The next six performances will take place in Ohio.
Jordan Center sales and marketing director Bernie Punt said the concert series, labeled "Vote for Change," will be very exciting for all those in attendance.
"I think that our show will be more of a musical experience rather than political preaching," Punt said. "The point of it is creating political awareness and I believe they are succeeding with that."
Rebecca Kirszner, the Pennsylvania communications director for America Coming Together (ACT), is a pro-John Kerry organization that will be collecting the concert's proceeds, said the artists involved were simply tired of sitting on the political fence.
ACT will use proceeds from the concert in swing states before the November election.
"This is an unprecedented event for all of these artists to come together and it's very exciting," Kirszner said. "I think they are sending the message that you can change the country if you just get out to the polls."
Kirszner said focusing on Pennsylvania will be important for a change in the White House.
"Pennsylvania is one of 17 battleground states, which means they're in between as far as voters goes," Kirszner said. "One, it's a concert and two, it's an organization of people to vote for change."
Jayson Harpster, a volunteer at the Centre County Democrats Office, 236 E. Calder Way, said Penn State could use all the help it can get for student voters.
"We obviously are trying to get people leaning toward change, and we've been trying to get a better voter turnout around here for a long time," Harpster said. "Penn State has had an anemic voting turnout for years, so anything that will help us out is a plus."
Volunteer coordinator Liz Marshall said using something that many college-age people can relate to will offer substantial help encouraging students to vote.
"I think that it is a step in the right direction in trying to mobilize the 18 to 24 year old vote," Marshall said. "By doing this they're trying to speak for that group and music has always worked in the past, so it's a good idea."
While the concert certainly is politically charged, Greg Gabbard, owner of City Lights Records, 316 E. College Ave., said he really just wants to listen to the music.
"I just think people need to relax about [politics]," Gabbard said. "Almost everybody already has their mind made up and I'm not sure people can let politics rule in such a massive show."
Punt said that while the show will feature artists trying to spread political messages, the Jordan Center is going to act as if it is just another show.
"We cannot be involved politically at all so we're just treating the artists as clients of the building and we're going to make sure that everything runs smoothly for them and the audience," Punt said.
