A group of musicians is on a mission to help needy children halfway around the world, and they're stopping in Minot to rock out.
The Music With a Mission Tour is coming to Minot Friday in the Bishop Ryan High School gym. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the concert starts at 7 p.m.
Dan Hansen, who is helping to organize the Minot event, said Music With a Mission picks a cause to benefit every year and holds charity concerts across the country to raise money. This year the cause is CURE, a nonprofit organization that operates hospitals and programs in 27 countries around the world. Money raised from the tour will be used to save the lives of children in Uganda who suffer from hydrocephalus, a deadly brain condition that affects nearly 400,000 newborns globally every year.
"Basically they're touring the U.S., playing as many shows as they can in a couple months, raising awareness and raising money," Hansen said. "Just rocking for a reason."
General admission tickets are $10 online or at the door, and $55 online for a VIP ticket, which includes early admission at 5:30 p.m., a limited edition CURE T-shirt, exclusive laminate and lanyard, exclusive tour branded poster, a ticket to the show, meet and greet with the headlining artist, which is Family Force 5, front-of-line access, a Save the Storks beanie and Save the Storks gift bag. There is a small service fee with each ticket purchase. College students can get in free with a valid college ID.
"I really want to emphasize the fact that $55 for VIP is a steal. Usually this is going to be a lot more money to get VIP, especially with Family Force 5," Hansen said. "They're a really big band right now."
To order tickets visit (www.pulseminot.com) or call 1-800-965-9324. For more information on the concert contact Hansen at 833-6868, visit (www.musicwithamissiontour.com) or look up "Music With a Mission Tour (Minot)" on Facebook. For more information on CURE, visit (www.cure.org).
Hansen said the headline band, Family Force 5, has gained an incredible following and is actually signed to two different labels - Tooth & Nail Records, a Christian label, and Maverick Records, a subsidiary of Sony Records.
Hansen said Family Force 5 is known for playing party rock, an upbeat type of music that definitely invites fans to get their feet moving.
"It's dancy kind of music," Hansen said.
Other bands on the tour include Disciple, a hard rock band, and Icon for Hire, an alternative group.
Also showing up will be Da' T.R.U.T.H., who is formerly of The Cross Movement.
"He's kind of legendary in the rap world," Hansen said, noting that there will be plenty of other bands playing, as well.
There will be pop for sale for thirsty fans, and there will also be videos, prizes and a dance competition to liven things up.
"It really does appeal to all ages," Hansen said.
Another partner in the benefit tour is Pulse Events, a nonprofit out of Minneapolis that specializes in campus events. Hansen said it was actually Pulse Events that contacted him about bringing the tour to Minot. Pulse told Hansen the tour would be driving through North Dakota on its way to Minnesota, and asked about stopping in Minot.
"They said hey, would you want to do it? Would you want to have them stop in Minot for a cheaper price?" Hansen said. "So we said yes."
In addition to Music With a Mission and Pulse Events, local partners for the concert in Minot include Campus Ministries and the Greater Minot Youth Concert Association, which will be getting a share of the profits to help put on more concert events in Minot in the future. The association has been dormant of late and Hansen said the Music With a Mission Tour is helping the Minot organization make a comeback into the public eye.
"We're using this concert as kind of a launching pad. It's almost like we're reintroducing the Greater Minot Youth Concert Association to the public," Hansen said. "This is kind of like a taste of things to come. We're going to be bringing many more bands in, so just keep your eyes and ears open."