Musicians of the Midnight Sun: Kevin Mackie

Musicians of the Midnight Sun is a new 10-part CBC radio series produced by Northern musical icon Pat Braden. Braden has spent 15 years collecting interviews, photographs, and recordings from some of the North's most celebrated artists, which he is releasing in an online archive.

A new episode of the 10-part series airs on CBC Radio One's The Trailbreaker every Tuesday morning at 7:40 MT.

Listen to Episode 3 of Musicians of the Midnight Sun.

Kevin Mackie, the drummer and a founding member of UM Squared (The Universal Music Machine) hasplayed the drums for many of Yellowknife's longstanding bands, himself becoming an institution in the city's music scene.

• EXTERNAL | Visit the Musicians of the Midnight Sun website for more archival photos and recordings

Mackie is the third musician profiled by the new CBC radio series Musicians of the Midnight Sun.

In his interview with series producer Pat Braden, Mackie reflects on growing up in K'atl'odeeche (Hay River), buying his first set of drums and playing with other legendary Northern musicians.

"I wanted to play guitar, but I was never good enough," Mackie says. "I accidentally went to a practice and they needed a drummer so I said 'I'll try, let me sit back there.'Anyways, I got a job."

He began playing music in Hay River in 1965, but moved to Yellowknife in 1968 where he attended high school and boarded at Akaitcho Hall until 1971. While at Akaitcho Hall, Mackieformed bands with other students and started playinggigs around Yellowknife.

"We always seemed to connect somewhere on a stage. It's nice because you have lifelong friendships that we got from living in that hostel," Mackie said.

You can listen to Pat Braden's full interview with Mackie and see photos from then and now on the project's website.