It has been a quiet 15 months without the sounds of strumming, drumming and kitchen party singalongs echoing through the streets of Yellowknife.

With Emerging Wisely restrictions easing and social gathering capacities growing, live music, it seems, is back.

Patrick Jacobson, a Yellowknife singer/songwriter, has six gigs lined up from July to September SA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒渘ormally that wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be anything to be too excited about, but this is the most I have had since early 2020,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Having spent the last year plus without live music, Jacobson said knowing heSA国际影视传媒檇 be back in front of an audience didnSA国际影视传媒檛 immediately register. For musicians to play in front of a crowdSA国际影视传媒� is a part of our being,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e need that to feel complete.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a form of art, a form of culture, a form of expression and to have it silenced for 15 months, ISA国际影视传媒檝e never heard of anything like that happening before,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

As eager as musicians are to play for an audience, he said residents are likewise starved to get out, dance and have fun.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think people brush off the importance of popular music,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒渋tSA国际影视传媒檚 not just a passing fad or entertainment, itSA国际影视传媒檚 really an ingrained part of our culture.SA国际影视传媒�

First on JacobsonSA国际影视传媒檚 scheduled shows is a Music NWT show at Somba KSA国际影视传媒檈 Park for Canada Day, followed by a performance at the Monkey Tree patio on July 8, the Folk on the Rocks Festival, a show at the Racquet Club and a set of performances in Hay River in September.

While he hopes to again play at the Top Knight, he acknowledged that not all venues have the patio space to hold outdoor concerts and is keeping crossed fingers that restrictions may ease further by the time temperatures begin to cool in the fall.

In March, Jacobson put up a change.org petition, urging the office of the chief public health officer to find ways of accommodating live acts indoors. Since then, he said heSA国际影视传媒檚 abandoned that pursuit.

For venue owners, the point of booking live musical acts is to bring more people in. With capacity still reduced and further restrictions in place, having bands play indoors would mean neither owners nor musicians could earn profits. SA国际影视传媒淚 want this to be successful for everyone,SA国际影视传媒� Jacobson said.

Jim Taylor, another Yellowknife musician well-known for his East Coast kitchen parties and Northeast radio show, is similarly relieved to have bookings for the summer.

Taylor is set to play every Sunday afternoon at the deck at HarleySA国际影视传媒檚 downtown.

With live music deemed a dangerous activity in the pandemic era, Taylor said he lost about $9,000 in income last summer. SA国际影视传媒淏ut to hell with the money,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 my heart.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚t fills my hear to see people laughing and dancing along and getting up and singing.SA国际影视传媒�

Before the pandemic hit, Taylor said people were of the mindset that if they missed one show theySA国际影视传媒檇 just catch it the next night. SA国际影视传媒淣ow I run into people everyday, for however many damn month itSA国际影视传媒檚 been, who say SA国际影视传媒� my god Jimmy when are you going to start playing music again.SA国际影视传媒� People miss it.SA国际影视传媒�

In addition to his weekly gigs at HarleySA国际影视传媒檚, Taylor is looking forward to playing a Canada Day show at the Monkey Tree, a July 7 gig in Somba KSA国际影视传媒檈 park, a Folk on the Rocks set and a show for Hay RiverSA国际影视传媒檚 Hay Days festival at the end of the summer.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 coming,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 miss it.SA国际影视传媒�

Taylor said his HarleySA国际影视传媒檚 shows may be scheduled for 2 to 4 p.m. on Sundays or from 7 to 9 p.m. in the evenings, depending on weather. SA国际影视传媒淲ith any luck, other musicians will come by and jump up and play a tune,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

While Taylor is itching to again get up in front of a crowd, he said echoed JacobsonSA国际影视传媒檚 comments on the importance of music in the community.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a saying that music is the cloth that wipes away the dust of everyday life,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淟ive music is so importance to our well being.SA国际影视传媒