{"id":838876,"date":"2026-07-31T20:15:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T20:15:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/838876\/"},"modified":"2026-07-31T20:15:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T20:15:13","slug":"familiar-faces-new-stage-inuit-artists-come-together-for-ottawa-concert-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/838876\/","title":{"rendered":"Familiar faces, new stage: Inuit artists come together for Ottawa concert series"},"content":{"rendered":"

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)<\/p>\n

Donovan Gordon-Tootoo scheduled to open first concert featuring 7 artists from across Arctic<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing able to perform with people I\u2019ve known for a while and getting the chance to see them highlight their skills and talents \u2013 it\u2019s exciting,\u201d Gordon-Tootoo said Friday in an interview.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2018s just a great opportunity to showcase different sets of skills that Inuit have acquired, and they\u2019re using it to really make an event happen,\u201d Gordon-Tootoo said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u00a0in Ottawa with her.<\/p>\n

At an Inuit Day event hosted by Isaruit Inuit Arts in Ottawa, he performed with Juurini, the stage name of Joey Partridge.<\/p>\n

Seeing the artists come together during Thursday\u2019s rehearsal was \u201cenergizing\u201d ahead of the weekend performance, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt makes me excited to see that there is going to be a variety of artists from around the circumpolar Arctic, as we\u2019re aiming for a wider audience and trying to expand our connections in that way,\u201d Gordon-Tootoo said.<\/p>\n

Tickets are around $40. The event is 19-plus and begins at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n

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