IN CONCERT

What: Song and Surf Festival

When: Friday and Saturday

Where: Port Renfrew

Tickets: $40 one-day pass; $55 two-day pass. Available at Coast Line Surf and Sport, Higher Ground, www.rmts.bc.ca or 250-386-6121.

Those seeking to camp, surf and escape "negative energy" can look forward to the fourth annual Song and Surf Festival in Port Renfrew this weekend.

"It's a great way to beat those winter blues," said organizer Mike Roma of Radio Contact Productions.

The sister event to the summer season's Tall Trees Festival brings together local musicians for two days of shows.

"It started as an idea to bring people into Renfrew in February, when it's an otherwise kind of sleepy town," he said. "Renfrew is a beautiful town . you feel like you're in a totally different world without having to go an insane distance to get that feeling."

The two-day festival features 16 performers: Quoia, Geoff Lundstrom, Mindil Beach Markets, Chris Ho, G.I. Blunt, Mother Tongue Band, J.P. Maurice, Anna Frances, DJ Nigel, DJ Perks, Steph MacPherson, Aegis Fang, Science of Defiances, Gold and Youth, DJ Murge and DJ Generic.

"I think it's important to support local culture because a lot of times we're looking off the Island to get that cultural experience and the reality is you can just look in your backyard," said Roma, who is also a banjoist, guitarist and vocalist in Quoia.

This year, the festival returns to its roots - using the Port Renfrew Recreation Centre as its main venue, after moving to Big Fish Lodge and then a school last year.

"The town is interested in turning the rec centre into a live-music venue," said Roma. "So it's a nice return to the humble beginnings of the festival itself."

Big Fish Lodge remains a daytime venue on Saturday.

Song and Surf is a 19-plus licensed event and two pieces of ID are required for entry.

"People do have the ability to camp at Song and Surf," Roma said. "There are only two roads in . so if you're having anything to drink you need to stay."

Attendees should be respectful of Port Renfrew and its residents, he noted.

A list of accommodations is available at Songandsurf.com. asmart@timescolonist.com