Arctic Sounds
One of the biggest music festivals in Greenland, Arctic Sounds is held in Sisimiut every April. Featuring artists from the Nordic countries (Greenland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Åland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) as well as artists from Inuit Nunaat (Nunavut, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut and NunatuKavut), it showcases some of the best music the world has never heard of.
Over the course of 5 days, artists spanning a wide range of music convene in several different venues around Sisimiut to showcase their music, form collaborations, and have a great time. There are often spur-of-the-moment pop-up concerts and it’s not unusual for songs to be co-written and performed during the festival itself.
When not embraced by music, artists and festival-goers head out to enjoy the winter playground that is the backcountry near Sisimiut. Many take the opportunity to experience dog sledding, as Greenland is the only arctic nation where this ancient form of Inuit transportation is still used for traditional purposes. But there is also snowmobiling for the adrenaline junkies, Greenland’s largest network of graded cross-country ski tracks, and incredible backcountry snowshoeing to fill the days between performances.
For a flavour of what you might expect to hear at Arctic Sounds, have a listen to the playlists available on the official website. Artists change every year but there are bound to be several that appeal to you, no matter your taste in music.