Some cynics might say a problem with modern music is that the art has become more concerned with style than substance. On Sept. 23, the bands performing at the VOX ROX concert in Commons Plaza will try to bring a message back to the music.
Presented by Voices for Planned Parenthood, or VOX, the show will intertwine support for reproductive rights and sex education with live music.
Heather McEntire of the minimalistic rock duo Bellafea said she hopes concertgoers leave the concert feeling both informed and entertained.
“To me, that’s the most successful thing that could happen is for someone to come just for the music or just because they happen to be in town and walk away kind of enlightened with information that they wouldn’t have had a chance to receive,” McEntire said.
Three other artists-Del Cielo, Ben Davis, and DJ Williams-will take the stage at the event, which runs from 7 to 11 p.m. While their musical styles range from rock and pop to jazz and R&B, a commitment to VOX’s issues ties them all together.
“We just support everything that Planned Parenthood advocates and being a part of a pro-choice event is something that we strongly believe in,” McEntire said. “Any chance that we can help with some sort of social awareness and be political with what we’re doing creatively and we kind of jump at that chance.”
Sara Duke, VOX’s president, said the organization chose the musicians because some have played pro-choice concerts at other colleges and they are well known in the area. Del Cielo, for example, played a VOX ROX concert at University of Richmond last year.
One of the group’s publicists, Laurel Murray, said that when dealing with the kinds of personal issues the group addresses, a decent turnout can create “strength in numbers.”
“Just showing up and it being a big deal is going to be a statement,” Murray said.
VOX members will try to convey their message in several ways. Duke said members will take the stage between bands to discuss what she identified as the group’s main focuses: ensuring emergency contraception remains accessible on campus, supporting pro choice lobbying, and providing comprehensive sex education.
In addition, VOX will have information available in pamphlets and fliers that, Duke said, would give students a more genuine look at sexual education than they may have received elsewhere.
“Rather than using scare tactics, we want to get accurate and factual information out there-because hey, the reality is people are having sex,” she said. “We want to make sure that they are making the right decisions and making the right choices and that they are informed and aware of the options out there that will reduce their risks to sexually transmitted diseases, will reduce their probability of becoming pregnant.”
For sexual protection, students can pick up free condoms and dental dams at the concert. Admission will be free, but VOX will also accept donations for a chance to win gift certificates and other unnamed prizes in a raffle.
“You can donate a dollar or as much as possible,” Duke said. “Condoms aren’t free but we’re giving them away for free.
“We want to make sure the campus stays protected.”
All in all, there is one notion that Duke suggested students should not leave without.
“As the old adage goes, ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’ That’s really our main focus,” Duke said.
Meanwhile, McEntire said Bellafea and the other artists at the VOX ROX concert will try to use their musical talent to provoke change.
“It’s important just as a human being to take part in events like this that do kind of spread the awareness of what’s going on in the world,” McEntire said. “I think as a musician it’s really important for us to be a part of events like this that…we can connect with as individuals and we can use our music to support.”
For more information about VOX or this event, e-mail vcuvox@yahoo.com.