Tasiujaq crowd calls for more as Nitjautik Music Festival closes

The Nitjautik Music Festival opened and closed on a high note, as Lucy Johannes bookmarked the show with accordion tunes.

More than 100 people filled the community’s sports and leisure centre Friday and Saturday evening for the two-day festival, which celebrated its fifth year.

Nitjautik is an Inuktitut term that refers to things that make sound, or music. In Nunavik, it’s also associated with the accordion, several members of the community explained.

Johannes, an accordion player from Kuujjuaq, learned to play the instrument by listening to her late father Tommy Johannes play music. At 18 years old she joined her father’s band, Kuujjuaq Band.

“I was so nervous,” she said, after a performance at Nitjautik. “I only close festivals, I don’t open.”

Qimutjuit, a band from Inukjuak, was also a crowd favourite, taking the stage to cheers and whistles.

Singer and guitarist Charlie Iqaluk, drummer Eric Atagotaaluk, keyboardist Paulosie Kasudluak and bassist Jobie Weetaluktuk have been playing together for more than 30 years.

The band played tunes from its debut self-titled album, including Sugavilli and Inugama, drawing children and elders toward the front of the stage to dance.

Other performers included Yaa, also known as Johnny Saunders, and his band; Ilagitt, a local Christian group; and Looee Arreak, an Inuktitut singer-songwriter from Nunavut.

The festival’s second night brought a mix of generations to the stage, including veteran Sugluk Band, which has roots that stretch back to the 1970s.

Later in the evening, with the clock nearing 11 p.m. and seats beginning to empty, The Trade Offs kept the remaining crowd moving.

In the end, Johannes got to close out the festival. She returned to the stage with her accordion, bringing the weekend full-circle.

But the crowd wasn’t ready to call it a night.

Davidee Angutinguak also returned after having performed earlier in the evening. He gave the crowd one more performance.

Billy Cain, president of the festival’s committee, said in an interview Sunday that organizers are expanding the festival next year.

“We are already planning for an extra night,” he said.

The festival began in 2021 after residents told Cain, who was mayor at the time, that they wanted a music festival in their community.

“It was a dream at first, and then it became a reality,” he said.