905Fest is Bringing Hip Hop and Fun to Bayfront Park This Sunday!

Get ready, Hamilton, because this Sunday, August 25th, Bayfront Park is the place to be! The fifth annual 905Fest is back, and it’s bringing all the hip hop, good vibes, and community spirit you could ask for. The mastermind behind it all? None other than local hero Kevin Williamson, aka Ktriggs, who’s been grinding away for the past year to make sure this year’s fest is bigger and better than ever.

“Over the last few years, I’ve really focused on making 905Fest more professional,” Ktriggs told. “I’ve started giving myself a 12-month window over the last two years, so before 905Fest 2023 even ended, I was already thinking about 2024.”

Ktriggs, a board member of the Hamilton Arts Council, community organizer, and rapper, launched 905Fest as a way to celebrate Hamilton’s local hip hop scene while giving back to the community. All proceeds and donations from the festival go straight to Living Rock Youth Resources, a local non-profit that provides meals, groceries, and support to at-risk youth in the city. Ktriggs lives by the motto “community over competition,” and it’s not just talk—he often dips into his own pockets to make the festival happen.

Right now, 905Fest is still in the process of becoming an official not-for-profit, which means funds are tight. Most of the support comes from sponsors, grants, and Ktriggs’ incredible mom, who helps out with the admin work her son just doesn’t have the time for.

“The truth is, I’m only one person, and we’re a small team over here at 905Fest. There’s only about five or six of us,” Ktriggs said. “I created 905Fest because I wanted to give back to the community that I grew up in. Despite the fact that I grew up in a different way than most people did, I didn’t have as many support systems, I feel obligated to do what I do within my community. Not only do I owe it to the youth to show them a better path, but I owe it to the community to keep doing what I’m doing and keep creating a positive impact.”

For this year’s festival, Ktriggs and his team have pulled out all the stops, securing a much larger stage at Bayfront Park, thanks to their friends at Custom Print Lab. If you’ve been to Concrete Canvas Fest, you might recognize the setup!

And there’s a new sound in town—DJ Gigizan will be spinning the tracks this year, taking over for DJ Grind Abrasion, who’s moved into a behind-the-scenes role. These changes are all part of Ktriggs’ mission to keep upping the ante and making 905Fest a staple in the city’s festival scene.

“Now that we’re building our name as an official hip hop festival in the city, gaining notoriety, you know, people know 905Fest. People are looking forward to 905Fest,” said Ktriggs. “Now that we have that it gives us more leverage with the city, other organizations and grants. For me, I just recently became a part of Hamilton Arts Council. I’m on their board of directors, so big thanks to them for including me. That’s a great step for me in terms of credibility. That gives me many more opportunities to connect with like-minded arts community members in Hamilton.”

But it’s not just about the music. 905Fest is all about bringing the community together. Expect to see booths from local organizations like Living Rock and The Hamilton Hub, which offers support for youth dealing with gangs and drugs. Ktriggs is passionate about making sure everyone has access to the help they need, especially since he’s been on the receiving end of that support in the past.

“I’ve gone to the Living Rock food bank before, I’m a little too old to do that now, but when I was younger I used that program to get food. It goes both ways, they helped me out, and this is my way of returning that,” he said.

So, what can you expect if you head down to Bayfront Park this Sunday? Lots of good food, great hip hop, and a celebration of community.

“We’ll have some great food trucks, some bakeries,” said Ktriggs. “We’ll also have lots of great art, lots of cool knick-knacks to buy, and of course, a lot of hip hop. We try to keep it family-friendly until about four or five o’clock, then more mature acts will be performing.”

The festival runs from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., and the best part? It’s free to enter! Just remember to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to Living Rock. For more info, check out Williamson’s brand website, Freedom of Speech Ent.

See you there, Hamiltonians—let’s make some noise!