TORONTO - Dave Bidini says there's not much in the world that could have inspired the Rheostatics to reunite, other than his friend, author Paul Quarrington.

But, with a star-studded tribute being held for Quarrington this Saturday at the International Festival of Authors in Toronto, the Rheostatics are indeed getting back together for just one show.

"We don't have any intention of playing together ever again, really, but I think everybody wanted to kind of see Paul and hang out with him," Bidini told The Canadian Press in a telephone interview.

"Paul's been a big contributor to our musical lives . . . so there was no convincing that had to be done. Everybody was right there.

"You know, we might not agree or get along with each other but we can all agree and get along with Paul."

Bidini will also host the event, entitled Paul Quarrington: A Life in Music, Words, and on Screen, which will also feature appearances from Margaret Atwood, David Bezmozgis, Roddy Doyle, Alistair MacLeod and Paul Gross.

Friends including Jim Cuddy and Michael Ondaatje will deliver tributes via film for Quarrington, the Governor General's Award-winning author of "Whale Music," who will also perform with the Quarrington Trio and the Porkbelly Futures.

Earlier this year, the 56-year-old Quarrington was diagnosed with an advanced form of lung cancer, although Bidini said he hasn't talked about it much.

"We haven't really talked that much about him being sick, actually," he said. "Paul is so disarming, right? Paul does a lot of work for you in terms of defusing that subject, in terms of making it easier, that's what's so selfless and wonderful and heavy about the guy.

"He's such a personable force, that it makes it easier for everyone around him to deal with it."

Bidini admits to having some nerves about hosting the event. But he recalls another public appearance he was "terrified" about, when he appeared at a Toronto brewery to read a piece of fiction he'd just had published. Quarrington was there for him.

"Paul came up and introduced me and he just said these really completely flattering and wonderful things about the story and about me as a young writer, and it really made it super easy for me to go and do that reading," Bidini said.

"So maybe this night, if he's feeling any kind of nervousness, maybe I can kind of return the favour."