INUVIK - The Muskrat Jamboree talent show had more than just singers and fiddle players this year.

The creative talent category brought out a new breed of entertainers.

Daniel Rogers won the fiddling category at the talent show on Sunday night at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex. Rogers also performed the night before at the old-time dance and jigging contest for the first time. The talent show was well-attended and showcased a wide variety of performers. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

Among the new performers was a magician, an accordion player and throat singers.

Emcee William Greenland said the event is always a good place to see new talents.

"I've been taking part in festivals for the last 10 years now," said Greenland.

"It's always a good time."

Greenland said there is a big difference between the experienced performers and the budding artists who try their act on stage.

"In order to win points, you need to find a song or tune that will catch the audience," said Greenland.

"Audience participation is something the judges look for."

Greenland said it is important for musicians to know what song will go over the best with the crowd.

"In a show like this, you want a song that will have the crowd moving and maybe even dancing," he said.

"That would be a winning act."

The master of ceremonies also said that the show is all about that one performance.

"It doesn't matter if you have a big name, or people know you, it's all about how you play on that stage on that night," said Greenland.

With his career in broadcasting, Greenland said he gets a lot of compliments about his radio show in Yellowknife.

"I'm not any kind of celebrity," he said.

"I'm just one of the boys from Co-op hill. It's always good to come home and see the family.

"People hear me on the radio all the time, but don't get to see me that often."

Throat singers Gerri Sharpe-Staples and Ruth Wright decided their act would be fun to do.

"I practise a bit of throat singing," said Sharpe-Staples.

"But it's just for fun."

Wright said she was a last-minute walk-on for the show.

"I started practising about a half hour before the show started," said Wright with a laugh.

Sharpe-Staples said she has traditional ties to the singing because she is from Nunavut.

"We are playing a game, it's not what you might hear from other throat singers," said Sharpe-Staples.

"We're just having some fun and playing a game with it."

Wright said the weekend was good for her. She enjoyed the activities and the other acts at the show.

"It's been fun, it always is," said Wright.