On Saturday, Sept 21, Oshawa Tourism will host its second annual Convergence Music & Art Festival, an all-day free street festival of music, arts, food trucks and vendors in the city’s downtown core. The festival is expected to draw thousands into the city centre. The music headliners are JUNO winners Talk and Dizzy, and this year, Art Block will feature a pop-up art exhibition at the former downtown Bus Station. This year, it will also feature, for the first time, a series of After Hours Parties at venues downtown.
As befits a city with a heritage of punk and metal bands, the focus at the Atria, 59 King Street East, is, as it has been for much of its four decades in existence, an alternative rock show headlined by rockers Joan Smith and the Jane Does, a duo from T.O. Also on the bill are The Commune, an indie folk band from Hamilton, and NERiMA, a lively three-piece from Oshawa. This is a ticketed all-ages event.
Berry Hill Food Co., located at 82 King Street West (it should be noted that Berry Hill has one the finest patios in the city), is featuring Tap Takeover by 5 Paddles Brewing, which is based in the neighbouring town of Whitby. The Night Howlers will provide music for this free event. This three-piece folk outfit is made up of fiddler Sean Battams, guitarist Adam Till, and stand-up bassist Jonathan Sloan, who was most recently at the Mariposa Folk Festival, along with musician Bruce MacKinnon in a variety of acts.
Bruce MacKinnon will perform in the after-hours of Convergence as a member of a nine-piece supergroup of local musicians, The Professors of Funk, who will be playing at the Biltmore Theatre at 39 King Street East. The Professors are a tribute band to the classic funk, soul, Motown, and R&B of the 1960s and 1970s. Artists covered include Stevie Wonder, Sly & The Family Stone, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, Earth, Wind & Fire, Chaka Khan, and Steely Dan.
MacKinnon is a multi-instrumentalist supporting player who has a long list of credits that includes Sam Polley and the Old Tomorrows, Dog House Orchestra, The Doozies, and Hairy Holler.
The Professors of Funk was created by keyboardist Derek Giberson, who, along with playing a weekly residency at the Orbit Room in Toronto, has recorded and/or played live with a wide range of artists, including Shakura S’aida, the Wilkinsons, the Small Town Pistols, and the Julian Taylor Band, and has acted as a mentor and judge for the Student Alliance of School Songwriters.
Drummer John Owens has been a member of Suckershot, the Dan Clancy Band, and is a sought-after drum educator in the region.
Saxophonist Amy Peck holds a BFA from York University’s prestigious jazz program and a master's degree from the University of Colorado Boulder. She has played with modern jazz giants David Liebman and Maria Schneider.
Percussionist Enrique Loyola, originally from Mexico City, has backed up Yekina Pavon, Fernanda Ibarra, Leo Dan, and Humberto Cravioto before moving to Canada. Since his move, he has been called upon to back up Liberty Silver, Guido Basso, and the Queen of Soul herself, Aretha Franklin.
Bassist Brian Wallace is the bedrock of the Professors, holding down the funk. Still, his skills extend across many genres, including country, roots, and gospel, as well as bands such as The Gas Station Cowboys, Jack Connolly, No Sugar, and the Back Alley Orchestra.
Singer Tracy Penhale Stella is part of two very accomplished music families in Oshawa. She started out at the age of 13 in a family band with her Dad and brothers. Her resume covers everything from folk to jazz.
Trumpeter Curtis Hunter heads the arts department at Anderson CVI in Whitby, Ontario, where he directs two concert bands, a choir, and a jazz ensemble; he also co-directs the Durham District All-Star Jazz Ensemble. He also plays in many other jazz ensembles, swing bands, concert bands, brass bands, and churches throughout southern Ontario.
Last but not least, guitarist David Chown is part of this supergroup of players. He studied with Juno nominees Ted Quinlan and David Occhipinti and is an honours graduate of the prestigious Humber College Music Program. He has worked in pit bands at the Oshawa Little Theatre and the Port Hope Capital Theatre and has been part of many tribute acts covering Elvis Presley, Elton John, Neil Diamond, Frank Sinatra and Pearl Jam.
The Professors of Funk party is ticketed and licensed with doors at 8 p.m. and show at 9 p.m.
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