Kent Driscoll
Northern News Services
Monday, May 21, 2007

IQALUIT - The city has decided not to bar youth from the White Stripes concert in Iqaluit on June 27.

"It is going to be an all-ages event," said Iqaluit City Clerk Tracy Leschyshyn. "There might be a certain age where you have to be accompanied by an adult, but it is all ages."

Tickets are still not available to the general public, but a limited number were made available online to members of the White Stripes Fan Club.

"I'd like to get the tickets out for sale, we are hoping very soon," said Leschyshyn.

She also said at least one local band will benefit from the concert.

"There will be a local talent opening for them," said Leschyshyn. "They were insistent that they want a local opening act."

Iqaluit Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik is very happy the show will be for everyone, even though she was pushing for a larger solution.

"We want to accommodate everyone," said Sheutiapik. "We wanted to try to do two shows, one for all ages and one for everyone else. A band this big doesn't come through every day."

Two days before the Iqaluit concert, the White Stripes play Whitehorse. The day before, Yellowknife. Two days after the Iqaluit concert, they play the Calgary Saddledome.

The mayor said problems with using the Arctic Winter Games Arena for concerts could be fixed with a new arena.

"We don't have the infrastructure to do that," said Sheutiapik. "We are trying a different way of getting new infrastructure, this is an example of why."

The concert is promoted by Gillette Concerts and House of Blues Entertainment. The city's contact person has been Daniel Glick, who did not return phone calls from Nunavut News/North prior to deadline.

The fire marshal must approve the floor plan before the tickets go on sale. They could go fast. The show in Whitehorse sold out in less than 10 minutes.

"Without the alcohol, I'm almost positive the capacity will go up," said Leschyshyn. "The maximum would be 800. That is the rough capacity without a stage."