Courtney Love performed in Tuktoyaktuk in 1995, along with Metallica and Veruca Salt as part of a beer promotion, but usually Northerners have to fly south for big concerts.

Jennifer Geens
Northern News Services

Norman Wells (Mar 14/05) - If top bands and sporting events won't come to the North, Northerners will go to them.

That's the simple philosophy behind the new package trips being offered by Rapid Travel in Norman Wells.

Sure, Nazareth or Trooper might stop by Yellowknife every few years, and yes, Courtney Love once visited Tuktoyaktuk, but what about U2 or Shania Twain?

For those kinds of artists, you'll have to fly south. The deal is, the travel agency provides airline tickets - out of Inuvik or Yellowknife - accommodations and concert tickets for about the same price as the usual airfare.

Upcoming concerts they've got tickets for include Keith Urban (April 1) and Motley Crue (April 2) in Edmonton, and U2 (April 29) in Vancouver.

Barb Cote came up with the idea because during the 22 years she has lived in Norman Wells, she has never let distance get in the way of attending a good concert.

Most recently she's been to performances by Supertramp, The Eagles and Shania Twain.

"I am the Northern customer so I want to make sure they're looked after," she said.

And it's not just music junkies who seek their fix in the south.

The travel agency is also looking at setting up deals for sporting events, like the Grey Cup.

"The possibilities are endless," she said.