YELLOWKNIFE - For over two decades, The Gumboots have celebrated and explored life North of 60 through song.

And tonight they'll do it all again, as the trio (consisting of Bill Gilday, Steve Lacey and Ray Bethke) brings their 17th-annual performance to the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre.

Shannon Johnson from Edmonton band the McDades performs at the Vancouver Island Musicfest. The group joins The Gumboots tonight and tomorrow at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre. - photo courtesy of Caroline Twiss

As in previous years, the band will play a mix of distinctly Canadian folk songs that explore "the good, the bad and the ugly of life in the North," according to Bethke.

Musically, this can involve anything from guitars to penny whistles to moose ribs.

This time around, the group welcomes the McDades, an up-and-coming Celtic folk quintet from Edmonton.

"They certainly run the gamut," Bethke said of the group, which consists of three siblings and a pair of renowned hired guns from Montreal.

"They are extraordinarily experienced musicians," he said.

In recent months, the group has won Canadian Folk Music Awards, an Independent Music Award and been nominated for a Juno.

"It's been a really spectacular year for them," Bethke said.

He said the group was brought up on the recommendation of Bill Gilday's son Jay, also a musician.

The Gumboots were founded in 1984, and have gone through "eight or nine different lineups" centred around original member Bill Gilday.

Around 10 years ago, Bethke was brought into the band by long-time Gumboot Chic Callas.

"Chic decided that I fit the mould," he said. "I had the boots and the plaid shirt."

So is there any other "traditional attire" in a Gumboots performance?

"Not anything we like to talk about," said Bethke.

He said the trio is still adapting to the loss of Callas, who moved to Whitehorse in 2004, knocking the quartet down to a trio.

"We've been running as a trio, re-voicing a lot of things, making the music more challenging," he said.

"Four-part harmony is a little difficult with a three-piece," Bethke said with a laugh.