COEUR d'ALENE - Brad Perry wants Kootenai County folks to stay close to home for music festivals.

He doesn't want them to travel to Spokane, Sandpoint, Seattle or the Gorge.

"It's ridiculous that people in a community that's affluent and prosperous as Coeur d'Alene is, that our residents have to drive to attend concerts," the Spokane man said.

So Perry, along with backers of the Coeur d'Alene Musical Festival, have set their sights on bringing big-name artists to the Lake City.

Plans are under way for the second such festival, this year tentatively scheduled Sept. 5-8.

Yes, tentatively.

The optimistic Perry must raise $30,000 by April 1 as start-up money.

So far, he has pledges for $7,000.

And if the rest doesn't come in?

"If the funding's not there April 1, then there won't be one this year," he said. "I'm certainly not going to do it halfway.

"If not this year, then next."

The first fundraising deadline for the festival, with a total budget of $125,000, has to be well in advance of the show dates so there's time to book bands and venues.

The list of potential musical acts so far includes Harry Connick Jr., Norah Jones, Randy Travis and Kansas.

"After April 1 that list is going to start dropping like crazy," he said. "It's just a time crunch."

Perry said if the $30,000 goal is reached, there are "a large amount of companies that want to jump on board.

"The interest is there," he said.

Last year's Coeur d'Alene Music Festival at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds attracted about 600 people.

Perry said despite a lack of advance publicity and some organizational problems, it still went pretty well.

"Despite everything, they managed to pull off a local show," he said. "It ended up being a positive thing."

Perry, a musician, businessman and Coeur d'Alene native, agreed to get involved in planning this year's music festival.

A strategic marketing plan is in place, word is spreading and support is growing, Perry said. The Coeur d'Alene Musical Festival is now a member of the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce too. Sponsors are expressing interest, but more are needed.

Several venues are being considered, with the latest proposal calling for musicians to perform on a barge on Lake Coeur d'Alene.

Perry said that plan is being ironed out and he didn't want to reveal the location, but it looks doable.

"I was surprised how quickly things came together," he said Thursday.

A concert on Lake Coeur d'Alene would be something different, and in a spectacular setting sure to attract crowds.

"It's all about the lake," Perry said.

It's a long process, though, that requires permits and keeping neighbors happy and falling in the right price range.

"One of the biggest obstacles to overcome is where it will be held," Perry said.

He believes Coeur d'Alene Music Festival could reach the level of the Festival at Sandpoint,

He laughed, however, as he recounted making a few calls about the availability of the country super group, Lady Antebellum.

He was quoted a started price in the range of $350,000. Perry had to say, well, maybe not this time.

"They're definitely out of our range," he said.

Information: (509) 362-0013, cdamusicfest@gmail