Come to the Empire’s Music Box June 13th, 2026!
This month’s Empire Music box will feature 3 musicians; Matt Pinkard, Chris Erickson, and Cody Verret! As always, the show will be preceded by an open-to-the-public jam, so bring any instrument you’d like! If you're interested in live, local music, the Music Box is the place to be! Come for the music, stay for the good vibes(and the free popcorn).
For the jam, we ask that participants limit any extra equipment that takes excess time to set up that may take away from the time others have to participate. The Empire provides equipment such as keyboards, amps, drums, cymbals, and cables so there is no need to bring your own!
Doors open at 6:00 PM, open-jam starts at 7:00 PM
The Music Box is one of the only venues in Grand Forks that allows artists to play what they want, and our Music Box stage helps to give any musician a platform to perform, regardless the genre or experience.
Tickets available by donation at the door. Recommended Donation of $10. The Music Box is supported through our sponsor, Rydell GMC and through donations from our community.
Meet our Artists!
Cody Verret is a Fargo-based guitarist, performer, and audio/visual creative known for advanced fingerstyle guitar playing that blends percussion, rhythm, and melody simultaneously. Inspired by artists like John Mayer, Luca Stricagnoli, and Jack Gardiner, showcasing intricate finger independence, groove-based playing, and live rhythmic control. Alongside performing, he works professionally in live audio and production. Additionally, Cody is an 3D animator currently developing a video game with his brother.
In a world where looper pedals exist…one man…will loop. From the studio that brought you hit titles like “A Recursory Glance” and “Back again…Already?” Comes this summer’s next hot act, Matt Pinkard! He’s just a little guy…you don’t need to worry about him too much. He’ll play a little guitar…some bass…maybe a little horn…you know…just for fun. Join us for 40 minutes of music that will likely get stuck in your head.
Matt Pinkard is a Grand Forks based musician who plays guitar, bass and trumpet in conjunction with a looping pedal to create relaxing atmospheric music. He uses influences from a variety of genres and musicians to create his own unique sound that is sure to be memorable.
Chris Erickson is an original musician from the High Plains. His all-mohogany Martin D-15 acoustic guitar lays down the rhythm underneath the melody of his voice. Chris has performed all around our region & has had his songs featured as a guest on The Great American Folk Show on NPR. His music is a mix of County, Blues, Folk & Bluegrass... Roots music!