Rock the Vote Nights Launches in D.C. Featuring Wale
Rock the Vote (RTV) is excited to launch Rock the Vote Nights featuring Wale at the 930 Club in Washington, D.C. on June 3.
“Wale has been on tour all over the country for the past two months and we are excited to bring him back to D.C. on June 3,” said Heather Smith, executive director of Rock the Vote. “This is a special Rock the Vote Night for us and a chance to celebrate the 22 million young voters who went to the polls last November.”
This year Rock the Vote Nights will present a series of shows in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and other cities to be announced soon. The June 3 show is also the official concert of America’s Future Now (AFN) conference. AFN is the largest gathering of progressive activists and leaders from across the country and takes place in Washington June 1-3. (www.ourfuture.org/now).
“A record number of young people went to the polls in 2008,” said Smith. “In 2009 Rock the Vote will help ensure young people’s voices are heard throughout the halls of Congress and in their state legislatures, demanding reform around the issues most important to them like economic stability, clean energy and green jobs, and heath care.”
For 20 years, Rock the Vote has worked with artists and musicians to engage young people in the political process. In 2008, the organization helped to register more than 2.2 million people, thanks in part to the work of numerous artists including Christina Aguilera, Fall Out Boy, Sheryl Crow,NERD, Adrian Grenier & the Honey Brothers, The Beastie Boys, Santigold, Spank Rock, Talib Kweli, Solange Knowles, Murs, Samantha Ronson, Mark Ronson, Nick Cannon, John Rich, Josh Groban, Wyclef Jean, Jason Mraz, The Dresden Dolls, Ben Harper, Against Me!, Jack’s Mannequin, Tegan & Sara and Chester French.
About Rock the Vote:
Rock the Vote’s mission is to engage and build the political power of young people in order to achieve progressive change in our country. Rock the Vote uses music, popular culture and new technologies to engage and incite young people to register and vote in every election. And we give young people the tools to identify, learn about, and take action on the issues that affect their lives, and leverage their power in the political process. Rock the Vote is creative, effective, and controlled by nobody’s agenda but our own – we tell it like it is and pride ourselves on being a trusted source for information on politics. We empower the 45 million young people in America who want to step up, claim their voice in the political process, and change the way politics is done. www.rockthevote.org
About Wale:
Wale is a 24-year old rapper who rides for the “DMV” – DC, Maryland and Virginia – and enjoys support from the likes of Jay-Z, Mark Ronson, Pharrell, The Roots, Bun B, and The Clipse. In the last three years, Wale has released a series of mixtapes, well-received by both fans and critics – including his two most recent, Mixtape About Nothing (2008) and 100 Miles and Running (2007). He also appeared on The Roots’ single “Rising Up” from their Rising Down album, and a remix of Lily Allen’s bubbly pop record, “Smile”. His well-known single “Nike Boots” features Lil’ Wayne. Wale’s debut album “Attention Deficit” will be released this summer.