This coverage was made possible by a grant through the URL Collective, a nonprofit supporting local, diverse media. Scalawag and URL Collective have partnered to bring you election reporting from grassroots media.
The idea of merging a concert with voter registration efforts might seem overly ambitious, but the nonprofit Common Cause North Carolina managed to bring together the voices of some of our time's most influential artists—Tierra Whack, Janelle Monáe, Lute, Moses Sumney, and more—to inspire civic engagement and voter participation at Carolina Daze Music Festival.
Held in the heart of Raleigh at the Red Hat Amphitheater, Carolina Daze attracted hundreds of fans eager to see their favorite artists perform. Along with celebrating art, the music festival sought to raise awareness about the importance of voting and the fight for a fair democracy. With the presidential election only days away and conversations about voting rights and civic responsibility taking center stage, the festival was a timely reminder of the impact of individual participation in democracy.
Tickets went on sale two months prior and with tickets as low as $15, Carolina Daze made sure the price was not a huge barrier to attendance. On the day of the show, festival-goers were greeted with: "Would you like to take a selfie and check if you're registered to vote?" Voter registration booths partnered with organizations like MegaPhoneNC to provide attendees with resources to engage in the political process. Attendees could get food, a drink, and information on the upcoming polling locations in the same setting. The dispersal of information was a key component of the show. In addition to the headliners, the festival lineup featured speakers like the NC Poet Laureate, Dasan Ahanu, and more from Democracy North Carolina, Forward Justice, Democracy Green, Carolina Abortion Fund, Migrant Network, 7 Directions of Service, CREED, and Muslim Women For & Palestinian Youth Movement Network-NC.
In a post-performance interview, Dreamville-signed artist Lute, a Charlotte native, emphasized the significance of civic engagement and community involvement. "Voting is very important," Lute said.
When asked why Common Cause North Carolina held an event like Carolina Daze, Lute lightened the mood with a joke: "Cause you don't want people eating your dogs and cats… I'm playing, I'm sorry." His joke referenced an unsupported claim made by former President Donald Trump during this year's presidential debate, in which he falsely suggested Haitian immigrants in Ohio had been eating domestic pets. Lute quickly got back on topic, adding, "I really ain't that big on politics, but I just know right from wrong."
He stressed the importance of community-building events like Carolina Daze, saying North Carolina needs more of them: "You see how the community comes out when we have festivals? I'm trying to get Charlotte on too. When we have festivals, you see it's all walks of life out here. These types of things bring out the community, and it brings money into the community. So, it's a win-win because the people who make the money put it back into the community."
Rapper Shamegang, who joined Lute on stage, shared his thoughts on the power of music to influence and inspire.
"I think it's important because you're getting people riled up with something positive," he said. "Anytime you come together and spark change for the good, it's always motivational. When you put dope artists together, we have the platform to be like reporters for what's going on. I want to influence people to the max… There's power in music and the tongue, and I make sure that every time I do music, I try to spark a message to someone."
A Celebration of Music and Activism
The show itself was executed promptly, as performers were timely and speakers in between performances kept the message at the program's forefront. Even the weather, which threatened some light rain, stayed warm and breezy late into the night. However, of the six musical acts, only opener Elora Dash took a moment to explicitly plug voter registration. After Dash's melodic set, she shed light on the genocide of Palestinians, giving an authoritative "Free Palestine" to close her show.
I believe it's a missed opportunity when only a few artists directly engage with the event's core cause. Sure, the message was still present through speakers and trivia segments, but there's no denying the impact a headliner co-signing the cause could have had. When you're sharing a stage with artists who command so much influence, those words matter. Between the acts, speakers from organizations like Democracy North Carolina and Forward Justice kept the focus on the pressing issues at hand—voter rights, racial justice, and the importance of fair elections. The ACLU's Chantal Stevens engaged the crowd with trivia between performances, keeping them informed on the latest North Carolina voter deadlines. These asides weren't preachy. In fact, they felt like a natural extension of the performances, as if the music and activism were feeding off each other.
Each artist brought their signature style to the stage. Helado Negro's set included experimental production while Moses Sumney captivated the crowd with ethereal soundscapes and intricate vocal arrangements. Notably, Tierra Whack's high-energy set included a wholesome moment on stage with a fan whose artist name is "Chocolate Kandy." Impressed by the fan's vocal ability, Whack invited her to stay on stage and improvised the remainder of her set. To close the show, Janelle Monáe performed her most recent album and essentially held a party on stage, inviting a group of fans on stage to dance with her.
By bridging the gap between entertainment and civic engagement, Common Cause North Carolina innovatively appealed to millennial and Gen Z voters. Particularly, reaching younger generations who may feel disconnected from traditional political processes. One fan mentioned buying a ticket because Tierra Whack is her favorite artist but she walked away learning that early voting would begin on Oct. 17.
"Carolina Daze is a one-of-a-kind blend of music and movement designed to drive youth organizing during this year's election and beyond," said Gino Nuzzolillo, Common Cause North Carolina's Campaign Manager and founder of the event. "Carolina Daze is more than a concert series, it's a call-to-action."
As Nuzzolillo looks ahead, he hopes to continue the work of blending music and activism for a stronger democracy. "There are better days ahead from North Carolina, but only if we choose to fight for them," he said. Carolina Daze concerts have also been slated for Charlotte, Wilmington, Asheville, and Greensboro ahead of the state's 17-day early voting period.