Bands & Musicians in Nunavut

Nunavut's music begins with Inuit throat singing and drum dancing, forms that Susan Aglukark carried into pop and Tanya Tagaq pushed onto international stages. The Jerry Cans mix Inuktitut lyrics with roots rock out of Iqaluit, while artists like Riit and Kelly Fraser fused throat singing with electronic and hip-hop production. The result is a distinct, fast-evolving Arctic sound with an international audience.

Iqaluit is the territory's stage: the Alianait Arts Festival brings Inuit and circumpolar performers each summer, and community halls, school gyms, and the legion host dances and shows the rest of the year. Rankin Inlet and Cambridge Bay run their own celebrations, with artists often flying between communities for single-night performances.

Tanya Tagaq from Cambridge Bay, Susan Aglukark from Arviat, Iqaluit's The Jerry Cans, electronic artist Riit from Pangnirtung, and the late Kelly Fraser from Sanikiluaq form the territory's recognized roster.

Iqaluit offers the territory's only regular stages, so musicians there lean on festival workshops, open community events, and school music programs. Elsewhere, distance defines everything, and collaboration often starts online; players use BandMate to find other Nunavut musicians before booking travel between fly-in communities.