Every month, The Empire Arts Center hosts an event called the Music Box. This all-ages event was created in 2021 and is meant to showcase the talents of local and regional musicians ranging from all different genres. Each event looks different, but they all tend to follow a similar structure of featuring three separate artists each for thirty minutes. Normally, at the end of the event there is a “jam session” where the artists and audience members can join together to jam out on their instruments and collaborate with one another.
I had the opportunity to speak to Tommy Hoffarth who was involved with the Music Box from its beginning stages and has seen it turn into what it is today. Hoffarth told me that “the goal of the Music Box has always been to promote growth of diversity, community, and local culture, as well as provide a space for new and experienced musicians alike to showcase their talents every month.” He then explained that throughout the years they have had to get creative as they faced different changes and challenges within their space. That is until 2023 when they received a donation from Mark Hove of which provided them with the necessary equipment to create the space that is now in the basement at The Empire. The event now continues to take place in its intended location that is the Black Box which Hoffarth says “makes for a much more intimate and social setting.”
This month’s upcoming Music Box performance will be taking place outside in the Empire’s alleyway. The reason for this, Hoffarth explained, is “to get the college student demographic exposed to the program.” They had their first outdoor event last year and found that it brought in over four hundred people consisting of students of all ages including college students as well as people who were just passing by downtown and decided to see what it was about.
This month’s outdoor event will take place on September 14 and feature the talent of four unique artists. The first artist on the lineup is Dakota Faye, a midwestern Rap artist from Minot, ND. The next artist is S.P.G. Da General who is a solo artist with a unique journey. Jantzonia is a hip-hop artist from Grand Forks, ND who will also be featured during this show along with the fourth artist Gordon Bird, a modern disco-pop artist. If you are interested in finding new artists to listen to or in getting involved in the local music scene, this would be a great opportunity to do so.
When I asked Hoffarth about how people might get involved as a performer, I was told that they “can always email someone at The Empire or stop in and ask about it.” Hoffarth also added that “The Empire knows and recognizes the importance of the impact it’s had on the community and will continue to put on shows every month for the foreseeable future.”
The Music Box has served as a great outlet for new and experienced artists to connect with each other and grow individually and as a community. The local music scene in Grand Forks has continued to grow throughout the years, and it is events like the Music Box that keep it alive and emphasize its importance.
Nora Lee is a Dakota Student General Reporter. She can be reached at [email protected].
