Durham’s Delta Rae to perform at DNC ahead of Obama’s acceptance speech

What can you say? It’s a good year to be Delta Rae.

In a year that has seen the Durham-based sextet signed to Warner Music Group subsidiary Sire Records, their major label debut heralded by Rolling Stone and Billboard, and a late night performance on the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” the band will now have the opportunity to perform at the Democratic National Convention.

Taking the stage alongside fellow North Carolina native James Taylor, Delta Rae will perform ahead of President Barack Obama’s nomination acceptance speech at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 6.

Democratic National Convention Committee CEO Steve Kerrigan says having Taylor and Delta Rae perform at the convention is a means by which the DNC intends to “bring the flavor of North Carolina to all Americans.”

“Whether you’re one of the tens of thousands who received community credentials to attend this historic event in person, or tuning in remotely, you will have a taste of the wonderful region that is home to this year’s convention,” Kerrigan said.

Delta Rae are no strangers to politics. In the wake of the Proposition 8 controversy in California, Delta Rae’s Ian Hölljes penned the song “Chain of Love,” protesting what he believed to be an unjust, discriminatory law. And as North Carolina voters prepared to vote for a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman, the band released a music video for that same song.

“I said someone put a chain on love/ ‘Cause right now there’s just far too much of it/ And Jesus taught it, but now we’ve caught it and we won’t let it run wild again/ ‘Cause Love doesn’t know when it’s a sin,” the song testifies.

“We seem to be at a tipping point for so many important movements,” Hölljes said. “Marriage equality, women’s rights, and the protection of the middle class, among them — and I believe President Obama’s continued leadership is essential to landing on the right side of history on these issues.”

Bandmate Eric Hölljes added, “There are currently so many issues being discussed and decisions being made in Washington that are going to drastically affect me and my generation. I truly hope, as young people, we stand up in this election and let our collective voice be heard.”

“I think it’s so important that he have a second term to keep this country moving forward,” Taylor agreed.

Also heading to Charlotte for the DNC, Mark Holland (Jennyanykind) will perform on Sept. 6 as part of The Third Party, an “audience-driven, artist-curated art and entertainment presented free to Charlotte and DNC guests,” at 7th Street Public Market. Holland is scheduled to perform at 5:45 p.m.

Similar Posts:

• Durham saxman performs national anthem at DNC
• Durham’s Delta Rae performs on ‘Leno’
• Sessions at Studio B with Delta Rae
• Delta Rae signs with Warner Bros., to release new LP June 19
• James Taylor Coming Home To Carolina

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