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September
14 , 2001
Rankin’s weekend
of "mega-warm fuzzies"
Despite slow ticket
sales, Jammin’ on the Bay blew fans away
MIRIAM HILL
Nunatsiaq News
Country
singing sensation Charlie Major delights the crowd in Rankin Friday
night.
(PHOTO BY MICHEL ALBERT)
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RANKIN INLET — The crowd was sparse, but Rankin Inlet’s
first Jammin’ on the Bay music festival left at least one
concert-goer with what she called "mega-warm fuzzies."
Terri Chegwyn, of Iqaluit, introduced some of the bands playing
at the festival, which ran Aug. 31-Sept. 2.
A self-confessed music nut who has attended similar events in
the South, she said she was surprised by the quality of the concert.
"I was completely blown away by what they had done to organize
it," she said.
Proceeds from the event were to have been donated to the Children’s
Wish Foundation, but it’s unclear if the concert made a profit.
Only 800 tickets were sold, and organizers were hoping for double
that number.
Chegwyn said the crowd was small Friday afternoon, but things
began to change as evening approached and country music star Charlie
Major took the stage.
"By the time Charlie Major came on stage on Friday night
there was like 600 to 700 people in front of the stage just going
crazy. We had to put security up holding hands because they were
rushing the stage," she said, her voice rising with excitement.
"I get goose bumps when I talk about it."
Madeline
Allakariallak of Tudjaat proved her singing prowess at the festival,
which entertained about 800 concert-goers.
(PHOTO BY MICHEL ALBERT)
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The concert drew bands from the North and South, including Farmer’s
Daughter, Sass Jordan, Kim Mitchell, Tudjaat and the Dust Rhinos.
But Chegwyn said her favourite was Sunday night’s headline
act — the rock band Trooper.
"Just because it took me back to when I was 16 again,"
she said, laughing. The first song they played was, "We’re
Here For a Good Time, Not a Long Time."
Chegwyn said the performance made her jump and scream, just like
she did in high school.
Even the weather co-operated. Chegwyn said the sun shone and
daytime temperatures ranged between 8 and 12 C.
"Trooper was the last show on Sunday night and the fog rolled
in while (they were) playing," she said. "You could
see the fog swirling in the lights on stage. It was a cool effect.
We didn’t need any dry ice."
According to Chegwyn, though the performers she spoke to said
they’d be eager to come back next year, she has not heard
whether the festival will be held again.
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