Heads-up for any Thursday night revelers looking for fun on the cheap: Up From The Roots, a CIUT 20th anniversary celebration, hits Lula Lounge tonight with performances from global groove producer eccodek, Trini-meets-Jamaica calypso-reggae musical activists Kobo Town and Afro-Brazilian drum ensemble Maracatu Nunca Antes (who are cutting a new album) along with CIUT DJs David Dacks and Medicine Man.

The event is free. Doors open at 8pm.

Read David Dacks' CIUT recollections after the jump.

Dacks:

"I ran into Dave O'Rama last Thursday at the Mighty Popo CD release - I hadn't seen him in more than 10 years. He was one of the most active individuals in the late 80s to mid 90s edition of CIUT, which, as upcoming documentaries will further explore, was an especially creative period at the station. CIUT was (and still is) trying to define what a "campus community" radio station was all about. Probably the biggest legacy of that era was the idea of doing live remote broadcasts. Our Afrofest partnership started during that time, and we also covered Nelson Mandela's first visit to Toronto, Caribana, late night Lionheart Studio sessions, and the Gay Pride Parade.

But an early defining moment for CIUT was its work at the 1991 WOMAD festival at Harbourfront. This was the third edition of WOMAD at Harbourfront and we covered it extensively. At least two dozen programmers and techs contributed, and the atmosphere was electric. The success of these WOMAD festivals determined in large part the way the Harbourfront structures its summertime programming, and to be there at the heady beginning was a special experience for all involved. Dave and I DJed the wrap parties for these festivals twice. I'll never forget playing a Cheb Khaled track and some guy rushing up to the booth to say "I played drums on that song! Thank you for playing it", or Hassan Hakmoun doing Morrocan breakdancing to get the crowd going. I have a feeling that good spirits will be in the air on Thursday."

Moroccan breakdancing? OK, maybe, maybe not, but good spirits for sure.