Common Cause is hosting CAROLINADAZE, a music festival taking place on Sept. 14 at Red Hat Amphitheater in downtown Raleigh. Tierra Whack and Janelle Monáe will headline.
Janelle Monae, ten time Grammy nominated artist, will headline the Raleigh festival. Accompanied by friend and fellow artist Tierra Whack, the lineup is full of R&B powerhouses as well as hidden gems, like Moses Sumney and Lute. Doors open at 3:00 with a set by DJ ISO. Leaning further into NC’s country music roots, Raleigh native Tift Merritt will host the event alongside NC&AT alumnus, Lil Obeezy.
Common Cause is a national nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to protecting voter rights. Their project CAROLINADAZE aims to raise money for selected charities as well as register young voters for the upcoming elections.
“All the festival’s offerings will be personalized to the needs of young people who may want to become more engaged but aren’t sure how.”, explains Gino Nuzzolilo, Common Cause NC’s Campaign Manager and founder of CAROLINADAZE.
The beneficiaries of CAROLINADAZE ticket sales include the Carolina Abortion Fund, 7 Directions of Service, Carolina Migrant Network, Center for Racial Equity in Education, HBCU Student Action Alliance and Campaign for Southern Equality. All benefiting nonprofits support minorities in the south east, and all but one specifically serve North Carolinians.
“The concert series will not only raise funds for the causes young people care most about, like abortion access and environmental justice, but also merge culture, community and civic engagement in ways that we hope will outlast any candidate or election” says Nuzzolilo.
North Carolina is home to a growing platform of young voters who are passionate about their state. With such a rich community in Raleigh and across the state CAROLINADAZE merges the best of both worlds for a brighter future. Between the everyday Carolina resident guest speakers and local business booths, CAROLINADAZE is more than who wins the election, it’s about “better daze” for North Carolina.
As Nuzolilo puts it, “Once the 2024 election is over and the national media attention leaves swing states like North Carolina, well still have to contend with politicians who are more than comfortable sacrificing our collective future for their profits and power…Our state [needs] an expansive movement of young people.”
Activism through the arts is undeniably relevant and this festival is sure to be a special one, even if politics aren’t your thing. Show up and show out for North Carolina at CAROLINADAZE this Sept. 14, and get your tickets here!
Nuzzolilo ends, “Our hope is that CAROLINADAZE can be a love letter to North Carolina that resonates with our communities and showcases the stories and people who are creating a future worth fighting for.”
