Blogswarm - Online Political News Magazine

VOTE FOR CHANGE TOUR ANNOUNCED

Coalition of Musicians Makes Way to Battleground

States in an Effort to Get Out the Vote this Fall

Babyface, Bright Eyes, Jackson Browne, Dave Matthews Band, Death

Cab for Cutie, the Dixie Chicks, John Fogerty, Ben Harper, Jurassic 5,

John Mellencamp, Keb’ Mo’, My Morning Jacket, Pearl Jam, Bonnie

Raitt, R.E.M., James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

and more

All Shows On Sale August 21

SEATTLE—More than 20 artists, including Dave Matthews Band, the

Dixie Chicks, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Bruce Springsteen and the E Street

Band, and John Mellencamp announced today the launch of the

"Vote for Change" Tour, which will kickoff on October 1st and bring

its Vote for Change message to 9 of the 17 key electoral

battleground states.

"The upcoming election provides everyone an opportunity to

change the direction our country is headed and to elect a

government that is just, rational and respectful of the views and

rights of the people it serves. This coalition of artists wants to be a

part of that change," said Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam.

Conceived by a loose coalition of musicians four months ago, Vote

for Change is a multi-city, multi-artist tour that will include

approximately 34 shows in 28 cities in 9 states over the course of

one week.

--more--

Artist lineups include:

• Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band/R.E.M./John Fogerty/Bright Eyes

• Dixie Chicks/James Taylor

• Pearl Jam/Death Cab for Cutie

• Dave Matthews Band/Ben Harper/Jurassic 5/My Morning Jacket

• Bonnie Raitt/Jackson Browne/ Keb’ Mo’/ others TBA

• John Mellencamp/Babyface

These and other artists will be appearing on separate bills on the same night in

select cities around several battleground states. Vote for Change artists hope to

accomplish a single goal through the tour: to get people to the polls on

November 2nd to vote for a change.

The Vote for Change tour came about as part of an informal conversation

among a handful of artists on how they could make a difference in this year’s

elections and beyond. This idea has resulted in a first-of-its-kind endeavor where

Vote for Change participating artists will focus their energies on the states where

the elections are expected to be the closest. All Vote for Change artists are

donating their time and talent in support of the tour.

The Vote for Change tour will be presented by MoveOn PAC, with all concert

proceeds benefiting the work of America Coming Together (ACT).

BACKGROUND:

Unprecedented in scale and strategy, ACT is building the largest voter

mobilization effort in history to elect progressive candidates to federal, state and

local offices in November. For more information on ACT visit www.act04.com.

MoveOn PAC is a 2.5 million-member online grassroots political action

committee working to take back our government. By gathering small

contributions from ordinary citizens, it is using the Internet to level the playing

field against the interest of big corporate money in politics. Its sister organization,

MoveOn.org, raises issues of war and peace, social justice, media integrity and

honesty in government. For more information, visit www.moveonpac.org.

"This election is the most important one in our lifetime," said Dave Matthews. "It

may be the most important in America’s history."

Vote for Change tickets go on sale through Ticketmaster on August 21 for all tour

dates in all cities. (Full list of Vote for Change dates attached.) For more

information about Vote for Change, including ticket information and updates,

go to www.moveonpac.org.

Attachments follow below:

#1 Vote for Change Declaration

#2 Vote for Change Artist Quotes

#3 Vote for Change Tour Schedule

Attachment #2

Artist Quotes

"A vote for change is a vote for a stronger, safer, healthier America. A vote for Bush

is a vote for a divided, unstable, paranoid America. It is our duty to this beautiful

land to let our voices be heard. That's the reason for the tour. That's why I'm

doing it."

Dave Matthews

"As concerned mothers, women and most importantly concerned Americans, we

are compelled to do what we can to inspire other voters to get involved in this

year's election. We hope our participation in the Vote For Change Tour will be a

catalyst for positive change."

The Dixie Chicks

"This is an extraordinary example of America coming together to win this election

and change the direction of the country. These artists feel so strongly about this

election that they are doing something unprecedented in creating this magnificent

tour. They are sending an important message to voters in the battleground states:

you can change the country if you go to the polls and vote."

Ellen Malcolm, America Coming Together

"R.E.M. is very happy to be a part of the Vote for Change Tour. This unprecedented

coming together of musicians underscores the depth of the desire for change in our

country’s direction, and it feels right to use some of the freedoms granted to us in a

democracy to try and effect that change."

Mike Mills

"It's about showing up and being counted. I'll be there and I hope you

will too."

Keb' Mo'

"We’ve always believed that popular culture and populist politics go hand in hand.

It’s an honor to be working with so many respected and influential artists, and

we’re indebted to them for having the courage to speak out at a time when our

country so desperately needs change. For our 2.5 million members and far beyond,

the Vote for Change tour will have a seismic cultural impact."

Eli Pariser, MoveOn Pac

"There has never been a more important time to band together and bring about

real change. I want to see Americans everywhere honor those who have fought

and died for our right to vote by getting out to the polls on Election Day.

Democracy only works if we work it."

Bonnie Raitt

"I felt like I couldn't have written the music I've written, and been on stage singing

about the things that I've sung about for the last twenty five years and not taken

part in this particular election."

Bruce Springsteen

"This is the fourth presidential election which Pearl Jam has engaged in as a band,

and we feel it’s the most important one of our life time. We believe in the power of

the first amendment, and have always exercised our right to free speech in every

aspect of our lives and music. This year there is no more powerful way for all

Americans to exercise that right than by voting. Given the extreme political climate

of a country at war, we are proud to stand among the many artists involved in this

tour and to encourage Americans not only to vote for a president this November

2nd, but to vote for the change they wish to see in the world."

Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam