs & Fase he has toured across Canada and Europe promoting their album Flowtation Device (2001). He is currently working on a solo album, which will feature a wide range of Canadian and American artists.
Funktion Gallery – Graffiti Arts
(Saturday September 26)
Funktion Gallery is an all-encompassing creative space, run by Toronto's premier visual and musical artists. Since its inception in January of 2009, the Gallery has been a venue for multidisciplinary artists to showcase their work, ushering the integration of subcultural art forms into mainstream culture. In doing so, Funktion Gallery amplifies the voice of the independent artist, acting as an artistic cultural enabler unlike any other.
SGPD Entertainment – Bhangra Dance/Dhol Drumming
(Saturday September 26)
Since September of 2001, SGPD (Sonay Gabroo Punjab D) has been entertaining audiences in both Canada and the US. Members of the group have won international competitions, performed in concerts and appeared in several music videos. The company repertoire includes traditional Bhangra dance and Dohl Drumming fused with dynamic acrobatics all with an urban twist.
ABS Crew – Breakdance/Acrobatics
(performance Saturday September 26 + workshop Friday September 25)
Based out of Toronto, the ABS crew is a professional, multi-talented, unified group of performers from around Canada who have come together to deliver crowd inspiring performances. From international busker festivals and large scale productions to your company's Christmas party, these guys always strive to break the limits. ABS performances are jam packed with action, ranging from acrobatics, breakdancing, hand balancing, martial arts, circus arts and trampoline. Through creativity and jaw dropping stunts, these guys always leave the audience at the edge of their seats.
Black Sage
(Saturday September 26)
Originally from the West-end of Toronto, Black Sage is the newest sensation hailing from Toronto. Black Sage has always had a passion for music. Sage developed his style (Couture Rap) on the corner battling other aspiring MC’s and kicking ciphers with the rest of his boys known as DNA Fams. Black Sage’s profound raspy voice accompanied with an energetic allegro type flow, delivers a conceptual and creative depiction of today’s society and his day to day lifestyle. Sage has seen it all from family disputes to street wars, from small businesses to small street hustles, from child play to gun play, from good times to bad times. Only to destroy and rebuild the artist we know today as “Black Sage” with a new understanding of life gained from his experiences.
In 2006, Black Sage released his two singles “You Don’t Know Me” and “Shine’ which was played on regular rotation for 5-6 consecutive six months on flow 93.5, 105.5fm, and 89.5fm. Later that year Sage shot an independent video for his single "Shine" and released it with his EPK style DVD and sample CD called “Da Odyssey vol.1”. From the profits of “Da Odyssey vol.1” Sage donated 50% to the Canadian Cancer Society. By the winter of 2006 Black Sage had gained notoriety and the streets were buzzing for the anticipated album “Da Odysseys vol. 1” a mix tape and DVD that brought you into the world of Black Sage and the DNA Family. The unveiling of “Da Odyssey vol.1” was not only to create public awareness, but to address issues that not only affected him but his community as a whole. The release of the Odyssey that had already introduced the two singles “You don’t know me” and “Shine” by Black Sage was greatly received by the public. Radio stations couldn’t keep up with the demand of their listeners that wanted to hear more of the new & versatile sound that Sage Brought to the game. Black Sages’ music has also proven to have a global appeal with the response which was received from the European market in key countries such as Germany and Austria.
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YOUTH PERFORMERS
Elizabeth Adjei
(Saturday September 26)
Elizabeth Adjei, is an 18 year old singer,dancer, and actress who has always had a passion for performing. She grew up in and went to school in Etobicoke, where she was in the French immersion program for 14 years and took Spanish in high school.
She started performing at a young age in her school plays such as the Lion King and the La Petite Prince. She was also part of the school choir. Liz then found another outlet for her love of performing in the form of dance. She started taking hip-hop lessons when she was 9 years old and has loved it ever since. Liz later discovered musical theatre and became part of the Randolph Young Company, doing productions such as High School Musical and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.
This will be Liz's first solo on the UrbanNoise festival stage, but is surley no stranger to the UrbanNoise festival. A vetran of 4 years, Liz will share with us her vocal abilities and is honoured that she can take the stage for yet another year
TRACE
(Saturday September 26)
Passionate about what I pursue. Confident in what I create. Standing by what I say. This is not about what I do but of who I am...
I grew up in Rexdale. Quiet kid, basketball fanatic, lover of good food. I never saw myself becoming an artist but most great things in life kind of blind-side you anyway. I wrote my first rhyme at 13 listening to De La Soul and Busta Rhymes. I have a great appreciation for those type of artists and hope people say the same of me. Most of what I wrote was poetry, with no intention of recording. Over time, I felt I was capable of putting some thoughts to track and was encouraged to put something down in the studio. In 2007, I pressed up an independent album titled "Weight Of My Words" and distributed it myself. The feedback was postivive and I've been perfecting my craft everyday since. In 2010, I plan on releasing my new album (currently untitled) on a bigger platform to show the world what I can do.
Casandra London
(Saturday September 26)
Casandra is a young dub poet at the university of Guelphhumber paving a way to express her creative talents to viewers in Toronto. This hardworking and determined artist plans to pursue a career in broadcasting journalism. She hopes by continuing to assist dub poetry workshops she will inspire other youths to express themselves.
Meditating Minds Entertainment
(Saturday September 26)
Meditating Minds Entertainment was established in 2002 by founder and CEO Rocky Jeyam, originating in Rexdale, Toronto. MME has evolved into one of Canada’s most prominent entertainment companies in the past seven years. Our mission is to expose all of the diverse cultures and talents that exist in the city of Toronto. The success of MME is largely due to our unique core group of artist and producers. Our Artists come from a wide variety of cultural and social backgrounds that resonates through our music. To define our music is quite difficult due to the fact we have no systematic way of creating our material. Our music evolves as we evolve. Our debut album “THE BEGINNING” is a collection of material 5 years in the making. The outcome was an album that can compete toe to toe with the main stream juggernauts, jammed to by the club hoppers and respected by the streets. MME have also been fortunate to collaborate with some of the best likeminded individuals in the business such as South Asian star Kateyez, international super star Collie Buddz, 2 time Juno award winner Blessed, underground sensation Black Sage, Little Empire star Six Facist and many more upcoming talents. We also independently produce music videos including the critically acclaimed “Change gone come”. Our video “Change gone come” helped inspire the award winning CTV W5 documentary “Take Back The Streets” focusing on the social issues affecting the Toronto’s youth. Our most recent album; “Project Freedom” is entirely geared towards raising awareness to the injustices happening to the Tamil population in Sri Lanka. Though it specifically refers to our fight for a homeland, it relates to the general population who suffers from oppression and discrimination. MME is currently working on our second mainstream release “The Evolution” which is set to be released later this year
Young Cake
(Saturday September 26)
Young Cake was born on June 6, 1990. He was raised in the Rexdale area of Toronto, Ontario. At a very young age he was influenced by people such as Jay-Z, Tupac, Fabulous, Jadakiss and most of all his mother. He has been recording since the age of 12 and was given his first opportunity by the Elmbank Community Centre. After this wonderful experience he recorded his first demo with Dj Power from Soul Controllers. Young Cake continues to write lyrics about everyday life and things that he has seen and encountered. He is currently working at Universal Souls’ studio on a mixtape called "Unsigned Hype" that will be released to the public shortly. He is also completed projects with artist such as S.Davis, Rochester, Johnny Roxx, Jaydahmann and Cuban . Young Cake has performed at various showcases, and was also in a live cipher with hip-hop icon Krs- One.
Blitz
(Saturday September 26)
Toronto artist Blitz creates songs that are filled with “get you on your feet” club bangers as well as “slow you down” slow jams. With lyrics that’ll make you question and catchy hooks, he fuses sounds of R&B and electro-pop for music that is crazy contagious.
Soaking in some Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey at an early age, Blitz later came across The Black Eyed Peas and Ciara.
Blitz has performed at the Royal Conservatory School, urbanNOISE Festival 2007 and Suba Louge.
With his debut album coming out, he can’t wait to show the world the “freakiest” side of R&B pop.
Dwayne Kerr
(Saturday September 26)
Dwayne also known as D-Wayne is a genuine singer he has been singing ever since he was a child. Ever since D-Wayne could he remember he has always loved to perform, although he may have been shy at first, he overcame his fears. D-Wayne loves to create his own songs as much as he loves to sing. Some of his favorite musicians are Micheal Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Brian McKnight, and Beyonce just to name a few. Dwayne would like to make it big some days on the charts so that his music can be heard all worldwide.