Alianait festival to keep this year’s winning formula

Big enthusiastic audiences flocked to the Alianait festival in Iqaluit this year, producing record turnouts at the most successful edition of the festival ever. (PHOTO BY JIM BELL)

Local performers, like the Jerry Cans of Iqaluit, attracted big crowds coming to the Alianait festival this year. (PHOTO BY JIM BELL)

Jessie Fraser and Sarah Carrière emceeing during an afternoon session inside the big top tent during this year’s Alianait arts festival. (PHOTO BY JIM BELL)

The Alianait Arts Festival created a winning formula for success in 2013, attracting more than 5,000 spectators to all musical events, executive director Heather Daley said.

“We had the best turnout ever,” she said.

Alianait’s principal stage at Nakasuk School drew capacity crowds for opening and closing night concerts on June 27 and July 1, according to organizers.

The big top tent in front of the school, named after key sponsor Canadian North, also drew new near-capacity crowds throughout the festival for its jam sessions and activities for kids.

Alianait’s principal stage in Nakasuk School benefited from props and stage equipment from the Aboriginal Peoples Television Networks’s Aboriginal Day concert June 21 at the Arctic Winter Games Arena, which the network donated to Alianait for keeps.

An added $10,000 in funding from APTN put the festival on stable footing, Daley said.

“They increased their sponsorship to ivory-level,” she said, amounting to 10 times more than last year.

“It’s expensive bringing up all these artists from all over the country, the territory and the world. It’s given us more of a safety net,” said Daley, “because some years it’s tight.”

Spectators got to see artists from completely different musical backgrounds and cultures collaborate at the tent sessions.

The goal, said Daley, was not only to put on memorable shows, but to bring young emerging Nunavut artists together with musicians from far and wide.

Some memorable collaborators included didjeridoo player Tjupurru from Australia, acapella group Eh440 from Toronto, and guitar master J.P. Cormier.

“The young artists just love that opportunity to work with professional artists from all over, particularly for the young aboriginal artists,” Daley said.

Young artists put on their best for a battle of the bands contest, with top prize going to rapper Brian Tagalik of Iqaluit.

The duo of Agaaqtok and Calvin Pameolik of Arviat took second spot, and Abraham Tudalik took third prize.

Canada Day performances drew the biggest crowds, drawing about 1,500 spectators to every show combined.

Alianait kept in line with the festival’s circumpolar focus, including Arctic performers from abroad.

This year’s included Rasmus Lyberth, and Nive Nielsen and the Deer Children, both from Greenland. Nielsen continued her collaboration in Circumpolar Soundscape, teaming up with Canadian performers from Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Past festivals included performers from other Arctic regions such as Alaska, Scandinavia, and Siberia.

The festival will continue with the winning formula next year.

“We have the basics of what we need,” said Daley. “It’s really there for the whole community.”