Black Artists Lead Call for Voter Mobilization at “Voice Your Vote” Virtual Concert on October 18

Recording artists featured on Valerie June’s “Young, Gifted, & Black” playlist highlight concert to benefit Fair Fight & Movement Voter Project for supporting fair elections and grassroots voter mobilization; Virtual tickets are available at CityWinery.com

New York, NY – (October 5, 2020) – In an effort to increase voter turnout at the polls and support the fight against voter disenfranchisement, the first-ever “Voice Your Vote”​ virtual concert — curated by acclaimed Americana and soul singer / songwriter Valerie June — will take place on October 18 at 6:00 p.m. ET. Presented by City Winery and Mandolin, this critical call to action is inspired by June’s “Young, Gifted, & Black” Spotify playlist and the spirit of late musician and civil rights activist Nina Simone. ​Tickets are $15.00 for this virtual concert benefit to battle voter suppression and are available at CityWinery.com.

“Voice Your Vote”​ will feature an array of Black artists, musicians, and poets, who will share their art and use their voice to uplift efforts to mobilize voting and stop voter suppression, a tactic commonly used to primarily target Black and brown communities. Proceeds from the event will be distributed to ​Fair Fight ​and ​Movement Voter Project’s Black-Led Organizing Fund,​ two organizations working to support fair elections and grassroots voter mobilization around the country.​

“This year, 2020, has unveiled so many wounds that we have the power to change by voting. From systemic racism to climate change, it can feel overwhelming to look at the countless issues we're facing in the world today and to decide which ones to focus on changing, but collectively showing up in record numbers to cast our ballots is one of the simplest ways we can raise our voices. I believe that by voting in this year's election we have the power to end the year on a high note, so voice your vote,” said recording artist Valerie June.

In addition to Valerie June, “Voice Your Vote” will feature music from a diverse catalogue of Black musicians, spanning generations and genres from Folk and Rock, to R&B, Hip-Hop, and more. Artists who have committed to performing for the event include Allison Russell, Amythyst Kiah, Black Pumas, Brittany Howard, Chastity Brown, Deva Mahal, Devon Gilfillian, Jon Batiste, Kandace Springs, Leyla McCalla, Lizz Wright, Rhiannon Giddens featuring the Resistance Revival Chorus, Ruth B, and Son Little, with more to be announced.

“This first-of-its-kind showcase ​will give Black musicians a platform to share their voices and use music as a tool to drive voter turnout and anti-voter suppression efforts,” said Shlomo Lipetz, Vice President of Programming at City Winery. “Music and politics have shared a dynamic connection throughout American history and we hope that this virtual concert can help to bring about the change desperately needed in this country to end voter disenfranchisement and give all citizens an equal voice.”

“Voice Your Vote” will be broadcast virtually on Mandolin, the music industry’s leading livestream platform, to allow viewers across the country to support voting rights. The virtual concert is sponsored by Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, Klaviyo, The Jessica and David Aronoff Family, and PAINT, a Michael Walker film and winner of the 2020 Grand Jury Prize at Dances with Films.

“Voice Your Vote” is a collaboration between Valerie June, City Winery, and Boston-based businessman Paul Blumenfeld. For more information and to purchase virtual tickets, please visit CityWinery.com.

About Valerie June

Valerie June's music is enthralling and illuminating; the Tennessee-bred, Brooklyn-based songwriter weaves electric blues, African rhythms, cosmic atmospherics and delicate soul into inventive and wholly original ruminations on love, family, struggle and the passing of time.

Her latest album 'The Order of Time' was met with immediate and widespread acclamation. "The album finds June full of childlike wonderment amid a gloriously ethereal atmosphere reminiscent of Van Morrison's 'Astral Weeks.' Fantastic stuff," said The Guardian. Rolling Stone asserted, "Near-perfect front to back, its politics are subtle and sly, mostly implicit and matter-of-fact, transmitted through sketches of lovers and other strugglers." Okayplayer called June "A true star in the making," and NPR Music declared, "Each of these songs are suffused with nostalgia or idealism that's also strikingly grounded." Vice called it "An exercise in vigilant renewal... glides and grooves before breaking your heart completely."

Valerie has performed on Letterman, Leno, Conan, CBS This Morning, and Rachael Ray, received raves from Rolling Stone, NY Times, NPR and NY Mag, and been profiled in Vogue and The New York Times Magazine.

About City Winery

City Winery was founded in New York City in 2008 by Michael Dorf to deliver a unique

combined culinary and cultural experience to urban wine enthusiasts. Each City Winery offers intimate concerts, food & wine seminars, private event spaces, upscale dining, and a fully functioning winery. Today, City Winery has physical locations in New York, Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta, Boston, Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Hudson Valley. There are also four other concepts run by the company: City Vineyard at Pier 26, City Winery at Rockefeller Center, City Winery Chicago at the Riverwalk, and City Winery Greenway in Boston. More information at citywinery.com.

About Fair Fight

Stacey Abrams launched Fair Fight PAC to mitigate voter suppression and make sure every American has a voice in our election system. COVID-19 has fundamentally altered the way Americans work, live, and vote. Ahead of the 2020 elections, Fair Fight is fighting to ensure free and fair elections in Georgia and across the country. 

FAIR FIGHT is a “PAC with Non-Contribution Account” – commonly known as a “Hybrid PAC” – registered with the Federal Election Commission and various state and local campaign finance regulators as needed. Fair Fight can accept unlimited contributions from individuals, PACs, corporations and unions. Contributions are disclosed to the public. FFPAC’s tax ID: 83-2540441. Contributions to Fair Fight PAC are not tax-deductible.

About Movement Voter Project’s Black-Led Organizing Fund

Movement Voter Project works to strengthen progressive power at all levels of government by helping donors – big and small – support the best and most promising local community-based organizations in key states, with a focus on youth and communities of color. MVP supports hundreds of incredible organizations that both turn out unlikely voters and organize communities to grow their power and create transformation, from policy to the streets. MVP believes that supporting local movement vote groups is the most effective and most cost-effective strategy to transform our country.