Alff Cabaret: Gala After Party

19+ (Licensed venue)

Music performances by Yellowknife’s NÀHGA ̨ (Casey Koyczan) and Whitehorse’s Soda Pony. Hosted by Yukon Film Society and the NWT Film Commission, with support from Music Yukon. About NÀHGĄ (Casey Koyczan)

NÀHGĄ is a Tlicho Dene multi-instrument musician that utilizes a variation of effects with his instruments and voice to create dynamic layered compositions that house anecdotes of electronica, hip-hop, and metal/industrial music; paired with engaging visuals, NÀHGĄ creates an enveloping atmosphere with his live performances. He strives to reclaim his culture through music and art; inspired by technology, language, politics, economy, and northern legends.

“NÀHGĄ” is the Tlicho/Dogrib word for “bushman”, which is known in legend as the spirit of the woods in the NWT; which serves as a reminder to respect the land, water, and all their inhabitants. The beaded eye-cover that is worn is a visual representation of the obscurity and mystery of what this spirit is, and also to pay respect to our traditional artists and craft-makers with a sci-fi influence.

Casey Koyczan is also an installation artist, actor, and creates audio for video-games, scores, and films. In his spare time he works with various local organizations on multi-media projects, and creates music videos and short music documentaries.

About Soda Pony Soda Pony members Patrick Hamilton and Aiden Tentrees can often be found scouring the corners of Whitehorse's various dump freestores in search of costumes for their next show. They have been scouring these same dumps for the last decade, and the dumps always abide them with something newly strange and/or stylish. These early dump visits roughly correlate to Hamilton and Tentrees' first musical collaborations; they have been playing music together in various bands since their early teens, culminating in 2013 with the formation of Soda Pony.

With a new full-length album tucked into their waistline, Soda Pony truly kills during their live performances. Hamilton, playing bass synthesizer with his left hand while also hammering at his drum kit, keeps the course steady for Tentrees' hooks and leads, alternating between organ and crunchy electric guitar. Meanwhile, the duo trade off vocals (frequently even in the course of the same song), adding to their charismatic, playful dynamic. The songs are clever, musically sophisticated, tightly arranged, and most of all, performed with original, forceful spirit.

You cannot redeem punch passes for this performance.