The Jerry Cans

The Jerry Cans
Also known as	Pai Gaalaquatikkut
Origin	Iqaluit, Nunavut
Genres	folk music, alternative country, Inuit music
Labels	Aakuluk Music
Members	Andrew Morrison Nancy Mike Brendan Doherty Gina Burgess Steve Rigby

The Jerry Cans (Pai Gaalaquatikkut in Inuktitut) are a band from Iqaluit, Nunavut who combine traditional Inuit throat singing with folk music and country music. Their music is largely written in Inuktitut, the indigenous language of the Inuit people, with lyrics which "reflect the challenges and beauty of life in the Far North". Their 2016 album, Inuusiq/Life, was released on Aakuluk Music, Nunavut's first record label, which the band's members established in 2016 "to support Inuit and Indigenous musicians".

The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Andrew Morrison, vocalist and accordionist Nancy Mike, violinist Gina Burgess, bassist Brendan Doherty and drummer Steve Rigby. The band's name derives from Rigby once trying to build a drum set out of old jerrycans.

Morrison, the band's lead singer, was not fluent in Inuktitut prior to becoming romantically involved with Mike. The couple later formed the band with Doherty and Rigby, while Burgess, originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia and also a member of Gypsophilia, joined the band after visiting Iqaluit on a cultural exchange program between the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts and the Iqaluit Fiddle Ensemble.

Their debut album, Nunavuttitut, was released in 2012.

The band were modestly successful in their early years, but began to attract wider mainstream attention after Tanya Tagaq won the Polaris Music Prize in 2014, increasing the visibility and commercial viability of Inuit throat singing. Their third album Inuusiq/Life, released in 2016, was produced by Michael Phillip Wojewoda. They have toured extensively, including across Canada and festival dates in Australia.

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