With many live music venues in Yellowknife restricted to people aged 19 and older, there are not a lot of chances for youth musicians to play in front of an audience.
Scarlett Anderson is hoping to provide such an opportunity at an upcoming youth talent show.
“Personally, I find it’s a little difficult,” she told Cabin Radio.
“A lot of the big places where adult bands perform won’t really let us perform because we’re minors and we can’t be around the alcohol in these spaces.
“That’s one of the biggest challenges I’ve noticed.”
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Anderson, a 16-year-old student at Sir John Franklin High School, is the lead singer of R.A.S.K.L, a youth band that plays punk rock and metal.
She said having opportunities to perform helps young musicians build a greater public profile, supports their music careers and adds to Yellowknife’s music scene.
R.A.S.K.L’s first gig was the 2025 Still Dark Festival. Anderson said it was “a dream come true” to take the stage at The Top Knight, a rare instance in which minors were given special permission to perform at a bar.
“A lot of the bands that we look up to weren’t able to play in bars until they were older than us,” she said. “We were 16, 15 and 17 performing in a bar for the first time ever. It was fun.”
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Given the limited performance opportunities for youth in Yellowknife, Anderson said she joined the NWT Recreation and Parks Association’s Activate NT program, which offers grants to NWT youth, to put on a talent show.
She was inspired by Yellowknife’s Got Talent, a collaboration between Home Base Yellowknife and the Ice Cold Collective YK.
Anderson said she has participated in Yellowknife’s Got Talent every year it has taken place, including performing with R.A.S.K.L at the last edition at the Snowcastle.
“I really liked the community that we built, just the youth who participated. We sort-of built a bit of a friendship and a bond with each other,” she said.
The youth talent show is set to take place at Northern United Place on Friday, December 12 from 7-9pm. It is free to attend.
“It is a special thing to come see what the next generation of mainly musicians of Yellowknife will be doing,” Anderson said.
“In Yellowknife, there’s a big music culture and music scene here, and it’s nice to see that youth are still practising music and still wanting to pursue music as a hobby or as a career.”
Youth aged 12 to 17 interested in performing any talent – including music, dance, spoken word, comedy or magic – can sign up to participate until December 10.
The event will feature guest judges. Prizes include passes to the Snowkings’ Winter Festival, a $100 pre-paid Visa and a $50 gift card to Tastes of the North.
