Get the Grit Out on Election Night With Gritty in Pink
Gritty in Pink are stoked to announce the iVoted virtual stage partnership to help create the largest online music festival in history. After a successful, virtual, summer festival, Gritty in Pink is taking on an iVoted online festival on election day, November 3. Access to this virtual festival is simple, too. Just send in a photo or yourself with your completed ballot or an, “I Voted,” sticker. Have evidence that you voted!
Founded by entrepreneur Emily White, Mike Luba, and Pat Sanson of Wilco. Their goal of iVoted is to bring awareness and encourage voter registration and turnout. “According to statistics, young people in the U.S. are more likely to go to a concert than vote, so with this in mind, they created a 100 percent bipartisan platform that puts the two together,” say Gritty in Pink.
Music performances from artists such as The Dresden Dolls, 3OH3!, and Taking back Sunday will kick off the night. If you are under 18, you can submit a voting plan for access to the platform. Reoccurring acts include: Madeline Rosene, Whitney Peyton, Rozzi, Lesibu Grand, Reverie, and Shiragirl.
“I believe the Gritty/iVoted partnership will help raise awareness on how important it is for young adults, particularly first-time voters, to make the effort to vote,” says Tyler-Simone Molton, lead singer of Lesibu Grand. “I think that voting is a way we can embark on real change in our society, so I would be doing a disservice to my work if I didn’t take the opportunity to participate in this election in a public way. Writing music is a way to rally the people to want change. Voting is a way to put that passion into action. As the late, great John Lewis said, voting is ‘the most powerful, nonviolent tool we have.’”
Gritty in Pink has also partnered with Keep a Breast organization, a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and prevention of breast cancer.
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“Gritty in Pink is a new platform empowering women in music through performance, partnerships, and networking opportunities. Founder Shira Yevin has a legendary history of breaking down barriers and carving out a space for women as creator of the Vans Warped Tour Shiragirl Stage, which showcased 300-plus female musicians including Joan Jett and Paramore. Gritty in Pink continues the legacy of providing community and a stage for female voices in a male-dominated industry,” says the Gritty in Pink website
Back in January, Gritty in Pink released a set of livestream concerts. When the pandemic started, the amount of showtime was reduced to just weekly segments.
Shira Yevin, founder of Gritty in Pink and lead singer of Shiragirl, has a message for voters.
“I’m thrilled that Gritty in Pink is partnering up with iVoted, to encourage voting in this important election year,” Shira says. “My hope is that the iVoted initiative helps drive voter turnout, particularly in the swing states, where every vote truly counts … If we can help motivate young voters to participate in our democracy, we can hopefully affect change that reflects our beliefs and vision for our country.”
