Arviat (Oct 04/06) - Music hit a high note in popularity this past month in Arviat.

The hamlet hosted its annual music festival before Canadian country-music icon Charlie Major touched down for two performances.

The Major concerts - organized by Bobby Suluk - were emceed by Gord Billard (English) of Arviat and Mary Tatty (Inuktitut) of Rankin Inlet.

Billard says security was tight at the events, which went off without a hitch.

"They flew in extra RCMP for the shows, but there wasn't one negative incident to speak of all weekend long," says Billard.

"People left the shows feeling buoyant and good about the experience."

Billard says the Major concerts were up against bingo each night, but the hall filled up shortly after the games ended around 8:30 p.m.

He and Tatty did a presentation before each show, giving the crowd Major's discography and biography before he took to the stage. The people were ready for the concerts, giving Major gifts of carvings to thank him for coming.

Billard says before the second show started, Major came out and did a drum dance for the elders and ayaya singers as the crowd voiced its approval.

"He invited people up to the front of the stage to dance whenever they felt like it and, of course, there were quite a few who took him up on it.

"At the end of the concert he thanked them in Inuktitut and the crowd roared.

"He left feeling pretty good about what he had done during his brief stay here.

"The shows certainly produced a couple of feel good nights here in Arviat."

The Major shows were preceded by the annual Arviat Music Festival.

Hamlet rec co-ordinator Nick Arnalukjuak says this was the second music festival he's organized since taking over his position.

He says this year's event focused on regional musicians.

"The first year we bring in entertainers from all over Nunavut and parts of Quebec, while the second show is just for Kivalliq entertainers.

"The community seems to get a little more pumped up for the bigger show, but people also enjoy the Kivalliq entertainers.

"We're all ready starting to look at next year's festival, which I want to be one of the best ever in our hamlet."