Singing, dancing and running around as Aqpik Jam opens in Kuujjuaq

There was a lot of singing, dancing and kids running around Tuesday night as the Aqpik Jam music festival got underway in Kuujjuaq.

Hundreds of people packed the Kuujjuaq Forum, seated both on the arena floor and in the upper level bleachers, as seven acts entertained from a stage decorated with the orange cloudberries — the plant from which the four-day event derives its name.

First up was the Kuujjuaq Youth Group, an ensemble of performers regularly selected to lead off the annual festival.

The group is made up of 15 girls and three boys who took to the stage two-by-two to show off their throat singing skills.

The first pair made a distinct “aqpik” sound in their singing, while the others lasted a few seconds before bursting into laughter.

The group Guuli and the Band, originating from Greenland, opened its set with a cover of John Lennon’s Imagine, the former Beatle’s appeal for a world without borders, religion or materialism.

Some of the adults in their seats could be seen mouthing the lyrics of the famous 1971 song about peace, while dozens of energetic kids sprinted, play-chasing each other around.

Kathy Snowball and her band picked things up at the evening’s halfway point.

“Let’s go to Kangiqsualujjuaq for a bit,” she said before launching into a song about her hometown.

Snowball’s rocking set earned rousing applause after each song. It ended with an encore, where she swapped her guitar for an accordion, and the arena floor filled with square dancers and conga lines.

Other acts on the bill were Tasiujamiut, Johnny Saunders and Ivan Boivin-Flamand.

Kuujjuaq’s own Juurini (Joey Partridge) served as the evening’s closer.

Starting around 11:30 p.m. and ending after midnight, the hometown headliner pleased the remaining audience members who stayed up to catch his set.

Wednesday afternoon is the highly anticipated aqpik berry-picking competition. The evening music lineup will be announced during the day.

“For the first time in many years, there’s aqpiks everywhere,” Johnny Adams, one of the emcees, said of this year’s growing season, before calling it a night.

Aqpik Jam continues through Friday.