Last Friday night, concertgoers came together not just for good music but also to inspire change at Grassroots and Grooves.
Senior Emily Dotson and University of Denver graduate Tobias Holme organized the event, which featured four bands performing in Dotson’s backyard. A $5 entry fee supported more than just the music — all proceeds were donated to The Borgen Project, a nonprofit advocacy organization focused on global poverty.
“We focus on trying to pass legislation to have a higher impact with global poverty,” Dotson said. “A lot of our work comes down to funding the international affairs budget.”
Dotson and Holme’s advocacy has centered around addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, supporting H.R. 3005 — the Global Fragility Reauthorization Act — and protecting the international affairs budget.
Charles & The Oddity kicked off the night with a garage rock set. Charles Jonah Dunham led the band’s melodic set accompanied by impressive guitar riffs and percussion. He then invited Oksana Kliuchak to sing mid set.
Following the set, My Friends on the Hill took the stage for their first live show. Vocalists Ava Weiss and Dylan Battersea delivered a chilling performance full of harmonies, backed by a strong instrumental presence, culminating in their indie-folk soundscape.
The community that gathered Friday night gave Dotson and Holme an opportunity to share their mission with a wider audience.
“What we do a lot is mobilizing people like you and me to just get in contact with their congress people… and their senators as well to try to pass certain foreign aid policy bills to help impoverished people in developing nations,” Holmes said.
The two spend a lot of time calling and emailing lawmakers, encouraging their peers to do the same and fundraising for The Borgen Project.
Dotson stressed how easy and important it is to call or email legislators. Through The Borgen Project’s website, users can enter their address to confirm their congressional district and send an automated email to their representatives about the issues they care about.
After a brief intermission, Major League Sex brought their punk sound to the stage, with heavy instrumentals and sharp vocal renderings. The energy in the backyard erupted as the crowd began to mosh.
Holmes took the stage with his band Five Minutes Out, closing the night out with crowd-pleasing covers like “Sunday Morning” by Maroon 5.
The music had come to an end with Dotson making her final speech. She reminded everyone why their cause was worth coming out for. The crowd greeted her with cheers as she left them with one final note, reiterating the importance of calling and emailing their senators to demand change.
