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Celebrity Cavalcade Descends On DNC
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by Jarrett Martineau | August 26, 2008 at 08:55 am
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The celebrities are coming out fast and furious for the Democratic National Convention. With a star-studded line-up of celebs in attendance, from Hollywood's acting elite to a cornucopia of paparazzi-tailed pop & rock stars, the DNC has more flashbulb bang for its buck than any A-list invite-only celeb event you can think of.
Those already confirmed in attendance include:
Charlize Theron, Sheryl Crow, Dave Matthews, Tim Reynolds, Laurie David, Rachael Leigh Cook, Spike Lee, Matthew Modine, Alan Cumming, Susan Sarandon, Kerry Washington, Ellen Burstyn, Anne Hathaway, Tim Daly, Daryl Hannah, Lawrence Fishburne, Richard Schiff.
Melissa Etheridge, Cyndi Lauper, Rufus Wainwright, Kanye West, The Black Eyed Peas,Jennifer Lopez, Annette Bening, Fran Drescher, Quentin Tarantino, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Neil Patrick Harris, Cheryl Hines, Ben Affleck, Josh Brolin, Nick Cannon, Jennifer Hudson.
MONDAY
At the city's opera house, Rock The Vote hosts "Ballot Bash," the big party of the convention's first night. Performances were expected from Fall Out Boy, Jakob Dylan and Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo's rap-rock band NERD. Mr. Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon, will be DJing at the afterparty.
TUESDAY
Grammy organizers set up a concert with rockers Everclear, Daughtry and the Denver band Flobots, who also performed at a Saturday night DNC party at the Elitch Gardens amusement park.
Also downtown, the nonprofit Do Something hosts a party at a hotel-lounge with a set by Moby. Among planned attendees: Arianna Huffington, John Kerry and (random star alert!) Chevy Chase.
"Etown," a long-running Boulder, Colo.-based radio variety show, will host performances from James Taylor, Ani DiFranco and David Crosby and Graham Nash.
Singer Idina Menzel, best known as Elphaba from "Wicked," performs at another Rock The Vote party in Denver's LoDo district, with Ashanti in attendance.
WEDNESDAY
By far the busiest day for performances and celebrities features Jennifer Lopez stopping by the Denver Art Museum to honor Marian Wright Edelman, Ben Affleck promoting "America's Second Harvest" at the Food Bank of the Rockies, and Rage Against the Machine raging against the machine at the Denver Coliseum.
The Creative Coalition, a nonprofit group meant that engages the artist community in issues, sponsors a Black Eyed Peas concert at the Fillmore Auditorium, one of three performances Peas' frontman will.i.am will be doing in Denver.
West's concert -- sponsored by ONE and the Recording Industry Association of America -- is at around the same time, and will attract at least as much attention, if only for the hip-hop star's unpredictability when it comes to politics.
Also on tap: A Ralph Nader rally with Sean Penn and Val Kilmer set to speak. A separate indie rock lineup in support of Obama features the Silversun Pickups, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Nada Surf and the Cold War Kids.
THURSDAYThe most prominent Obama celebrity backers -- from Oprah to Kerry Washington -- will be at Invesco Field for the candidate's big speech. Sideline events are minimal, though there's an afterparty sponsored by Google and Vanity Fair.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Sunday that it was a done deal: "Bruce Springsteen will follow Obama with a solo acoustic performance on Thursday after Obama's acceptance speech at Invesco Field." The Telegraph reported same yesterday, as did the Rocky Mountain News, which said that Jon Bon Jovi will open for Obama with Springsteen closing out the night.
But a source in Springsteen's camp tells The Washington Post that The Boss won't be anywhere near Invesco Field on Thursday.
