September 22 @ 7pm CST / 8pm EST

watch live on rock the vote (Facebook + Youtube)
Or via Belmont (Facebook + Youtube)

Presenting Sponsor

To celebrate National Voter Registration Day, Rock The Vote and Belmont University are partnering to stream a live concert event to encourage students to register to vote. Performers will include student and alumni acts from Belmont University, Fisk University, MTSU, Vanderbilt and Tennessee State University as well as a special performance from Bren Joy and a headlining set from Moon Taxi, both Belmont alumni. “Rock The Vote at Belmont University: Nashville Colleges Celebrate Democracy” will stream live from Rock The Vote’s Facebook and YouTube on September 22 at 7:00pm CST. Viewers will receive voter registration information throughout the broadcast. The Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business is producing the event with Stereophonic Films. The concert is being filmed by TNDV Television with production from Morris Light & Sound.

Student + Alumni Performances from Belmont, Fisk, MTSU, TSU and Vanderbilt

Headliner

Image of the band Moon Taxi

Moon Taxi – Belmont Alumni

Since forming in 2006, Moon Taxi has brought their genre-bending musicality to a boldly adventurous body of work, all while taking their live show to leading festivals across the country and sold-out runs at such iconic venues as the Ryman Auditorium. In a dynamic new era for the Nashville-based band—vocalist/guitarist Trevor Terndrup, lead guitarist Spencer Thomson, bassist Tommy Putnam, keyboardist Wes Bailey, and drummer Tyler Ritter. The band have released two songs from the forthcoming album – the thoughtful “Hometown Heroes” and the inspiring “Light Up” which is currently being used in an ad campaign for Jeep. The band’s yet untitled fifth full length will come out early 2021.

Special Guest

Bren Joy – Belmont Alum

With overpowering vocal range, deft songwriting chops, piano virtuosity, and undeniable charisma, Bren Joy integrates pop universality into unpredictable R&B. Born and raised in Nashville, he introduced himself with the independent debut EP, Twenties, in 2019. Singles “Sweet” [feat. Landon Sears] and “Henny in the Hamptons” generated 5.5 million global streams. Vulture named the latter on its “Best New Songs List” and The Tennessean proclaimed him one of the “Nashville Artists To Watch 2020.” Along the way, Bren’s shared the stage with everyone from Jhené Aiko to Megan Thee Stallion. Managed by Big Loud/Maverick, booked globally by CAA, signed to Warner Records, and with a publishing deal at Warner Chappell, Bren presents a new paradigm for R&B and pop. He made his major label debut in 2020 with the single “Freezing” and is gearing up to release more new music soon.

Image of Bren Joy

UNIVERSITY PERFORMERS

Image of Annie DiRusso

Annie DiRusso – Belmont

Annie DiRusso is a Nashville/NYC-based indie-rock artist who wears the influence of her two cities on her sleeve, seamlessly blending garagy guitars and high energy performances with a pop-informed Nashville flair. She has received high praise from online press for her ability to build “connection between thought and word and note much like the mumbled sanctity of a Nick Drake” (ChillFiltr). The magic she creates in her hooks and melody’s apparent in the 5 singles she has released, quickly turn casual listeners into fans; “She could verifiably take over the world one day and you better believe I’ll be in the front row when she does” (Sleeping Bag Studios). Annie is currently at work on her debut album, due for release in 2021.

Sommer Jade – TSU

Based out of Nashville, Sommer Jade infuses poetry and spoken word with music, to create PoetiVerses. A lyricist at heart, with a passion for reciting poetry, Jade credits all of the art to the Divine Intelligence of the Most High God. With a blend of poetic truth and passionate love for music, the perspective of her work is to speak life. 

Image of Sommer Jade
Image of the Melodores

The Melodores – Vanderbilt

Founded in the spring of 2009 by four students, the Melodores are Vanderbilt’s internationally-recognized all-male a cappella group. Despite their recent break into the a cappella world, they have made waves both domestically and internationally: from Los Angeles to New York City, London to Thun, Dubai to Paris. The Melodores pride themselves on their ability to balance student life at Vanderbilt with extraordinary musical integrity and strong brotherhood.

In 2014, the Melodores were selected to be one of six groups to compete in Season 5 of NBC’s hit show The Sing-Off. The Melodores went on to win The Sing-Off, the only collegiate champions in the show’s history, taking home a $50,000 cash prize. They have kept themselves busy since, recording albums and touring the globe.

Lauren McClinton – Fisk

Lauren McClinton is an R&B singer/songwriter from Los Angeles, CA. While residing in Nashville, she’s gigged and toured as a background vocalist with the likes of Jessy Wilson and Lennon Stella. In October 2019, Lauren released her debut EP, “DAWN”, a robust neo R&B project, steeped in captivating lyrics and emotional vocal arrangements. As she continues to foster real, personal music, Lauren’s singular goal is to use the gift God has given her to touch as many hearts as possible.

Image of Lauren McClinton
Image of the band Shelter Cove

Shelter Cove – MTSU

The product of a “one time at Jam Camp” story, Shelter Cove is an alternative/pop band from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Its three members, Abbie Garrett, Andy Modaff, and Ethan Forrest, are signed to Middle Tennessee State University’s own Match Records. Their original songwriting, tight-knit relationship, and their love for what they do make them a force to be reckoned with.

Host

Kate Cosentino

Kate Cosentino is a senior music business and songwriting major at Belmont University. Originally from Kansas City, Kate is whole heartedly pursuing the stereotypical Nashvillian dream of being an artist and songwriter. Kate hopes to move people in everything she does-be it songs about social justice or leading the songwriting club. In her three and a half years at Belmont, she has worked as the student seminar moderator for the Curb College, performed in a BMI songwriter showcase and rock showcase and discovered the magic of putting caf cookies in the toaster oven. Kate is excited to graduate this November but will also miss being a part of the magic of Belmont University.
Image of Kate Cosentino

Important Dates

Key Election Dates in Tennessee

Voter Registration Deadline

Monday, October 5, 2020

Early Voting

Wednesday, October 14 – Thursday, October 29, 2020

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Vote Ready Holidays to add to calendar and plan

National Voter Registration Day

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

First Presidential Debate

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Vice Presidential Debate

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Second Presidential Debate

Thursday, October 15, 2020

Third Presidential Debate @ Belmont University

Thursday, October 22, 2020

Vote Early Day

Saturday, October 24, 2020

Election Day

Tuesday, November 3, 2020