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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Iqaluit is small but the town's live music scene enjoys diversity and depth.

Yellowknifers experienced some of what the Nunavut capital has to offer last weekend at the Top Knight.

The musicians of Twin River launched their debut CD at the bar on Friday evening and followed with a second show on Saturday night.

Michael Doyle and Stuart Crose are a plucky, bluegrass duo that plays fast-paced and lively bluegrass standards.

They're also members of The Northern Ramblers, a Celtic band Yellowknife live music fans know from their annual appearances at the Black Knight every St. Paddy's Day.

Crose, originally from California, brought his affection for bluegrass to Iqaluit where he hooked up with The Northern Ramblers a few years ago.

"As musical genres, East Coast music and bluegrass are cousins," Crose said.

Doyle, who grew up in Newfoundland, said he enjoys making the transition from traditional Celtic jigs and reels to the earthy, twangy sound of American roots music.

"As soon as I heard Stuart play mandolin I said 'yeah, I need to play blue grass,'" he said.

Twin River's set skipped between the bluesy, gospel-influenced bluegrass made famous by American music pioneers like Bill Monroe and Doc Watson to sharp, lightening-fast instrumentals like Whiskey for Breakfast.

The lyrics lament lost loves, lost souls and lonely dirt roads.

Crose and Doyle return to the Black Knight with the Northern Ramblers next St. Paddy's Day.

The band's website will be up in a couple of weeks. It will feature audio and video clips of performances.