Yellowknife (Feb 18/05) - The Recording Arts Association of the NWT (RAANT) returns to its roots this weekend by holding the Bushed music festival at Sam's Monkey Tree Pub.

After attempting to go bigger last year by holding the event at the Multiplex, RAANT has scaled back the proportions of this year's concert and returned to its original venue.

Darby Oystrek of Liquid Eyez performed at the first Cabin Fever Music Festival in February 2003. The festival returns to the Monkey Tree this year with a new name, "Bushed."

The concert this Sunday, Feb. 20, also marks the organization's second anniversary. RAANT's inaugural music festival was held at the Monkey Tree in February 2003.

"It's really just a big party," said Chic Callas, vice president of RAANT.

"And it's a chance to celebrate live music in Yellowknife."

There's also been a name change. The first two festivals were called Cabin Fever, but this year they're switching to the name "Bushed" to avoid confusion with a myriad of other Cabin Fever promotions.

"Bushed" was Callas' idea.

"At this time of year people get 'bushed,'" said Callas. "It's a term that's been around since I was a kid. It's the time when people feel like pulling out their hair."

Last year the organization took some risks by booking a larger venue, bringing in Ian McDonald, a singer/songwriter from Calgary, and holding a concurrent arts fair in the lobby.

But because the DND gym had sports booked for 6 p.m., the concert began at 10 a.m. on a Sunday morning and wound up around 5 p.m. Attendance was low.

So this year RAANT is planning a smaller, more intimate concert, following the formula that worked in the past. The doors will open at noon at the pub, and the music will start at 2 p.m., with performers getting half hour slots.

Steve Smith will emcee and the line-up includes Mandeville Drive, Rough Touch, Rick and the Relics, Spruce on Top, Northern Skies, the Leslie Bader band, Steve Lacey and Brodie Dawson. Tracy Riley will cap off the evening with a performance at 6:30 p.m.

After that, there may be some informal jamming on stage.

The event is licensed and the bar will be open, but organizers plan on maintaining the informal "house party" spirit by ordering pizza.