By CLTure
July 5, 2024 (updated)
A new music festival is coming to Raleigh this year headlined by Philadelphia rapper Tierra Whack and multi-talented singer-songwriter, actress, and rapper, Janelle Monáe. Common Cause North Carolina, a non-partisan grassroots organization, has announced CarolinaDaze Music & Arts Festival, featuring an eclectic mix of acts that will also include experimental soul artist Moses Sumney, Charlotte native Dreamville rapper Lute, Latin folk singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Helado Negro, and Raleigh artist Elora Dash.
The first-year festival taking place on Saturday, September 14 at Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh, also plans to add local and statewide community leaders, nonprofit organizations, and additional art and music in the coming weeks with the goal of reaching young voters in North Carolina this election cycle.
“When it comes to this year’s elections, I know young people like me feel a disconnect between what they believe in and what’s being offered,” said Gino Nuzzolillo, Common Cause North Carolina’s 26-year-old Campaigns Manager and founder of CarolinaDaze. “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.”
The festivals’ offerings will be “personalized to the needs of younger people who may want to become more engaged,” according to the official press release. A portion of the proceeds from the festival will go to multiple organizations in the state, including Campaign for Southern Equality, Carolina Migrant Network, Center for Racial Equity in Education, 7 Directions of Service, Carolina Abortion Fund, and the HBCU Student Action Alliance.
Festival headliner Tierra Whack will return to North Carolina for the first time since her 2019 performance at Memorial Hall in Chapel Hill. Whack rose to prominence in 2018 after the release of her debut mixtape, Whack World, which featured all one-minute songs accompanied by an impressive 15-minute music video. She recently released her highly anticipated debut studio album, World Wide Whack, to critical praise, and is expected to tour later this year.
Janelle Monáe released her fourth studio album in 2023, The Age of Pleasure, which was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Progressive R&B Album at the the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. She also played the roles of Cassandra Brand and Helen Brand in the 2022 Rian Johnson mystery film, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, which was nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the 80th Golden Globes.
Helado Negro is also coming off the release of his eighth studio album, Phasor, in February through famed indie label 4AD, and Sumney released a new EP, Sophcore, on August 2.
Tickets to CarolinaDaze Music & Arts Festival start at $25. Check out more information about the festival and updates from their official website.
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