Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Brittany Howard and Joan Baez will headline a protest festival in the Washington, D.C., area, bringing together major names in rock and folk music for an event tied to civic engagement ahead of the midterm elections.
The one-day event, called Power to the People, is set for Oct. 3 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. It will run across two stages and is being promoted around the themes of “freedom, justice, equality and rock ’n’ roll.”
Springsteen and Morello unveil the event on stage
Springsteen and Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello announced the festival while performing together at Nationals Park in Washington. The announcement came as Springsteen neared the end of his Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour.
Springsteen used the same concert to deliver a pointed political message. He performed songs that have long carried political weight, including “American Skin (41 Shots),” which addresses a fatal police shooting, and “Streets of Minneapolis,” written in response to the killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents.
A lineup built around activism and protest
Morello said the festival aims to show the influence of collective action through music and community. “It’s about the power everyday human beings have when they come together through music, art, community and action,” he said in a statement.
The lineup also includes Dropkick Murphys, Jack Black, Serj Tankian, Killer Mike, Taylor Momsen and the Linda Lindas. Organizers said a portion of ticket sales will go to VoteRiders and HeadCount, two groups that work on voter access and participation.
Springsteen’s criticism of Trump stays central
Springsteen has long criticized President Donald Trump, and Trump has responded by calling for a boycott of Springsteen’s shows. The president has also described the singer as a “total loser who spews hate.”
At Wednesday’s concert, Springsteen again spoke in strongly political terms, telling the crowd that “the Gestapo tactics of this president and this administration will not stand here.” He also led an “ICE out!” chant and urged the audience to raise its voice beyond the stadium.
Springsteen framed the message as a call for public action, saying, “This American tragedy can only be stopped by the American people: you. There is no one coming to save us. We’ve got to do it ourselves.”
He closed the night by blessing the people mentioned in his remarks and then launched into “Chimes of Freedom,” keeping the concert focused on the same blend of performance and protest that now carries into the planned festival.
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