Amie Jackson lives in Edmonton now, but still can’t quite find anything like performing at Hay River’s youth centre.
Jackson, back in the NWT town for the summer, helped to launch this year’s Hay Days festival on Wednesday evening by singing at an open-air showcase outside the youth centre.
The 15-year-old opened with the song Bruno is Orange, by Hop Along, followed by a track from the musical comedy Six, which retells the lives of Henry VIII’s wives.
Her repertoire spanned genres, moving from the 1954 classic Fly Me to the Moon to Radiohead’s Creep.
“I definitely miss the restaurants here, and also the people – that’s probably the thing I miss the most,” said Jackson, drawing a contrast between Hay River and Edmonton.
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“But also being able to perform all the time has been sorely missed, because I used to come to youth nights here and it’s hard to find stuff like that in Edmonton that isn’t oversaturated.”
Jackson started coming to the youth centre with friend Van Delorey, and described it becoming a “hot spot” for friends to use as a base for all kinds of activities.
“It’s a really good resource. I had a lot of fun while I lived here,” Jackson said.
Delorey, following Jackson at the youth showcase, performed covers of American songwriter Will Wood’s eccentric piano compositions, complete with the whimsical, overblown on-stage persona for which Wood has become known.
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Delorey discovered Wood’s work after “doomscrolling Tiktok” and being captivated by the “beautifully eccentric, high-energy, jazzy” music.
“It matches my vibe personally and I started performing it about a year ago,” said the 16-year-old, who wore attire and make-up inspired by Wood’s own appearance during shows.
“His music is complicated, and that’s part of it. I’ve always liked convoluted, almost puzzle-like things, and so when he writes, his songs are rhythmically fantastic. I’ve written essays analyzing his songs because it’s just such a wonderful way of doing art.”
Now, Delorey is thinking about original music, but has some obstacles to overcome on that front.
“I have this thing where I can write it but it’s never going to be good enough, and so I’m just never going to release music until somebody comes over, slaps me on the back of the head and says, ‘Hey, that’s good. Put it out now,'” Delorey said.
“That’s what I’ve been working on, getting myself in the right headspace that my art I create is good enough for other people to see.”
The youth showcase also featured exhibits of flowers grown at the centre, artwork created by centre attendees and an opportunity to pain planter boxes in the centre’s greenhouse.
More: Full Hay Days schedule
More: Hay River Youth Centre website
Hay Days continues on Thursday with workshops and more evening performances at the Old Zoo and Bob McMeekin Chamber Park.
