The annual, sold-out Sasquatch Music Festival at The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Wash., isn't just cool because it's less than a day's drive away - it has a close-to-home benefit for Boise, too.

Performers already are in the Northwest, so a few usually make a stop here for individual concerts.

The latest coup: Sasquatch headliner Rusko will perform Saturday, May 25, at the Revolution Center in Garden City. (You could argue about what exactly constitutes an official festival "headliner," but Sasquatch definitely is featuring the British producer/DJ prominently on its website.)

Fresh off this weekend's sold-out Tiesto show, Rusko is a nice grab for the 2,200-capacity Revolution Center. It's becoming the Boise area's venue of choice for larger electronic dance music acts.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. March 15 for $29.50 general admission, $59.50 VIP, at Ticketfly. (G.A. tickets will be $35 at the door if available.) The opening DJs haven't been announced.

Another big Sasquatch act, electro-indie purveyors The Postal Service, will rock the 999-capacity Knitting Factory on May 28. That show sold out quickly.

Expect more of the Sasquatch Effect on Boise's music scene, too. At least two other significant Sasquatch acts are being bandied about for shows here. One has an offer from a promoter.

PHISH AREN'T BITING?

If you'd asked me over a beer last week, I would have told you that jam band Phish was a virtual lock to play July 28 at the Idaho Center Amphitheater in Nampa.

I'm now hearing this has changed. The latest scuttlebutt is that the band probably will pass over Idaho.

Phish played the BSU Pavilion (now called Taco Bell Arena) twice in the 1990s. They drew 4,310 fans in 1995 and 4,651 in 1999. Even considering the mountain of cash generated from selling fatty burritos to fans, those types of numbers - even significantly more optimistic numbers - do not make it particularly attractive to play the Boise market in 2013.

This is rock 'n' roll, however, so anything can happen.

YOUTH LAGOON VS. RITTER

New albums from Boise's Youth Lagoon and Idaho native Josh Ritter were released March 5. They'll be the top two sellers at the Record Exchange in Boise for at least their first week.

In last Sunday's column, Record Exchange Marketing Director Chad Dryden predicted the two would be neck and neck in sales - with a slight edge to Youth Lagoon.

As of the afternoon of March 8, Youth Lagoon led by nine units.

Dryden probably should get into sports betting.

COFFEY CONCERTS

Boise singer-songwriter Bill Coffey will headline special shows at 8 p.m. March 15 and 16 at the Sapphire Room at the Riverside Hotel, 2900 W. Chinden Blvd., in Garden City.

He'll be accompanied by pianist Andrew Cortens of the jazz combo Frim Fram 4, which played its own special gig - an album release party - March 9 at the Linen Building.

Coffey's performance is part of the Idaho Songwriters Concert Series. Openers will be Thomas Paul on March 15 and Bernie Reilly on March 16.

Tickets are $10. Hitidahosongwriters.com for more information.

SOLFEST IN SUN VALLEY

The snow ain't exactly piling high for skiers in Sun Valley, but Bald Mountain did get blessed with 10 inches of new powder last week.

Maybe the snow gods are smiling upon SolFest, the music, snowboarding and partying event March 22-24.

College students can pick up three lift tickets for $99, which are valid all week.

More festival details: visitsunvalley.com.

TONIGHT IN 'THE OTHER STUDIO'

Singer-songwriter Josh Ritter will tell me about his new album, plus Tim Johnstone and I will spin music from The Shins, How To Destroy Angels, Leonard Cohen, Youth Lagoon and more.

"The Other Studio" airs at 9 p.m. Sundays on 94.9 FM The River.

IN SCENE MARCH 15

- Here comes Treefort: A preview of year two of Boise's emerging-artists festival.

- Q&A with Britt Udesen, new executive director at The Cabin.

- Comedy "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" hits movie theaters.

Michael Deeds' column runs Fridays in Scene and Sundays in Life. Email: mdeeds@idahostatesman.com. Twitter: @IDS_Deeds