Musicians of the Midnight Sun

Dive deeper into the cultural world surrounding Louie Goose’s music, learning about the mentors, oil booms, and the roles of the church and military that shaped both the man and the northern community he calls home.

Dehcho elder Jonas Antoine shares memories of growing up on the Rabbit Skin River, attending high school in Yellowknife, and joining The Chieftones as their sound man and road manager. He reflects on touring the United States in the 1960s and working alongside legendary American performers and bands there.

Louie Goose is a renowned Inuvialuit vocalist and guitar player from Inuvik, Northwest Territories. In this interview, Louie recounts his strong connection to his Inuit ancestry and heritage and the music scene in the Mackenzie Delta region through the 1960s and 70s.

Musicians of the Midnight Sun is pleased to welcome Philip Stobo to the fold of artists who defined the golden era of musicians and bands nurtured at the Akaitcho Hall Hostel in Yellowknife in the early 1970s.

In this Part 1 interview, William Tagoona chronicles his young musical life through the 1960s and 1970s. From hearing and witnessing traditional Inuit music, to singing and playing popular songs with the bands “The Harpoons” and “The Pur” at the residential school in Churchill, MB.

Musicians of the Midnight Sun is delighted to welcome Yellowknife musician, singer/songwriter, trombonist and music educator Bill Gilday to the MMS roster! Bill Gilday has lived a life full of passion for his music, his family and his role as a music educator.

Rob and his family landed in Yellowknife New Year’s Eve,1967. He came of age surrounded by the vibrant local music scene in the early 1970s. Rob was determined to make his own way, surviving through sometimes tenuous circumstances and jamming constantly with his lifelong friend, Wayne Bertrand. See photos of Rob and hear the full interview at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/artists/rob-wickson Support the project at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/donate Follow Musicians of the Midnight at https://www.facebook.com/Musicians-of-the-Midnight-Sun-2118206611779800 and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musiciansofthemidnightsun/

Born and raised in Sǫ̀mbak‘è/Yellowknife, NT, Guitar player, Singer/Songwriter John Tees was a founding member of the celebrated band “Stained Glass Illusion” in the late 1960s. See photos of John and hear the full interview at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/artists/john-tees Support the project at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/donate Follow Musicians of the Midnight at https://www.facebook.com/Musicians-of-the-Midnight-Sun-2118206611779800

Guitar player Sandy Wilson landed in the middle of the bustling Yellowknife music scene in 1972 and performed with the band “Friends” for many years. See photos of Sandy and hear the full interview at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/artists/jim-lawrence Support the project at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/donate Follow Musicians of the Midnight at https://www.facebook.com/Musicians-of-the-Midnight-Sun-2118206611779800 and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musiciansofthemidnightsun/

Jim Lawrance started playing guitar with rock and roll bands in the mid 1950s in NS, NB and PQ before moving north to Inuvik, NT in 1972. See photos of Jim and hear the full interview at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/artists/jim-lawrence Support the project at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/donate Follow Musicians of the Midnight at https://www.facebook.com/Musicians-of-the-Midnight-Sun-2118206611779800 and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musiciansofthemidnightsun/

Gary Tees was a founding member and Bass player in one of Yellowknife’s first rock bands “Stained Glass Illusion” in the late 1960s. He also played with the band “Northbound Freeway” for decades. See photos of Gary and hear the full interview at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/artists/gary-tees Support the project at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/donate Follow Musicians of the Midnight at https://www.facebook.com/Musicians-of-the-Midnight-Sun-2118206611779800 and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musiciansofthemidnightsun/

Randy Demmon grew up in Salmon Arm, BC and moved to Yellowknife with his family in 1969 to teach music. He performed with the band “Rainbow Valley”. Randy left Yellowknife to join the RCMP band in 1973. He taught the first school music programs at Mildred Hall, Sir John Franklin and St. Patrick’s schools from 1969 to 1972. In that time, Randy also played in the bars with many local musicians, most notably the band ”Rainbow Valley”. See photos of Randy and hear the full interview at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/artists/randy-demmon Support the project at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/donate Follow Musicians of the Midnight at https://www.facebook.com/Musicians-of-the-Midnight-Sun-2118206611779800 and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musiciansofthemidnightsun/

Metis musician Peter Lafferty hails from Łı́ı́dlı̨ Kų́ę́/Fort Simpson, NT. He started playing guitar at 13 years old and toured southern Canada in the 1960s and 1970s before settling in Whitehorse, YT. See photos of Peter and hear the full interview at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/artists/peter-lafferty Support the project at: https://www.musiciansofthemidnightsun.com/donate Follow Musicians of the Midnight at https://www.facebook.com/Musicians-of-the-Midnight-Sun-2118206611779800 and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musiciansofthemidnightsun/