An award-winning band will be headlining a unique Christmas concert Saturday in Minot.
"The Reason: A Family Christmas Experience" will take place Saturday at Ann Nicole Nelson Hall on the campus of Minot State University at 7 p.m. Dan Hansen, an event organizer, said the headline act will be Kutless, a nationally-known rock band that has won a Dove Award from the Gospel Music Association.
Also appearing will be pop singer Moriah Peters and Dave Lubbon. Along with holiday rock music will be some storytelling, which Hansen said will make for a one-of-a-kind concert experience.
"It's rock bands and pop artists that are performing live Christmas music. It will be an experience of Christmas music you've probably never seen before," Hansen said. "A rock 'n' roll twist to Christmas music."
The concert is being sponsored by Minneapolis-based Pulse Movement in conjunction with the Greater Minot Youth Concert Association. Hansen said the concert association is a local nonprofit organization that works to provide unique and positive concert experiences for all ages.
"We will actually be doing a concert in March," Hansen said. "The Greater Minot Youth Concert Association will be the main sponsor for Beardstock, which is a benefit for the (Minot Area) Homeless Coalition."
Fact Box
"The Reason: A Family Christmas Experience," will take place Saturday at 7 p.m. at Ann Nicole Nelson Hall, which is located in Old Main on the campus of Minot State University. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at (thereasonchristmas.com) and are $15 each, or $12 each for groups of four or more. Tickets can also be purchased in Minot at Gideon's Trumpet in Dakota Square Mall. Tickets might still be available the day of the event if any remain for sale.
The concert association has been around for 10 years or so and has brought concerts to the Minot area sporadically over that time. Hansen said they are working to make Minot concerts a more frequent occurrence, and The Reason concert on Saturday is one of the fruits of that labor.
"At least one big concert a year, maybe a couple of smaller ones," Hansen said. "People can definitely look forward to us bringing some pretty legitimate musicians and bands to Minot."
Hansen said Pulse Movement was founded by Fargo native Nick Hall. In addition to bring Christian outreach programs to college campuses across the nation, the nonprofit organization also does some missionary work around the world to help those in need.
Hansen noted Nick Hall will actually be the guest speaker for the Minot concert.
While the concert might be held on campus, Hansen said it's meant for the entire community of Minot and everyone is welcome to attend.
Pulse Movement held a Christmas concert in Minot last year, as well, and in the wake of the Souris River flood gave the tickets away so Minot residents could enjoy some Christmas cheer while saving money for more important things.
"Last year they actually offered tickets free to the public because of the flood that we went through," Hansen said. "They thought as a gift to Minot they would offer the tickets free, which I thought was pretty generous considering they could have charged $15 or $20 per ticket."
Hansen said the Christmas rock 'n' roll music the concert is bringing will definitely leave those who attend with some lasting memories. It's the kind of thing that needs to be heard to be believed, and he hopes as many people as possible can make it out to Ann Nicole Nelson Hall to see it for themselves.
"You have never experienced Christmas like this before," Hansen said. "This is going to be the best Christmas yet."