July 7, 2000
JANE GEORGE
Nunatsiaq News
IQALUIT — Great music and entertainment are in store for Nunavik this summer.
First, from July 23 to August 3, there’s the Eastern Arctic Music Festival that will be held this year in Inukjuak. This will be the 23rd edition of the music festival, which has grown from a small gathering to a big bash, attracting musicians and fans from across Nunavut and Nunavik.
The location for each year’s festival is selected by musicians, and Inukjuak’s mayor, Siasi Smiler, was extremely pleased about this year’s choice because it’s also her municipality’s twentieth anniversary.
"It’s a very exciting opportunity, and Inukjuammiut will welcome everyone," Smiler promised.
During the festival, there will be concerts every night until 3:00 a.m. at Inukjuak’s new Pinnguavik Recreation Centre.
And what will the 1500 to 2000 people who are expected to come to Inukjuak hear?
Festival coordinator Lena Metuq said 100 or so musicians from Nunavik and Nunavut have already confirmed that they’ll be coming play.
These performers include Paul Pudlat from Coral Harbour, Loee Nowdlak and Simeonie Keenainak from Pangnirtung, Johnny Oovaut, Li ie Ningiuruvik and Rhoda Ezekiel from Quartaq, the Angava Band from Kuujjuaq, Gamilie and Meleah Nookiguak from Broughton Island, Inukjuak’s Qimutjuit Band, Matthew Mukash from Whapmagoostui, and the Salluit Band.
Musicians from Greenland are also expected to perform at the festival.
Two weeks later, from Aug. 15 to 18, Kuujjuaq will host its Akpiq Jam festival, featuring musicians from Nunavut, Nunavik, Greenland and southern Canada.
Tudjaat is scheduled to perform and groups such as Charlie Adam’s original Sikumiut Band and Northern Haze are re-forming, specially for the Akpiq Jam.
This year’s line-up also includes a hypnotist and comedians.
Much to the delight of the event’s organizers, Rita MacNeil, the award-winning Cape Breton singer and television performer, has also agreed to do a concert during the Akpiq Jam.