AUSTIN, Texas — With about 50 days until this November’s General Election, a group of musicians is hopeful that people will get out and vote - or vote absentee -for the candidates of their choice. To encourage voter participation, there will be two community-wide concerts at the AISD Performing Arts Center tomorrow, Sept. 14.
The sponsors of the two back-to-back concerts tomorrow are hoping that people will be inspired to vote in November.
Sarajane Dailey, a Grammy award-winning singer and Austin resident is producing the concerts this Saturday on behalf of the non-profit, non-political organization she directs, called the American Artists Project.
“We don’t care how people vote, we just want them to vote,” Dailey said.
She says that each program produced by the American Artists Project is focused on under-resourced and under-represented artists.
“When people go to a show and see someone who looks like them, or has had the same experience, it changes how they feel about that show, it changes how they engage.”
Dailey says the concerts will feature a variety of musical styles.
“We have a 1 p.m. show with Frenchy Davis, who was on American Idol and on Broadway, Chorus Austin, and many other singers and dancers.’ Dailey said. “Then we have a 3 p.m. show with Superfonicos and the Rollettes. So, two very different shows, both one hour with a really fun intermission in between.”
Dailey says several local high school bands will also perform.
She says she hopes the concerts will encourage people to take their civic responsibility seriously and to vote, regardless of who they're supporting this year.
Tickets will be available at AISD PAC before the concerts, or by going online to americanartistsproject.org.