To put it bluntly: Derek is authentic and his music is the real deal. He sings from the heart and is a captivating performer of rock, pop, blues, and country.
Derek O’Kanos is a transplant to the Green Mountain State from Connecticut’s Tobacco Valley. His music is authentic and familiar; reminiscent of the singers and seekers who came before him. Themes of love, struggle, freedom, magic, darkness, truth seeking, and sardonic humor are present as Derek draws influence from: Nick Lowe, John Prine, Ben Harper, Hank Sr, Marcy Playground, and others.
Derek entered the music scene as a teenager, cutting his teeth in Punk/Metal outfits before deciding to start writing ‘solo material’. A stint as a rapper while also performing solo and with backing groups allowed him to explore a wide array of influences.
In 2015 he returned to his rock and roll roots with power trio O’K and the Night Crew, where he is currently active. In the uncertainty of 2020, Derek started Oak Honest Records to self release his solo material as well as the works of other willing artists. His first official release for the label, On the Sleeve, was released on 1.23.21. O’K and the Night Crew are currently working on their second album with producer/rock-star extraordinaire Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Mr. Big) due to be released in full in 2022.
Derek has performed extensively at venues and festivals across the Northeast:
CT:
Toad’s Place – New Haven
Black Eyed Sally’s – Hartford
Webster Theatre – Hartford
Café 9 – New Haven
Particle Accelerator Fest – Putnam
La Boca – Middletown
The Acoustic – Bridgeport
The Hungry Tiger – Manchester
The Main Pub – Manchester
Stella Blues – New Haven
Altone’s Music Hall – Jewett City
Bar One – Derby
Cherry St. Station – Wallingford
The Space – Hamden
Imerzion Fest – Hamden
VT:
The Stone Church – Brattleboro
Radio Bean – Burlington
Gusto’s – Barre
Metropolis – Brattleboro
Club VT – Putney
The Pizza Stone – Chester
MA:
13th Floor Music Lounge – Florence
The O’s Music Bar – Sunderland
Electric Haze – Worcester
Luthier’s Co-op – Easthampton
Claddagh Pub – Lawrence
Club Meadows – Longmeadow
Maximum Capacity – Chicopee
Figment Fest – North Adams
RI:
Koto Lounge – Providence
The Parlour – Providence
Wheel House – Narragansett
NH:
Liquid Therapy – Nashua
Thayer’s Inn – Littleton
ME:
Definitive Brewing – Portland
Tent City Fest – Exeter
NY:
Rockwood Music Hall – NYC
Olive’s – Nyack
PA:
Century – Philadelphia
UK:
The Caves – Edinburgh, Scotland
The Dog House – Edinburgh, Scotland
LINKS:
Booking: OakHonestRecords@gmail.com
Press: OakHonestRecords@gmail.com
Instagram: @okanos.music
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DerekRyanCT
Facebook: https://facebook.com/OKanos.Music