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Columbia, Md. — In the shadow of Washington, DC, Bruce Springsteen and a few music giants had a message for the world: “They’ll hear you in Washington,” he cheered.
The Boss played several political songs during his headlining set at the first “Power to the People” star protest festival in Columbia, Maryland’s Merriweather Post Pavilion on Saturday. Organized by Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, the festival aimed to celebrate “peace, justice, solidarity, music and community action” according to their mission statement, and encourage turnout.
In addition, a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the VoteRiders and HeadCount organizations.
Many of the acts used their platform to denounce recent actions taken by the US government.
For example, Springsteen opened with “Streets of Minneapolis,” in response to the murders of Renée Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents.
“The power and solidarity of the people of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is an inspiration to the entire country,” he told the sold-out crowd. “Their strength and commitment told us that it is still America, and that it will not stand. They gave us hope. They showed us courage.”
For his second number, country icon Joan Baez appeared, and the pair performed Bob Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom” together. Later, Springsteen, Morello, Dave Matthews and Nathaniel Rateliff teamed up for Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son.”
As well as protest music on stage, fans in the crowd wore shirts with strong messages. “Immigrants make America Great,” read one. “No kings,” “No one is illegal on stolen land,” “Bring on the Matriarchy” read others.
And throughout the grounds of the festival was “Freedom Village,” an activity where attendees could engage with non-profits such as the ACLU, Farm, National Federation of Domestic Workers, Oxfam and more.
“Power to the People” was released in May, around the same time that several musical guests announced their support for America’s 250th anniversary celebration, “The Great American State Fair,” over the event’s ties to President Donald Trump.
“Power to the People” stood strong against it. The one-day, two-stage festival featured a packed lineup of rock ‘n’ roll bands. It also included performances by acts such as Dropkick Murphys, Jack Black, Serj Tankian, Killer Mike and the Linda Lindas.
And fittingly, “Power to the People” happened a month before the midterm elections.
“I think the moment is a reminder that things are happening. I’m not here to tell anyone what to think or how to vote,” said Taylor Momsen, one of the festival’s performers, to the Associated Press. “I hope people leave feeling connected, inspired to care about the people around them, and reminded that we all have a role to play in our communities. If the festival can create that feeling, I think that’s a win-win.”
Political messages arrived fast and furious at the event. One of the day’s earliest acts, rap rock artist Grandson, performed a song with the refrain “My President’s a felon” before launching into a cover of Bob Dylan’s Cold War protest, “Masters of War.”
Later, a live broadcast of the “Power to the People” festival was cut off when Grandson introduced two actors portraying Jeffrey Epstein and Trump, who joined him on stage, tied by a leash.
Other acts focused on the main message of the festival – directing attendees to nearby Freedom City nonprofits and, more often than not, the importance of voting in the upcoming midterm elections.
“Vote local in thirty days,” rapper Killer Mike said mid-set. “And keep the (expletive) vote you’re responsible for — on school boards, county commissions…
Shortly after 3 p.m., comedian Jack Black appeared on stage as “Jack Sabbath,” playing a Black Sabbath cover backed by a group of kids — including Morello’s sons and Anthrax’s Scott Ian — in what read as both a true “School of Rock” set and a touching tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne. Of course, Sunday bassist Geezer Butler joined them on stage for “War Pigs.”
In Morello’s early set of the evening, he was joined by System of a Down’s Serj Tankian for a duet of Audioslave’s “Like a Stone” in honor of late frontman Chris Cornell. It was the beginning of a trend: After Tankian came Chuck D, Run DMC, Flavor Flav for various covers; Morello and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl also fronted Kiss’ “Rock and Roll All Nite.”
Baez, Rateliff and Matthews teamed up for Woody Guthrie’s prose song “Deportees,” before segueing into Baez’s “(Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody) Turn Me Around.”
As they exited, Stephen Stills took the stage to play “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield.
The festival, which Baez called a “beautiful antidote”, ended with the performers of the day singing “This Land Is Your Land” by Guthrie – with his original verses – as well as “Power to the People” by John Lennon.
“This festival means that peace, love and justice don’t have to remain nouns. They can become verbs – things we can all contribute to – when we come together and stand out in the name of radical equality against fascism,” said a young fan named Evangeline Topete, who was wearing a shirt that read “Destroy American Fascism,” The Associated Press reported. “Rock ‘n’ roll can save us. And so it can take the power where it belongs: to the people!”
