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INUVIK - James and Daniel Rogers stand side by side quietly rehearsing, blending in with the other artists hoping to impress at the Muskrat Jamboree's Talent Show on Sunday night.

Though labelled as two of the finest fiddlers around by Jamboree vice-chair Gerry Kisoun, the father and son duo appear unaware they're the fan favourites among the sprawling crowd congregated at the rec centre this evening.

Father/son duo Daniel Rogers, left, and James Rogers take a break from practising before their Sunday night performances at the jamboree talent show. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

They're reluctant to talk about themselves, choosing instead to focus on the new crop of talent.

"It's great to see young people coming out and showing their talents. It's hard going out in front of a crowd for the first time, but they're doing it." said Daniel.

James was born and raised in a bush camp on Pederson River. Drawn to the music he heard in nearby Aklavik during his early teens, he began playing by 13. By 15, his brother bought him a record player. With its help, he listened to and got further inspiration from the likes of Hank Williams. He attended more and more old-time dances, where he shared his music and got encouragement from legendary locals such as Frank Cockney and Emmanuel Felix.

The family moved to Inuvik when a living couldn't be made from selling muskrat fur. But James still heads back to the whaling camp in the spring and fall to harvest beluga.

Always up for a good time, he rarely passes on an opportunity to show his distinct country-western playing style.

"I never hesitate to play at the old-time dances," he said. "I like to see people happy, and I feel happy when I'm performing."

Possessing that same passion, Daniel calls his father one of his musical heroes among several Delta players.

Picking from a rich pool of local talent, the 32-year-old said he has never had to look beyond the area for inspiration. With seven musically-inclined brothers and sisters, he comes by his talent honestly.

Like his father he favours country style, learning practically everything by ear.

The pair has played several events together and still jams regularly. James, who said he is enormously proud of his son, said the junior player might also be the stronger player.

"He beat me in a few fiddling contests. I'm getting older, too, so he's going to have to carry on the tradition," James said.

Both say they will continue to play at community concerts such as the jamboree as long as they can.

"I get a rush from it, just givin' 'er," said Daniel.

James fears for the future of traditional music and hopes there will always be those to revive it.

"If they don't keep it up, it's going to die out like everything else," he said. "We don't want to lose our culture, but we're slowly losing it."