Iqaluit’s Trade-offs advance to the next level in CBC competition

Iqaluit’s The Trade-offs, seen here in a local performance, will head to Toronto next week. (HANDOUT PHOTO)

The Trade-offs, a blues-rock-soul band based in Iqaluit, have won CBC Music’s regional “Searchlight” competition for Nunavut, winning out over the Jerry Cans and Koel and the Twin Otters.

The Trade-offs, whose members include Joshua Qaumariaq on guitar and lead vocals, Jeff Maurice on bass, Paul White on keyboard, and Kris Mullaly on drums, has now advanced to represent Nunavut.

They’re among 24 bands from across Canada to make the cut. Online voting will continue to April.

The Trade-off’s song “Simple Man” received more than 600 plays during the Searchlight competition.

Next week, the Trade-offs will appear at the legendary El Mocambo club in Toronto to showcase their new songs, as well as songs from their current album, “Red,” at the Canadian Music Week festival, which starts March 18 in Toronto.

The Trade-offs, who call themselves a quartet of seasoned “funk assassins,” say they “have gained a lot of momentum since we released our debut recording last year.”

“We’re beginning to see the rewards of the work we’ve been putting into this,” Qaumariaq said in a March 15 news release.

“It’s going to be a challenge to move forward in the Searchlight contest, but no matter what happens, we are grateful that our friends, families and fans are showing us such a huge amount of support.

“All we have to do now is put on the best show of our lives in Toronto.”