Saali Keelan returns to Nunavut for Alianait concert

Saali Keelan will perform as Saali & The Ravenhearts Jan. 17 in Iqaluit and Jan. 20 in Igloolik as part of the Alianait Arts Festival concert series. (FILE PHOTO)

The charismatic singer-songwriter Saali Keelan will return to Iqaluit Jan. 17 to perform with his band, Saali and The Ravenhearts as part of the Alianait Arts Festival concert series.

An indie-folk band that performs original songs in English and Inuktitut, Saali and The Ravenhearts will put on a show at Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit and then travel to Igloolik for a concert on Jan. 20.

“Originally from Iqaluit and Nunavik, now living in Ottawa, Saali is a powerful performer with a haunting voice and inspiring messages,” said a Jan. 5 news release.

Keelan has appeared at the Alianait festival many times, most recently in 2012, and was also part of “Tulugak: Inuit Raven Stories,” which enjoyed two sold-out shows at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa in 2012.

Kamaalukutaat, a local Inuit band, will open the Jan. 17 Iqaluit show.

Tickets for the 7:30 Iqaluit show are $24 in advance ($12 for youth aged 13 to 18) and are available at Arctic Ventures Marketplace or online at alianait.ca and $27 at the door. The show is free for elders and children under 12 accompanied by an adult.