The national ‘Rock the Vote’ series of parties kicks off tomorrow night with a free gig in Adelaide at The Gov on Port Road. Designed to encourage young would-be voters to register in their electorates and start taking an active role in democratic process, the event certainly has a noble intention. While the gig is loaded with everything from folk guitarists to comedy/satire rock bands like The Dairy Brothers, the dance, hip hop and electronic music community is not without its set of political opinions.

Representing the beats in Adelaide are a few big names … namely leading hip hop crews Funkoars and Terra Firma. This should come as no surprise to heads who know their hip hop history, as politics has frequently found a strong voice on the hip hop stage, from today’s J-Live, Spearhead and countless others dating back to the hey day of Public Enemy and beyond. Hilltop Hoods’ MC Suffa is also a firm supporter of the cause and will be present for the gig.

Another representative of our dance scene, and one who’s been banging away to her favourite uplifting vocal house and trance for a long time now is DJ Josh. Josh is notorious for consistently rocking clubs in gay and straight circles all over the country. Her production work as one half of the duo JvE is some of what she’ll be serving up at the Gov, and she’s happy to say that she feels passionately for its cause. Ericson of course will be right beside her, and the two are happy to be working together again after a brief hiatus.

The re-emergence of JvE with a live ableton set and four hands on deck is an exciting one for Josh fans. Remixes of her classic ‘Starrider’ (including one by the label head herself) have just been released on Bexta’s Mixology Digital label, and are available on itunes and through inertia. Josh has just signed on to the Mixology Digital label, and she’s chuffed with the way things are going. She was picked up for this gig through her myspace page, and her tunes can be sampled there.

One of the most positive purveyors of dance music in Adelaide reaching back into the 90’s, Josh has always been about using music as a social connector, and hopes the nature of the event and its guest speeches encourages Adelaide’s youth to “come together and discuss why they should be voting.” Inspired by the work of artists like Madonna, Bono, Pink and others with a high level of celebrity clout “using their ability to make the world a better place” Josh is confident that the end result will be a good one for our country prior to this year’s federal election.

Rock the Vote is on from 7pm til midnight at the Gov, Thursday June 6th. Entry is free.