Education cuts in the 1990s did more than hurt students.

"A number of bands in the early '90s were making a living doing live shows without selling much records, and our bread and butter was the university and college crowds, so in the mid '90s with all the education cutbacks the entertainment budgets were the first thing cut," says Skydiggers frontman Andy Maize.

"The opportunities just weren't there anymore after eight years of 125 shows a year."

After touring in support of 1997's Desmond's Hip City for 18 months, The Skydiggers decided to take some time off the road. Each band member got involved in his own project, while working together on forming Maple Music, a Web site and label devoted to promoting new Canadian music and established bands with faithful fanbases who no longer fit in the economic models of major labels, Maize says.

Although The Skydiggers weren't touring or recording new music, the band hadn't broken up. During their five-year hiatus they re-recorded old demos to re-release their 1992 album Restless and put out a live album.

"Those were as much just to show people we hadn't gone away. We were just in hibernation. It was one heartbeat an hour," Maize says.

Last year The 'diggers --Maize, guitarist Josh Finlayson, bassist Ron Macey, guitarist Paul MacLeod and drummer Joel Anderson -- started jamming again every Monday, working on new material, listening to music together and playing cards.

"It was about refocusing on the music instead of all the extraneous stuff that comes into every band. We got back to what we do best, making music as friends and not worrying about outside pressures," he says.

The resulting album, Bittersweet Harmony, was produced by Ian Blurton and Hawksley Workman. Using producers is new for the band who, in the past, made their albums on their own because they wanted total control, Maize says.

One project The Skydiggers are supporting, but not controlling, is a documentary being made by an Ottawa fan.

"Initially we didn't think we were interesting enough to make a documentary of, but he convinced us. And we realized if we were going to do it, let him do it, and not try to control it. I think we've been guilty of controlling too much in the past, so this is good with the documentary and the album," he says.

The Skydiggers play Saturday with Jason Plumb and The Willing.