Inuit Artists Bring Music and Fun to the Kitikmeot

NUPOP tour delivers lively concerts and workshops in Gjoa Haven and Kugaaruk.

Kugaaruk, Nunavut – October 23, 2025

The NUPOP Kitikmeot Tour 2025 brought music, laughter, and connection to communities across the Arctic this month. Despite weather delays and flight cancellations, a team of Inuit and northern artists delivered unforgettable concerts and workshops to hundreds of students and families in Gjoa Haven and Kugaaruk.

Organized by Hitmakerz Worldwide and supported by the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Culture and Heritage, the tour ran from October 17–24, 2025, featuring Joey Nowyuk, Angela Amarualik, Thor Simonsen, and Teaville Bourque.

Each artist brought their own style — from beat-making and guitar lessons to throat-singing, ukulele, and songwriting workshops. The concerts drew big, energetic crowds, and in Kugaaruk, the team landed just one hour before showtime during a snowstorm, setting up in record time for a packed, high-energy performance.

Between weather delays, the artists mentored local youth, recorded a new song for Joey Nowyuk’s upcoming album, and filmed a spontaneous music video that reached over 50,000 views within hours of release.

“Even with the storms and long travel days, the joy and excitement in every community made it all worth it,” said project manager Thor Simonsen.

The NUPOP Kitikmeot Tour 2025 celebrated Inuit music, connection, and joy — proving that even in the toughest northern conditions, the show always goes on.