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INUVIK
The eighth annual End of the Road Music Festival drew hundreds of Inuvik residents and out-of-town visitors to venues across town last weekend, despite being run by a bare bones organizing committee and group of volunteers.

Charlie Major, a Juno Award-winning country music artist from Ontario, played on Saturday and Sunday at the End of the Road Music Festival. - Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison /NNSL photo

The three-day event included a licensed Much Music Video dance on Friday night at the curling arena, performances Saturday afternoon at Jim Koe Park, a concert headlined by Charlie Major Saturday night at the community hall and an all-day jam Sunday at the Mad Trapper.

There was also an old-time dance Friday night at Ingamo Hall and a Much Music Video dance for youth Saturday night at the curling arena, but both failed to attract more than a dozen people.

Don Craik, who has been involved with organizing the event since it was first started by town council in 2003, said the biggest draw of the weekend was Saturday night's concert.

By 11:30 p.m. they were forced to close down the entrance at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex so they could do a head count, fearing they might be over the allowed maximum of 300 people. They counted 280.

Leanne Goose, an Inuvik resident who has performed at the festival seven times, said it is a great venue to try something new, build confidence as a performer and get honest feedback from fans.

"Festivals are fun because anything goes," she said.

"In the words of Keith Urban, 'It's free and easy down the road we go.'"

But Goose said for the festival to continue and thrive, more locals have to get involved.

"If it wasn't for Don (Craik), Marjorie (Hansen) and Ray (Massey), the festival would never happen," she said.

"Join the festival. Don't be a bystander."

The organizing committee received eight airline tickets from Canadian North to fly in artists, $4,200 from Heritage Canada to put on the event, as well as $20,000 from the GNWT and funds raised from bingo and 50/50 draws throughout the year.

With those funds, they were able to bring in headliner Charlie Major, a Juno Award-winning country music artist from Ontario who was swarmed by fans throughout the weekend.

Howie MacLeod, a local musician, said although some events went off without a hitch, more support was needed for the alcohol-free events that failed to attract crowds.

"My concern is the music festival just seems to be focused around alcohol, not around families," he said.

"That's what it should be about – families and the community getting together."

Craik said the next annual general meeting for the End of the Road Music Festival will be held sometime in October, and could include a discussion on possible changes to the format, like adding more local artists to the roster.

He encouraged people in the community to take part.

"To get a general meeting going, it's really difficult. That's why most of us have been on the board since day one," he said.

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