Didjeridu master, Greenlandic legend slated for Iqaluit’s 2013 Alianait festival

Greenland’s Rasmus Lyberth will perform at the 2013 Alianait festival in Iqaluit. (HANDOUT PHOTO)

The 2013 line up of the Alianait arts festival in Iqaluit promises a “mix of world-class music and a long weekend filled with fun, families and friends and creativity,” an April 23 news release said.

The festival, which takes place June 28 to July 1, includes a line-up of local, national and international artists.

“We will be celebrating with cultural performances of music, film, storytelling, dance and visual arts,” said Franco Buscemi, the chair of Alianait’s board.

Nunavut artists include Kelly Fraser, Koel & the Twin Otters, Billy Kuksuk and The Jerry Cans.

Fraser, who recently performed at the Puvirnituq Snow Festival in Nunavik along with her band, often sings pop songs that have been translated into Inuktitut, as Rihanna’s “Diamonds,” which, after being translated at Nunavut Sivuniksavut has more than 43,000 views on Youtube.com.

Greenland folk legend, singer, songwriter and actor Rasmus Lyberth, one of the most popular artists on the Greenlandic music scene since the 1970s, will perform.

Australian world indigenous performer, Adrian Fabila Tjupurrula aka Tjupurru, a descendant of the Djabera Djabera tribe of the West Australia Kimberleys, will also bring the didjeridu, the traditional instrument of Australia’s indigenous people, to Iqaluit.

And British Columbia’s cultural icon Kinnie Starr and from Halifax, the “quintessential Maritime musician” JP Cormier will also perform.

Toronto acapella group Eh440, Alberta fiddler Wesley Hardisty and Nova Scotia’s jazz band Gypsophilia are also on the line-up.

“We are thrilled to feature two performances of ‘A Circumpolar Soundscape’ that brings together the dynamic talents of northern Aboriginal singer-songwriters Diyet, Sylvia Cloutier, and Nive Nielsen,” the release said.

A Circumpolar Soundscape was shown at the Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse last year, toured Greenland and will open the National Arts Centre’s Northern Scene Festival, where its April 25 performance is sold out.

The theme of the Alianait 2013 festival is “Enchanted Owl,’ a celebration of the life and achievements of late Cape Dorset artist Kenojuak Ashevak, with Lise Desrosiers from Chesterfield Inlet creating the winning design in the 2013 Alianait and Nunavut Arts festivals’ logo contest.

Alianait festival activities will take place inside the big top tent and at Nakasuk elementary school.

Other highlights include a Canada Day Concert featuring the Gjoa Band, a kid’s festival with aboriginal puppeteer Rabbit and Bear Paws as well as a battle of the bands where local and visiting groups compete for cash prizes.

This owl design by Line Desrosiers from Chesterfield Inlet was chosen as the 2013 logo design for the Alianait and NACA arts festivals.