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On February 5th, 2005, the Bemidji National Armory filled with loud music, bright lights, fog and over 400 people that turned out for Rock for Relief, a tsunami relief benefit show. Over $1,700 was raised by the event and proceeds were donated to the American Red Cross' relief efforts in South Asia .
Chris Berseth, lead singer for the band "Blindly Staring Upward," organized the event. "Originally we just wanted to bring a few bands to the area so we could set up a show," said Berseth, "[give] something for the kids to do on a Saturday night, and then it turned into a benefit show and, I guess, got a lot bigger than any of us had planned."
Many people who came out to the event said that it was well worth the $5 admission charge. "With so many great bands, $5 is an awesome price, plus I know that the money is going to a good cause," said Nathan Halse, a Bemidji State student that came to the event.
Hillcrest Hearsay Productions and Northern Light FX teamed up to donate their time, equipment, and services for the event. "It's great to see so many people donating so much for a cause like this," said Berseth. The only things that cost money were renting out the facilities and publicity.
Twelve bands from across Minnesota showed up to rock the event. They played from 6 p.m. to midnight on two stages. The main stage held the crowd's attention most of the night and the smaller stage for acoustic music was used while bands on the main stage were tearing down and setting up their equipment between acts. The bands that came where: "First Thing's First," "Ray-Z," "Last Call Home," "Sapphire to Scarlet," "Estella," "D.A.Z.E.D.," "A Sunken Ship Irony," "Invitation to a Funeral," "Blindly Staring Upward," "Five Stars for Failure," "Friends with Ben" and "Annalise Aakhus." There was one band that backed out of the event unexpectedly just a few hours before it began.
Relief concerts have been happening all over the country, and all over the world with mainstream bands like "U2," "Linkin Park," "Boy George" and many others, getting involved.
This event showed that even small bands in a rural town in northern Minnesota can make a difference.