Artist of the week

Tanya Tagaq

Innovative Yellowknife-based throatsinger and Juno-winning recording artist Tanya Tagaq likes to challenge convention. Her second album, Auk Blood, released in 2008, showcases her passionate solo interpretation of throatsinging, overlaid with hip-hop beats, including collaborations with Faith No More lead vocalist Mike Patton and rapper Buck 65, among others.

Tagaq, who is originally from Cambridge Bay, is scheduled to perform in Modena, Italy, tomorrow night. Earlier this month the international star also had performances in Gothenburg, Sweden, and Dublin, Ireland. She returns to Canada for a concert in Victoriaville, Que., on May 23.

Tagaq has appeared in short films produced in recent years by Igloolik Isuma Productions, including Tungijuq, which screened at the 2009 Toronto Film Festival and the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. She is collaborating on new film projects with the Nunavut filmmakers this year.

To hear a recent Tagaq interview about throatsinging recorded by the BBC in Britain, and for a selection of videos of the Juno-winning artist's performances, visit www.nnsl.com/nnslmusic.

Thinking of summer

The 30th annual Folk on the Rocks music festival features a variety of Yellowknife performers on the schedule this July. The festival board released the complete lineup during the Yellowknife Trade Show at the Multiplex on the weekend.

Juno-winning songwriter Leela Gilday, Juno-nominated guitarist Digawolf, multi-instrumentalist and story teller Pat Braden, Paul Andrew of the Tulita Dene Drummers and The Gumboots are among the local names on the list. Former Yellowknife residents in the lineup include Ted Wesley, Pat Buckna and Jay Gilday. Fort Smith storyteller Jim Green is returning to the children's stage for another year, as well. Representing the Eastern Arctic will be Iqaluit throat singer Celina Kalluk, a cousin of Yellowknife-based recording artist Tanya Tagaq, and Miriam Aglukkaq of Gjoa Haven, who is the mother of federal health minister Leona Aglukkaq.

Buffy Sainte Marie, Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor are among the Canadian recording artists at the top of the festival bill. Other visiting acts include roots musician Justin Rutledge, folk singer Basia Bulat and country crooner Tim Hus.

The theme of this year's festival is Musical Evolution. The festival runs from July 16 to 18.