'I've never felt so at home': Tom Power, host of CBC's q, hosts Nunavut Music Week

CBC's pop culture weekday morning show qis known for featuring the music world's hottest performers, but Tom Power, the show's host, says he's amazed by the talent he's discovering in IqaluitduringNunavut Music Week,calling his first visit to the territory "transformative."

Power hosted Thursdaynight's kick off concert for the second annual Nunavut Music Week. Juno winners The Jerry Cans, rapper F--kmr, soul singer Josh Q, folk musician Aasiva, and Riit performed for a packed auditorium at Inuksuk High School.

q will broadcast the concert the week of May 13.

"So much amazing music is being made in Iqaluit right now of extremely high calibrethat I'd stack that up against anything happening now in North America," Power said. "And this is a community of 8,000 people! That's the hook."

I've never felt so at home.- Tom Power, host of q

Power said he knew when he took over as host of qthat he wanted to bring the show to Iqaluit. He'd seen the impact qcould have on a local music scene when it came to his hometown of St. John's.

The Jerry Cans invited Power after they did an interview on the show. And when the record label behind Nunavut Music Week, Aakuluk Music, asked qto participate, "we were on our way," Power said.

Nunavut Music Week offers experienced and emerging northern musicians a chance to meet and learn from music industry veterans and music journalists.

qis not only in Iqaluit for the music, Power explains, it's there for the stories. "I felt the show had an opportunity to just listen to some of the things that we should really be hearing."

Power talked to each of the performers on stage during the concertabout how they got into music and how the music scene is developing in Nunavut, as well as "some of the harder issues" people face in the territory.

He quoted a tweet with the words of the Jerry Can's Nancy Mike after her performance:"this is healing. There's healing happening in this room right now."

Powersaid what he feltwas gratitude. "It was so meaningful for me to be able to hear that, feel that and be present."

The feeling of being welcomed started the first night Power arrived in Iqaluit, when he was invited to dinner at the home of Madeleine Allakariallak, the host of CBC North's Igalaaq. CBC North colleagues cooked maktaaq(whale blubber), caribou meat, and seal, Power said. A qulliq, a traditional Inuit oil lamp,glowed on the table.

"We just talked and we talked and we talked, and I felt genuinely moved by that night," he said.

Power's musical roots are in St John's,where his band the Dardanelles brings traditional Newfoundland music to festivals around the world. Power experienced thenorthern sense of community at the Nunavut Music Week's concert after-party.

"I've never felt so at home," he said.

Nunavut Music Week continues until Apr. 28.