13th Annual House of PainT Festival of Arts and Culture in Ottawa: Aug. 25-28

OTTAWA –  As the largest growing urban arts event in the Nation’s capital and one of Ottawa’s fastest growing community events, the 13th Annual House of PainT Festival of Arts and Culture takes place under Dunbar Bridge in Brewer Park near Carleton University on August 25-28, 2016. House of PainT Festival celebrates and elevates the culture that connects and nurtures the roots of the community. DJing, MCing, graffiti art and dance are the four pillars upon which House of PainT offers concerts, competitions, workshops and academic talks each year. Hip hop began as an expression of cultural defence and reclamation for marginalized communities. Continuing with this tradition, House of PainT is committed to supporting communities in fostering safe, respectful, anti-oppressive, just, and empowering spaces. “We encourage Ottawa families to attend our weekend of art-filled days of workshops, music and live art to experience how hip hop and urban arts inspire unity and collaboration in our community,” says Patrick McCormack, House of PainT General Manager. More than 200 graffiti artists, urban dancers, hip hop artists and DJs of all levels will gather underneath the Dunbar Bridge to celebrate and elevate hip hop culture. While thousands flock to House of PainT’s breaking competitions, live concerts, artisan booths and outdoor food from local vendors, the 13th Annual House of PainT Festival is bringing the DMC DJ Competition (Turntablism) back to Ottawa on Friday, Aug. 26 at Brewer Park under Dunbar Bridge. The Main Event on Saturday, Aug. 27 will feature Rock Steady Crew judging crew dance battles and a live concert. On Sunday, Aug. 28, the family-friendly day will start with Hip Hop Zumba with Dee Ciple and Hip Hop Brunch with local food vendors, House of PainT’s annual Knowledge Conference and Master Classes, and a live concert starting at 3pm with feature performances by EPMD and A-F-R-O & Marco Polo. 13th Annual House of PainT Festival of Arts and Culture (Event Schedule below) Thursday, Aug. 25: OG 500 Poetry Slam, 6pm Featuring SARAH MK & X-WAM, Hosted by John Akpata and JustJamaal ThePoet. Gladstone Theatre, 910 Gladstone Ave, Ottawa Doors: 6pm, Show at 7pm, All ages. $10 entry: houseofpaint.ca/ticketsSlam poets competing for the $500 cash prize: FreedomWriter, Omar Saghir, Amy Iliza, Plato, Rabbit Richards, Anomaly, Cannon2X, Lip Balm, Huxley, Van Essa, Asli Mahd Friday, Aug. 26: DMC Ottawa / Popping Battle, Illa J, Dan-e-o, 6pm Brewer Park, 100 Brewer Way, $5 cover: houseofpaint.ca/tickets Main Stage 6-7pm: Majic Mike (Ottawa) 7pm: DJ Zattar (Ottawa) and Popping Cypher (Seeds Tent) 8:20-8:50pm: Solo Popping Battle Top 8 with DJ Zattar 8:50-9:30pm: DMC Ottawa DJ Competition 9:30-9:50pm: Live performance: Dan-e-o (Toronto) 9:50-10:30pm: DMC Ottawa DJ Competition 10:30-11pm: Illa J (Detroit and Montreal) Main Event, Saturday, Aug. 27, 12pm – FREE ADMISSION, All Ages Brewer Park, 100 Brewer Way Main Stage 12-3pm: DJ Magnificent and DJ Illo (Ottawa) 3-4pm: Breaking Prelims with DJ Jervy Jerv 4:10-4:30pm: Wasiu (Montreal) 5-6pm: Top 8 Breaking Crew Battle 6-6:30pm: Beny Esguerra and New Tradition (Toronto) 6:30-8pm: Semifinals: Popping + Breaking 8-8:20pm: Aspects (Ottawa) 8:30-8:50pm: Solo Popping Battle Finals + Prizes 8:50-9:10pm: Breaking Crew Battle Finals + Prizes 9:20-9:50pm: BLAKDENIM (Ottawa) #HoP2016 Official Saturday Afterparty: Babylon Nightclub, with DJ Set by Crazy Legs, $10 cover, 19+ Sunday, Aug. 28, EPMD, A-F-R-O & Marco Polo, Drezus, 11am Brewer Park, 100 Brewer Way. 3pm Live Concert: $15 in advance, $25 at the gate. All ages. houseofpaint.ca/ticketsMain Stage 11:30am: Hip Hop Zumba with Dee Ciple 12:30pm: Hip Hop Brunch (Seeds Tent) 3:40-4:00pm: King Kimbit (Ottawa) 4:05-4:25pm: Jesse Dangerously (Ottawa) 4:30-4:50pm: Naadei (Montreal) 5-5:20pm: Shariq Devonte and Nakiem the God (Ottawa) 5:30-5:50pm: Yusso (Ottawa) 6:30-6:50pm: Bless (Montreal) 6:55-7:15pm: Da Great Deity Dah (Washington) 7:20-7:40pm: Phoenix Pagliacci (Toronto) 7:45-8:05pm: Drezus (First Nations/Calgary) 8:15-8:35pm: DJ JS1 (Rock Steady Crew) 8:40-9:25pm: A-F-R-O (California) & Marco Polo (New York) 9:30-10:30pm: EPMD (New York) House of PainT Festival of Arts and Culture started in 2003, after Ottawa-Gatineau-based urban artists lobbied for a graffiti wall and the city granted the Free Zone for Legal Art underneath Dunbar Bridge where Bronson Avenue crosses Rideau River. House of PainT Festival Passes, VIP Passes and event tickets are available in advance:houseofpaint.ca/tickets 2016 House of PainT Event Schedule: houseofpaint.ca/hop2016-event-schedule 2016 House of PainT Artist Bios and Photos: houseofpaint.ca/profiles#HoP2016 Media Passes, interviews with House of PainT General Manager and artists are available upon request.Media Contacts: Christina Devine, christina@kuhlabo.co, 613-796-2622 Thomas Radford, comm@houseofpaint.ca, 613-413-2062