YELLOWKNIFE - The PGI concert for literacy is set to take the stage at the beginning of next week, and the biannual event is looking like a can't-miss show.

"I think it's going to be a fantastic event," said Mandie Abrams, the executive director of the NWT Literacy Council.

PGI concert host Shelagh Rogers spreads the word about literacy in the concert's poster, as seen around town. The show will be Monday and Tuesday night and feature many Canadian performers in a benefit for literacy. - image courtesy of the NWT Literacy Council

The concert will feature some new performers, some who are no strangers to the event and even a homegrown talent. Abrams said CBC broadcaster Shelagh Rogers will be hosting the show. According to her, Rogers has been a part of many PGI events before, and loves to come to the North, as does Trailer Park Boy Jonathan Torrens, who will also take the stage this year.

The PGI event is a nationwide literacy fundraising effort which usually takes the form of a golf tournament in every province, hosted by the region's local public literacy body. Abrams said in the North the event is sometimes too early in the year for a golf tournament, which is why it takes the form of a concert, which the NWT and Nunavut share back and forth from year to year.

The national event was founded by the late CBC broadcaster Peter Gzowski in Ontario, and has since grown into the multi-city benefit it is today.

In the NWT, the proceeds from the event tend to benefit literacy programs at the community level.

"The money goes to ground level operations here," said Abrams.

In addition to the veteran visitors, the lineup of musicians also includes Murray McLauchlin, whose successes have ranged from pop music to folk and country music, and rocker Ian Thomas. The show will also feature Yellowknife's own Arctic rapper Aaron "Godson" Hernandez and the St. Pat's student-formed jazz band Four Leaf Clover.

Abrams said Godson has been working on a collaborative performance with Torrens as part of the variety of musical sets.

The concert is taking place at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre on Monday and Tuesday nights, starting at 7 p.m. both nights, and Abrams said in addition to the concert, there is also a Putt with a Celebrity event, which allows people to whack some balls with one of the performers for a donation.

There will also be a raffle of several items donated by sponsors. Tickets are available at the Book Cellar.

According to Abrams, members of the NWT Literacy Council are helping with many aspects of the performances, and she said everyone is excited to see the show go on.

"It's amazing to see all these people give their time to support literacy," she said.