*NEW YORK, NY -- Grammy Award-winning musician, producer and DJ Questlove, house music legend Francois K, electronica star Bassnectar, celebrity spinner Mick Boogie, hip hop experimentalist DJ Spooky, and Bhangra icon DJ Rekha have joined forces with DJs across the country for RAISE THE VOLUME, RAISE THE VOTE', a nationwide campaign that will harness the reach of America's club DJs to bolster youth voter turnout for the historic U.S. presidential election on November 4, 2008.
'The time is now for young Americans to take control of their futures,' says Questlove, best known as co-founder and drummer of the legendary hip hop band, The Roots. 'I've often heard people say, 'My vote doesn't count'they already know who's going to win.' This is not true. There is no excuse not to vote in 2008.'
In addition to these artists, the campaign also features performances and appearances by DJ Heather, DJ Lady Miss Kier, DJ Collette, Jerome Derradji, Mick Boogie, Neil Aline, DJ Ayres, Terry Urban, DJ Shakey, DJ Fortune, DJ Adam Gibbons, DJ Anjali & The Incredible Kid, JC Disko, Julius the Mad Thinker, DJ Mario Massa, and DJ StoneKold.
RAISE THE VOLUME artists will headline club dates in New York and other states, including two key 'battlegrounds' in the election '" Ohio and North Carolina. . Artists will also leverage their extensive fan lists to deliver the 'GO VOTE' message to more than 75,000 fans nationwide in the days leading up to the election.
The campaign teams with MySpace Music (www.myspace.com/music) to release its 'Ultimate Election Day Playlist' on November 4th. The all-star collaboration features songs hand-picked by the featured artists to give fans a pumping soundtrack for their Election Day.
Election Day also finds DJ Rekha, The Rub's DJ Ayres, and Chez Music's Neil Aline spinning all-star sets at RAISE THE VOLUME's Election Day Party at Virgin Megastore Times Square in New York City from 1:00PM to 5:00PM.
'DJs have a unique opportunity to engage our fans in positive change through our music and clubs,' says DJ Rekha, whose legendary 'Basement Bhangra' party has promoted numerous social causes during its 12-year reign at New York's SOBs nightclub. 'This election is a pivotal moment in our nation's history, and I'm happy to use my music to help inspire young voters to hit the polls on November 4th.'
RAISE THE VOLUME Campaign Director Bridgit Antoinette Evans believes club DJs are a natural fit for reaching America's young people: 'We're thrilled DJ Questlove and his peers have joined forces to inspire fans to take action. These DJs understand the interests of young people and what matters to them. RAISE THE VOLUME gives them a chance to use their enormous popularity and savvy as promoters to energize a cause they all feel strongly about.'
RAISE THE VOLUME National Appearances:
This Week:
Oct 29 DJ Rekha - BSIDE LIQUOR LOUNGE - Cleveland, OH
Oct 29 JC Disko/Mario Massa/DJ Fortune - [THREE] LOUNGE - Milwaukee, WI
Oct 31 Bassnectar - THE ORANGE PEEL - Asheville, NC
Oct 31 DJ Shakey - NYC HALLOWEEN PARADE - New York, NY
Nov 3 Francois K - CIELO - New York, NY
Election Day:
Nov 4 'Ultimate Election Day Playlist' - Release on MySpace Music
Nov 4 Election Day Finale - Virgin Megastore Times Square - New York, NY
RAISE THE VOLUME, RAISE THE VOTE is produced by FUEL | WE POWER CHANGE, a New York-based production house that partners high-profile artists with humanitarian organizations to address urgent social issues including sex trafficking, global warming, and the crisis in Darfur.
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Source:
Bridgit Antoinette Evans / bridgit@fuelchange.net.