Donovan Gordon-Tootoo, an Ottawa-based drum dancer from Rankin Inlet, is scheduled to open Noice! Vol. 1: A Night of Inuit Circumpolar Excellence, Saturday evening at Club SAW in Ottawa. (Photo courtesy of Yoni Sambo)
Familiar faces, new stage: Inuit artists come together for Ottawa concert series
Donovan Gordon-Tootoo scheduled to open first concert featuring 7 artists from across Arctic
Drum dancer Donovan Gordon-Tootoo says he was surprised to learn he already knew many of the Inuit artists he is set to share the stage with Saturday at the launch of a new Ottawa concert series highlighting Inuit music from across the circumpolar Arctic.
“Being able to perform with people I’ve known for a while and getting the chance to see them highlight their skills and talents – it’s exciting,” Gordon-Tootoo said Friday in an interview.
He’s scheduled to be the opening act of Noice! Vol. 1: A Night of Inuit Circumpolar Excellence, alongside six other artists also billed to perform at Club SAW in Ottawa.
The lineup also includes electro-pop artist Riit of Pangnirtung, throatsinging duo Silla, Kuujjuaq folk singer-songwriter Juurini, Iqaluit-based musician Josh Q, Iqaluit producer and DJ Lambo, and Laakkuluk Williamson, who will serve as master of ceremonies.
The idea for Noice! came from Charlotte Qamaniq, CEO of Qamaniq Records and one-half of Silla, who wanted to create more opportunities for Inuit artists to perform together.
Qamaniq reached out to Gordon-Tootoo a few months ago, he said, and the combination of traditional and contemporary sounds was an opportunity he wanted to be part of.
The event will feature a mix of traditional drumming, electro-pop, experimental throatsinging, hard rock and contemporary Inuit music. In his closing set, DJ Lambo will blend modern Inuit pop with classic songs.
“It‘s just a great opportunity to showcase different sets of skills that Inuit have acquired, and they’re using it to really make an event happen,” Gordon-Tootoo said.
He went to high school in Iqaluit with DJ Lambo, also known as Thomas Lambe, and with Riit, whose real name is Rita Claire Mike-Murphy, before later attending Nunavut Sivuniksavut in Ottawa with her.
At an Inuit Day event hosted by Isaruit Inuit Arts in Ottawa, he performed with Juurini, the stage name of Joey Partridge.
Seeing the artists come together during Thursday’s rehearsal was “energizing” ahead of the weekend performance, he said.
“It makes me excited to see that there is going to be a variety of artists from around the circumpolar Arctic, as we’re aiming for a wider audience and trying to expand our connections in that way,” Gordon-Tootoo said.
Tickets are around $40. The event is 19-plus and begins at 7 p.m.
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