Tracy Chapman's Western Swing State Tour

Tracy Chapman

On September 24th, Tracy Chapman embarked on a 5 city swing state concert tour to benefit Driving Votes.

"Western Swing: An Evening with Tracy Chapman" was a huge success. Tracy brought her magic to the stage, delighted audiences, and encouraged them to get involved with Driving Votes after the shows. Many of them did, joining us on the streets to register voters and to
get out the Democratic vote.

The tour stopped in Portland, Seattle, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Phoenix, with additional Action Weekends in Reno and Las Vegas.

Tracy Chapman's concern for social and political issues is reflected in her work, and with the Western Swing Tour, she continued to lend her voice, her time and her passion to support political empowerment.

"Western Swing" is in Full Swing


posted by Jenny

Tracy Chapman brought down the house Friday and Saturday nights in the Pacific Northwest. While we danced to the tune of "Talkin' Bout a Revolution" and registered voters at the shows, Tracy moved the crowd with her soulful and socially concious music and called audience members to action.

On Saturday and Sunday, Tracy Chapman fans joined up with Driving Votes volunteers in Portland and Seattle to knock on doors in politically underrepresented neighborhoods and to register voters at the AIDS Walk. Now Tracy is in the Southwest, playing shows in Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Phoenix. With her music as her message, Tracy is inspiring audiences to get involved with Driving Votes in our upcoming Southwestern Action Weekend, part of our National Action Weekend with America Votes.

Going Left in the Southwest

posted by Jenny

The Western Swing Tour traveled through New Mexico to Arizona this past week with Tracy Chapman performing at sold out venues in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Phoenix. Tracy brought home the importance of each audience member's vote when she reminded crowds in New Mexico that in 2000 the margin of victory in their state (366) was smaller than the number of people in the room.

Following the shows, Tracy Chapman fans and Driving Votes activists from Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and California turned out in Albuquerque, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Reno with renewed energy from Kerry's decisive victory in the foreign policy debate on Thursday. We phonebanked, knocked on Democrats' doors, and encouraged them to register absentee and to vote this November, inspired by Tracy's words that we all have a responsibility to do what we can to make the world a better place.

Tracy Says

"The upcoming presidential election is one of the most critical in our nation's history.

I am supporting Driving Votes because they are doing an incredible job, reaching people on the grassroots, personal level to make registration easy. They are empowering new voters, those that previously felt disenfranchised or unable to effect change.

By doing these small shows in these swing states, I hope to remind each individual in those rooms, that they can take action and make a real difference."
          - Tracy Chapman

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