For all but the most connected fans, however, getting into the shows will be a challenge. Many are at private parties given by lobbyists and charities; even at the events that do not explicitly bar the general public, any spots not occupied by political insiders will probably be scooped up by the 15,000 expected members of the news media.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (15)
at 09:31 on August 26th, 2008
Jarrett Martineau, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Wow! That's one hell of a roll-call.
at 09:32 on August 26th, 2008
No kidding. Serious star power...but will it translate into pro-bama votes?
at 19:17 on August 26th, 2008
at 19:18 on August 26th, 2008
at 19:24 on August 26th, 2008
Anne Hathaway stepped out of a luncheon at the Lodos Restaurant in downtown Denver to have a cigarette. She asked me and one other photographer covering the event if she could smoke without us ganging up on her. I told her, "sure, if you agree to let me take a quick shot of you." She smiled and said she thought that was a fair barter, posed for the picture then hid off in a corner for her smoke before heading back into the restaurant moments later. "I picked it up during my last movie," Hathaway said. Sure Anne, that's what all the movie stars say! ;P
Sheba Wheeler has contributed a photo to this story.
at 19:28 on August 26th, 2008
Trying to capture this image of Spike Lee was difficult because I am so dang short! So I had to hoist my camera above the fray and pray I got the right angle. A little straightening in Photoshop CS3 and this image was totally successful. Maybe next time I'm at a "red carpet event" I will do what the photographer on the left did: stand on a step ladder during the interview!
What I found interesting about this experience (other than fighting being star struck while I was covering the event for The Denver Post!) was Lee's refusal to deal with the media onslaught. He was angry that he got mobbed in front of Mezcal. Once he was rushed inside, he refused to come back out again. But other stars appearing at the same event willing gave numerous interviews and plenty of time in front of the camera.
at 19:34 on August 26th, 2008
Rachael Leigh Cook at Mezcal, in Denver for the upcoming Democratic National Convention representing The Creative Coalition. Aug. 24, 2008. (Sheba R. Wheeler)
After shooting Rachael for two days at various locations in Denver, it became my top priority to capture this beautiful actress while she was smiling and at ease. She told reporters that she was "here to learn" about the issues, and she was often contemplative and serious. But I managed to catch this rare moment as she answered questions in front of Mezcal.
at 21:23 on August 26th, 2008
I was as close to Rufus Wainwright as one could get at the Voodo Lounge in Kansas City. One of the best live performances I've ever seen, high praise for having seen him in concert 5-6 times going back to 1993.
praythemgay32 has contributed a photo to this story.
at 03:58 on August 27th, 2008
At the Newport JVC Jazz Festival 2008, Chevy Chase was the host for the second year in a row.
robynmichelle79 has contributed a photo to this story.
at 04:11 on August 27th, 2008
50 Manchester, Iowa citizens showed up on a bitterly cold winter afternoon to listen to Joe Biden tell why he wanted their caucus votes. Biden was personable, charismatic and showed a deep knowledge of foreign and domestic issues.
Prairie Robin has contributed a photo to this story.
at 06:29 on August 27th, 2008
La sola presencia de este genio en el escenario provoca un largo silencio de admiración y levanta el vello con cada una de sus notas acompañadas de esa voz tan privilegiada. Él y su show, poesía pura.
electrochipi has contributed a photo to this story.
at 08:43 on August 27th, 2008
WFUV Public Radio was at the Newport Folk Festival (August, 2008) with the fine folks from NPR Online -- we broadcast many of the performances and took some great photos. As usual, it was a great place to be and the sets rose to the occasion. Jakob Dylan, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Trey Anastasio, Brandi Carlile, Calexico, Steve Earle and Alison Moorer, She & Him... you can see more on Flickr (WFUV Newport) and hear more through wfuv.org or npr.org/newportfolkfestival.
wfuv has contributed a photo to this story.
at 04:30 on August 28th, 2008
Rufus Wainwright in Santiago de Compostela (Spain) on 1st of June of 2008.
Gritz has contributed a photo to this story.
at 09:01 on August 29th, 2008
Spike Lee talking to mexican people at the Guanajuato's Expresión en Corto Film Festival.
erwinjaquez has contributed a photo to this story.
at 06:47 on August 30th, 2008
This photo was taken at the Get Smart Movie Premiere at Movie World, Gold Coast.
Terry.L has contributed a photo to this story.