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Diverse performers rock festival
End of the Road Music Festival was a moment to shine for performers

Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Thursday, March 16, 2017

INUVIK
Music gets Jade English through the day.

NNSL photo/graphic

Jade English puts his all into his performance at the Children First Centre Saturday, March 11. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

"Music's with me at the end of the day," said English, a budding artist who performed his indie-visuals material at the Children First Centre Saturday, March 11, during the End of the Road Music Festival.

He's been interested in music since he was 13 years old, having grown up seeing and listening to his uncles play.

"It was just interesting to hear a guitar strumming," said English. "It hit my ears properly. I asked my mom for a guitar and I got a Nova. Couldn't even tune the darn bugger. But I played it and played it and played it."

His father bought him an amp and he evolved musically from there.

Asked why he plays music, English said, "It's my culture. At the end of the month I'm going to a drum making workshop and it's going to be the first drum I've made. It's part of my culture. That's how we used to pray."

He's deeply interested in different cultures and believes music can bring him closer to his own understanding and connection to his Gwich'in heritage.

English said he's dealt with lateral violence growing up because he looks white. Lateral violence refers to any kind of abuse felt at the hands of one's own people.

"My music for me at one point was just to get over things," said English. "If I need to move forward and I can't get over it, I'll make music."

He wants to start translating his own music and other songs into Gwich'in.

The UkuLadies and Friends also performed at the Children First Centre during the End of the Road Music Festival.

The informal group started about three years ago, said member Janet Boxwell.

"The cast of characters has changed over time, but consistently it's been us for at least a year and some people longer," she said.

There's a lot of overlap with the Inuvik Community Choir, which UkuLadies member Anne Kokko runs.

"It's been great having her and some of the experienced choir folks playing because our timing is improved," said Boxwell. "It's been a real learning curve for us, but we've been having fun."

The group gets together for potluck jams but is trying to meet more regularly to practise.

Boxwell likes the ukulele because of its easier learning curve than some instruments.

"It's easy to pick up and learn to play," she said. "It's a quick learning curve and it's not as steep I found as with the guitar."

She said performances like the one at the Children First Centre are a great motivator to meet more regularly.

"I don't see us down at the Trapper any time soon," joked Boxwell, saying she'd like to perform at family friendly events, such as at the elders' long-term care facility.

"We really encourage people to take up ukulele," said Boxwell. "They're not expensive instruments."

She also hopes to get children playing the instrument.

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