What began five Octobers ago as a backyard tribute for a close friend has reached global proportions.

In fact, prior to its arrival in the Twin Cities this weekend, the event was trotting halfway around the world to Taiwan for a week of performances.

The ex-backyard tribute now calls itself FODfest, short for the Friends of Daniel Pearl Festival.

Pearl is the 38-year-old Wall Street Journal reporter and professional musician who was abducted and brutally slain by Pakistani terrorists in February 2002.

The festival in Pearl's name will be celebrating his life and music at 8 p.m. Saturday in Illinois Wesleyan University's Blue Moon Coffeehouse. Admittance is a freewill donation to the Daniel Pearl Foundation, which works toward promoting and strengthening community through music.

The lineup at each tour stopover includes an ever-evolving roster of national musicians, along with an opening set by local musicians who were solicited to perform (see accompanying list for the lineup).

Hosting and performing at the event will be Todd Mack, a close friend and bandmate of Pearl.

According to tour spokeswoman Sally Keyes, Mack and Pearl first crossed paths in the '90s, when Mack placed a newspaper notice seeking musicians for a new band.

"Daniel, who was a great violin and fiddle player, replied, and they eventually became great friends," says Keyes.

Even after his career as a globe-trotting journalist took precedence in his life, Pearl maintained his deep musical ties as a classically trained violinist who could segue to fiddle and bluegrass, says Keyes.

"He used his music because he traveled a lot and was thrown into communities around the world," says Keyes. "He used his music to enter into those communities."

For example, Pearl would organize jam sessions and invite local musicians as a way "to get to know the community and make friends."

That universal communication through music, she says, is what FODfest is about --"the heart and the goal of the matter."

Five autumns ago, Mack decided to honor his slain friend's life by organizing a tribute concert his backyard in Sheffield, Mass. The tribute took the shape of an informal jam session.

After two years of informality, the festival hit the road for several organized shows outside of Mack's yard space.

In its fifth year, FODfest has clocked 28 concerts across the United States and, as mentioned, in Taiwan. To date, more than 350 musicians have participated.

According to Keyes, a typical FODfest concert features a mix of song-swapping, jam sessions and the concert proper.

"It sounds cliché," she adds, "but I have to say the sense of community that comes from these concerts is real, and it's wonderful to see professionals and nonprofessionals performing together with the thought in mind of honoring the life of someone who was very brave and dedicated to humanity."

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At a glance

What: 2009 FODfest Tour

When: 8 p.m. Saturday

Where: Blue Moon Coffeehouse in IWU Memorial Student Center Main Lounge

Cost: Donation at door to Daniel Pearl Foundation

Information: www.fodfest.org

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Fest lineup

The FODfest artist roster changes from date to date along the tour trajectory, mixing nationally known artists with community musicians. Following is the event's lineup for the Blue Moon Coffeehouse stopover:

National acts

• Todd Mack: Former band mate and close friend of Daniel Pearl who founded FODfest five years ago.

• SONiA: Frequent Blue Moon visitor Sonia Rutstein, who performs both solo and with her group, "disappear fear."

• Ellen Rosner: Chicago singer-songwriter often compared to the likes of Chrissie Hynde and Joan Armatrading.

Local acts

• Bruce Bergethon, Nick Africano Jr. and the Zachary Brothers