Alianait seeks more local acts to round out program

The Alianait Festival is looking for local musicians to play in some of the 20 shows throughout this year's event, which runs June 21-30.

Under the theme, Arctic Winds: one breath, one life, one people, the festival will feature performers from Africa, Scotland and Greenland, as well as from across Nunavut, Nunavik and southern Canada.

Featured acts will include:

• Kobotown, a Toronto-based band of Trinidadian musicians playing calypso, dub, roots reggae and funk;
• Naujamiut, a traditional Inuit band from Repulse Bay;
• Maanilu Asianilu, a Brazilian-style drumming troupe from Kangiqsujuak
• Igloolik's Artcirq circus troup in collaboration with African-Quebecois performers, Productions Kalabante (jazz vocals and African drums);
• Liima Inui, rock, reggae, world and pop musicians from Greenland;
• Winnipeg singer-songwriter Treasa Levasseur with a five-piece Toronto band;
• Iqaluit's favourite accordionists, Kaina Nowlak and Johnny Issaluk; and
• The fiddle-flute combo of Troy McGillivray (Halifax) and Nuala Kennedy (Scotland).

The nine-day event will also feature the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Festival, a film night, theatre by Pond Inlet's Tununiq Arsarniit group, storytelling, hip-hop, and St. Jean Baptiste Day and Canada Day celebrations.

Local performers interested in getting in on the action can find more info on the festival at www.alianait.ca, or contact Karen MacKenzie at kate_mack@hotmail.com.