With the election just days away, Global Citizens flocked to the Walt Disney Amphitheater in Orlando’s Lake Eola Park Thursday night for a get-out-the-vote concert starring Talib Kweli, Ani DiFranco, and a number of local artists and hosts. The show brought a vibrant, eclectic, and high energy finale to our series of concerts.

Global Citizen Voting Hub

Orlando was the third stop in a Global Citizen voting tour to celebrate democracy and encourage voters to cast an early ballot. We hosted a block party in Las Vegas, Nevada with performances from Vic Mensa and Madame Gandhi. Then D.R.A.M. and De La Soul joined us in Columbus, Ohio. 

Read more: Hip-Hop Legends De La Soul, D.R.A.M. Unite with Locals in Ohio to #ShowupVote

Tonight's concert featured good vibes, great music, and a number of collaborative performances. Joining Kweli and DiFranco on stage were NICO IS — a rapper with Brazilian roots who mixed hip-hop with boca and samba beats; Kaleigh Baker, a New York born singer who now lives in Orlando; and the local DJ BFM. Local radio personalities Angel Rivera and C-Lane kept things fun and light-hearted in their role as emcees.

NICO IS's enthusiasm and Baker's powerful voice made them instant crowd favorites, and DJ BFM broke up the sets with energetic beats that featured a horn and saxophone trio. 

Global Citizens showed up for a wide variety of issues, with the environment, gender equality, and human rights as recurring themes.

The central location of the concert and the warm weather brought a diverse crowd to the show. By the time Kweli took the stage as the third performer, the energy was contagious. Not a single person was sitting down. 

Orlando is one of the fastest-growing urban regions in the country, and it showed. The amphitheater filled quickly after the music began. Florida is a key swing state with 29 electoral votes, and it was encouraging to see so many engaged Global Citizens. 

Read more: Voting in Florida: Everything You Need to Know

Through the end of October, more than 750,000 people had already voted early in the state. Of those voters, roughly 40% registered with the Democratic Party, compared to 25% who registered with the Republican Party, and 25% who didn’t have a party affiliation. Early voting in Florida lasts through November 6. 

NICO IS spoke about the role musicians can play in informing their listeners of important issues. "The opportunity to have a voice, a lot of people take it for granted," NICO IS told Global Citizen after his set. "[Music] has to be aware." As a musician, it is important to not make "blind art."

Baker echoed this sentiment. "I'm fortunate enough to be a singer, so I'm going to have a hold of that mic for a little while," she said. 

Baker lives in Orlando, and is keenly aware of the importance of this election for Florida voters. "There's a lot of things we're voting on here in Orlando — solar power, legalization of marijuana — and we have a potential president that wants to take rights away from females, from women. We should be championed. We brought you into the world, don't you take my reproductive rights from me."

Read more: Vic Mensa and Taco Trucks Get Out the Vote in Las Vegas

Ani DiFranco and Talib Kweli are no strangers to activism either. Both artists spoke at length about the role that voting can play in created an informed public. 

DiFranco has been performing live since the age of 9. She started her own record company, Righteous Babe Records, at the age of 18. Difranco has fought for women’s equality, environmental issues, and anti-war movements throughout her career. She spoke out against the Gulf War in the 1990s and against foreign intervention in Iraq in 2003. 

Talib Kweli has been dropping rhymes since the mid-90s, when he teamed up with Yaasin Bey (Mos Def) to form the group Black Star. Almost exactly 20 years later, he’s still producing socially-conscious rap music. His label, Javotti Media, has produced his own music, as well as music by NIKO IS, and other up-and-comers. 

Read more: Ani DiFranco Has an Idea or Two About How to Fix the US Political System

Throughout the show, both artists highlighted the importance of voting and being engaged. Kweli and DiFranco urged voters not only to vote, but to inform themselves of the issues. 

Global Citizen was joined by several on-the-ground partners who helped to inform attendees of their voting rights, including: Civic Nation​, Voto Latino, Care USA, Headcount, and Targetsmart. 

From the talented artists to the high-energy crowd to the partners working tirelessly to get out the vote, our final get-out-the-vote concert was a resounding success. 

The only thing left to do now is #Showup and vote.

If you’re not registered, you can register here. And if you have friends who aren’t, share the word with them. Learn your state’s laws and get registered — every vote counts.

TopicsFestivalOrlandoShowUpVote#ShowupGet Out the VoteAni DiFranco

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Demand Equity

Talib Kweli, Ani DiFranco #ShowUp to Amplify Voting in Orlando

By Phineas Rueckert