On the weekend of Sept. 5 and 6, Ojata Records and Dogmahal hosted their annual music and hot dog festival, DogmaFest. This was their 13th year hosting this event and it was a success. This year’s festival featured a total of 23 preforming acts and encouraged individuals to come out to support live music, art, and enjoy some hotdogs.
The goal this year was to beat last year’s record of selling 257 hotdogs. This goal was surpassed about halfway through day two of the festival and by the end they had sold a grand total of 356 hotdogs, marking a new record.
This year’s musical lineup was filled with a wide variety of genres and featured local, regional and national touring acts. Some of the performers were solo artists or bands that frequently perform at the venue. Such as local favorites Your Earholes from Grand Forks and Cudgel from Fargo, ND. While others such as Academy Order, came from as far away as Philidelphia, PA.
Local vendors and artists were invited to sell their goods at vendor booths outside the venue. One featured artist was Lowell Miller who created the hand drawn official DogmaFest ‘25 flyer. This flyer was available for purchase at the venue along with prints of other pieces. Musicians were also encouraged to set up merchandise tables to sell their music and other products as well.
Each year, the Grand Forks music community comes together to celebrate live music and all that it represents, but DogmaFest would not be possible without the venue and their team. The owner and manager of Ojata Records and Dogmahal, Jeremy Swisher and Annie Brudvig work diligently every year to make sure the weekend runs smoothly with the help of friends and volunteers in the community. It is because of venues like this that musicians and artists are able to share their work and do what they love to do.
The festival usually takes place at the start of the fall semester for the University of North Dakota. This is in hopes that since the venue is located just down University Avenue near campus, UND students will make their way over to check out some new music and eat good food. This year’s festival had a great turnout with a crowd filled with regulars as well as newcomers, of which a large majority were students.
DogmaFest may be over until next year, but live music events are always happening at Ojata Records and Dogmahal. They currently have events lined up for each weekend in the month of September. Along with this, they often host waffle buffets, goth nights and other events throughout the year. So, if you missed this event, there will be plenty of other opportunities for you to support the local live music community at this venue. If they do not have an event happening, they are open throughout the week for anyone to stop by, look at some vinyl or comic books while eating one of their world class hotdogs that were once deemed the best in Grand Forks by The Grand Forks Herald.
Nora Lee is a Dakota Student Section Editor. She can be reached at [email protected].
