Third Annual Why Not! Fest | Video

Jenny Castro | 8/12/2012

The Why Not! fest in Minot is a music and art festival where local artists share their music and other creative works. Last year, as part of the festival, many of the performers helped in the flood cleanup. This year, they`re doing another type of service for the community.

There aren`t too many street performers on the avenues of Minot. But there were several different sets played this afternoon in downtown. As part of the third annual Why Not! fest, these local artists are playing their music and giving the money to a local charity.

"Minot Area Homeless Coalition has been around for a long time and we see them around and we know they do good work so if we could do something to help them out it`d be great,” said organizer Chris Stroschein.

"Usually some people frown upon it because that`s how dead beat hippies get money by just, `Please give me money.` But this is obviously going to charity but it`s really cool,” said performer Daniel Johnson.

This is only a small part of the growing Why Not! fest. Performances Friday, Saturday and Sunday show different types of local art, mostly music, but also improv, readings and theatre.

Mainly, it`s just a time to share original work.

"Do it yourself stuff, we don`t have any big supporters or funders or money men, we just like to exist on our own, do our own work, do our thing and share it with people,” said Stroschein.

"As much as everyone talks about going somewhere else there`s always something right next to you that you don`t actually think about. I mean we saw films last night, there was improv comedy, lots of bands from acoustic folk to punk rock, hard core, there`s all sorts of stuff everyone`s doing great work,” said Johnson.

Whether it`s playing on the streets or with a full house inside, this young festival is preserving and creating local art of any kind.

For a look at the schedule you can go to whynot.pangeahouse.org.

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