Fast rising northern stars, The Jerry Cans, create music inspired by their hometown of Iqaluit, Nunavut in Canada's frozen far north.
They fuse their unique mix of Inuktitut alt-country, throat singing, and reggae with a combination of musical influences from their roots in the Arctic where, the first European explorers from Scotland and Scandinavia brought their traditional instruments including accordions, fiddles and bodhrans into the region.
In November 2016 they released their third album Inuuseq – Life By The Jerry Cans, which is all about the challenges and beauty of life in the far north. The single from the album, Ukiuq (Northern Lights), was recorded in both Inuktitut and English.
Nancy Mike said: “Releasing both versions of the song is something totally new for us. Both versions give me the feeling of being in the long cold Arctic winters. Sometimes it is hard to find that light and warmth in the winter and we hope this song give you a bit of that spark.”
The band perform many of their songs in Inuktitut and are passionate about preserving the language even as the north and their home community of Iqaluit evolve.
They are committed to representing northerners and to challenging common misperceptions they have encountered about life in the Arctic; their music evokes the contemporary north and the spirited people that reside there.
The Jerry Cans take their audiences on a stroll through the streets of Iqaluit to share a glimpse of life in Arctic.
The Jerry Cans are a distinctly one-of-a-kind group.
Nancy Mike, the only Inuk member, featured throat singer and accordionist, grew up in Pangnirtung, a hub for Inuktitut folk music. With the exception of violinist Gina Burgess, who travels between Halifax and Iqaluit, the rest of The Jerry Cans are all from Iqaluit, Nunavut’s fast-changing capital, where people from all over the Arctic and the world collide.
Andrew Morrison, the band’s singer, main songwriter and engaging front man is a former Northern CBC Radio producer who’s lived in Iqaluit almost all his life. Morrison, the band’s main songwriter, has become fluent in Inuktitut. Bassist Brendan Doherty and drummer Steve Rigby met back in grade school and grew up listening to Nunavut rock bands, along with traditional performances at community cultural events. They picked up instruments and experimented with hard rock and metal before heading south for university.
The Jerry Cans will play at the Blue Mountains Music Festival, to be held in Katoomba from March 17-19. See www.bmff.org.au for times.