The North Island Concert Society is back for its 27th year, looking forward to seeing some great acts. Please note that all concerts this year start at 7 p.m. at the Port Hardy Civic Centre.

Our first performer this year is Jay Gilday who is here doing a solo show on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at 7 p.m.

At once elemental and unearthly, Jay’s voice is a raw and gorgeous siren of the Canadian north, fusing hymnal anguish with driving rhythm and blues. And he is about to inscribe a special chapter in Canadian music history.

As a songwriter, Jay threads together the colours of his own ancestral traditions: Dene spirituals, Irish ballads, Canadian folk and rock. He was raised in a family of accomplished musicians on the tundra of Yellowknife, where his music electrifies its never-ending days and nights.  (Yes, many of you saw his wonderful sister Leila Gilday a few years ago on our stage.)

Whether on the main stage of a summer festival or headlining a shadowy cabaret, Jay captivates. He is equally arresting as a solo performer, crooning over acoustic guitar and piano, as the front-man of an eight-piece rock band, baiting dance floors with infectious hooks and boundless energy.

What sets Jay apart is the unfailing authenticity that accompanies his rare talents. His craft is unfettered by pageantry or put-on, and the intensity of his delivery is a product of conviction, rather than coaching.

His second full-length record, Faster than Light (2016), has earned Gilday Indigenous Artist of the Year from the Western Canadian Music Awards (2017), Singer-songwriter of the Year, and Artists to Watch from the Edmonton Music Awards (2017).  Jay is currently based in Edmonton, Alberta where his considerable fan base has learned what the rest of the country is about to find out: Jay Gilday owns one of the most arresting and important voices in Canadian music today

Future concerts this series are as follows:

Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 - The Myrtle Sisters – a trio from Vancouver featuring a mixture of vaudeville, dance, songs, clowning, charm, and shenanigans!

Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 - Black Dog String Quartet – a classical ensemble from Vancouver who play “with an edge” – a unique and versatile group known for their work on stage and in recordings. 

Sunday, April 6, 2025 - Rachel Therrien - Latin Jazz Project -  trumpeter Rachel Therrien stands out at the intersection of jazz and world music.  With this Jazz Project, she performs a repertoire featuring original works and Afro-Latin jazz classics.  

Saturday, May 10, 2025 - Ballet Victoria: Midsummer Night’s Dream (and other works) - This fabulous BC company returns this season with a large cast performing Shakespeare’s well known romantic comedy about lovers who get lost in a forest, and fairies who get involved. Several surprises complete the program.

Tickets for the season or for individual performances are available at Cafe Guido, Island Dawn’s in Port McNeill, or from Gail Neely in Port Alice.  Please call Brenda at 250-956-0452 for more information.

The Concert Society is pleased to thank the following organizations for keeping us going through our difficult past season:  BHP Legacy Fund, the District of Port Hardy, the Lions Club of Port Hardy, the British Columbia Arts Council, Western Forest Products, Fortech Enterprises, Sporty’s Restaurant, Cafe Guide, and Ascentia Accounting.