Scottish-Canadian crooner helps Nunavik’s Aqpik Jam mark 20 years

Kuujjuaq’s annual music festival, Aqpik Jam, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year with a five-day event which runs Aug. 10-14. (PHOTO BY SARAH ROGERS)

Nunavimmiut are pumped to go see country crooner Johnny Reid perform at this year’s Aqpik Jam. (HANDOUT PHOTO)

Nunavimmiut will get to enjoy a star-studded line-up at this year’s edition of Aqpik Jam, the annual music festival hosted in Kuujjuaq.

This year’s festival, which runs Aug. 10 to Aug. 14, will feature Scottish-Canadian country crooner Johnny Reid, known for the radio hit “Today I’m Gonna Try and Change the World.”

Reid studied at Bishop’s University in southern Quebec, along with Kuujjuaq resident Isabelle Dubois, also a freelance photographer for Nunatsiaq News, who helped put the festival organizing committee in touch with the singer.

“It was a long shot but worth a try,” said Sarah Berthe, an Aqpik Jam co-ordinator. “It turned out he would be available and interested in coming up North.”

Reid is tentatively booked to play the festival’s opening night, Aug. 10.

Some of Nunavik’s best-known performers are also scheduled to play at what will be the 20th anniversary of Kuujjuaq’s music festival, including Elisapie Isaac, Beatrice Deer, George Okpik (Twin Flames), Saali & The Ravenhearts and Sinuupa (Etua Snowball).

Veteran rockers like the Salluit Band and William Tagoona are also in the August line-up.

Aqpik will also feature a number of Nunavummiut performers: Iqaluit’s Jerry Cans, Arviat’s Calvin Pameolik and Pangnirtung accordion player Simeonie Keenainak. And from Greenland, duo Guuli and Lief and the group Katuuma.

“Since this is our 20th edition of Aqpik Jam, this year we decided this would be a great opportunity to celebrate with a five-day festival, with many well-known artists from all over the North,” Berthe said.

“We are getting excited as the week of the festival approaches very fast.”

You can stay up to date with the festival plans at its Facebook page.

Festival organizers are also working with First Air and Air Inuit to arrange discounts to help bring more festival-goers to Kuujjuaq next month.