Derek O’Kanos is a musician at the heart of the New England music scene. A powerful vocalist and captivating performer; this solo artist is equally at home on-stage or in the studio.

O’Kanos’ music is authentic and familiar, but best described as a mix of powerpop, folkrock, and alternative. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise as Derek draws influence from the work of: Nick Lowe, John Prine, Ben Harper, Hank Williams, Marcy Playground, Thin Lizzy, Ramones, and many others. To his own credit, Derek has released 2 EP’s, On the Sleeve (2021) and Spoken Roads (2022). His songs are often upbeat, with lyrics that walk the line between optimism and sardonicism.

In 2023, O’Kanos contributed a single to the compilation series, ‘Here’s Where My Friends Come In’, which is available on record and online. Currently, he is continuing to write songs and performing regularly across the Northeast.

Name: derek o’kanos
location: brattleboro, vt
Genres: powerpop, folkrock, alternative

notable awards: 2022 VT Pop Act of the Year Finalist
assc. acts: o’k and the night crew
career highlights: Recorded with Grammy nominated engineer andrew oedel, Produced by Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Mr. Big), 2016 Performance at Toad’s Place, multiple northeast US tours