Tour has Niivi Snowball playing gigs from Montreal to Nuuk

Niivi Snowball’s first summer musical tour is a whirlwind trip that sees the Kuujjuaq musician venturing to Nunavik, Nunavut, Ottawa, Montreal and Greenland.

Snowball’s favourite stop on the tour so far was the first one, in Kangiqsualujjuaq on June 17.

“Basically, that entire town are my relatives,” Snowball said in an interview Saturday.

“Literally, as soon as I get to the airport people will be like, ‘I’m your third cousin, twice removed.’ I love it there so much. The entire town came out for the [show].”

The tour is completely self-managed by the 17-year-old — venues, bookings, accommodation, co-ordinating the band.

Snowball has been touring sometimes with their punk band, other times performing solo with just a guitar. On June 21, Snowball was in Iqaluit and then on July 13 in Montreal.

Halfway through the tour and with five more dates to go, Snowball’s next show is Wednesday in Ottawa at the Art House Café, with doors opening at 8 p.m.

Then on Thursday night, Snowball will return to Montreal to play the main stage for opening night of Montreal Pride.

And when the weeklong Qooqqut Festival near Nuuk, Greenland reached out, Snowball said, “Hell, yeah!” and was booked to perform there Aug. 10.

To end the tour, it’s back to Kuujjuaq for the annual Aqpik Jam music festival that runs from Aug. 12 to 15.

Snowball first performed at Aqpik Jam at four years of age and has played there frequently ever since. Snowball’s first album — simply titled Niivi — will be released Aug. 15, the same date as the Aqpik Jam performance.