SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - When Daniel Leclair moved North six years ago, it didn't take the Acadian musician long to plug in to the Yellowknife music scene.

Daniel Leclair performs during a recent Javaroma open mic. The bluegrass musician hosts the event in the downtown cafe Friday night from 7 until 10 p.m. - Daron Letts/NNSL photo

"I was really impressed with the quality of music in such a small city," he recalled.

Shortly after making Yellowknife his home, Leclair began playing with plenty of well known musicians around town, including John Tees, George Tuccaro, Charles Nabess, Gus Miltenberger and Ted Miltenberger. About three years ago he joined the band Chugs and the Boys alongside Norbert Poitras, Jeff Molner and Jason Whiteknife. Leclair often sits in with Gerald Poitras' Fort Chipewyan band, North Country Rock, as well.

"The most important thing for my music is that it's about sharing stuff with people," Leclair said.

The musician shares his experience with young musicians and longtime songwriters as one of the regular hosts of the weekly Javaroma open mic. He also plays regularly for audiences at francophone celebrations, Remembrance Day events, and fundraisers supporting families struggling with illness and other community causes.

Originally from the tiny community of St. Wilfred in Northern New Brunswick, as a young child Leclair was surrounded by musicians and their music.

"Everybody plays fiddle, mandolin, banjo and guitar down there," he said. "Both my parents sang. I grew up with it. My biggest influence for me was my father."

At kitchen parties, his parents would sing Conway Twitty and Tammy Wynette songs.

Leclair's sister, Louise Leclair, is an accomplished singer, as well, and his cousin, Eddie Leblanc, is a professional bluegrass musician who has earned an armful of music awards on the East coast.

"Eddie was a big influence to me too," Leclair said, adding that he regularly covers his cousin's original material.

Leclair's sets feature hard luck country classics by Merle Haggard, Alan Jackson, George Jones and Keith Whitley as well as standards by Bill Munroe and other bluegrass greats.

"My biggest love in music is bluegrass," Leclair said.

Years ago he wrote his own bluegrass tune, We Can Do the Two Step, along with an inspirational country-flavoured lament titled Can’t Run From Love with Drugs and Wine that he dedicated to an old friend.

Leclair will share his songs Friday at the Javaroma open mic from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m.