Tom Morello Announces Power to the People Festival Featuring Springsteen, Foo Fighters, and More
Tom Morello announced Wednesday night that he is organizing a one-day music and activism festival set for October 3 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. The guitarist announced his stop at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., where he is currently on tour with Bruce Springsteen. Curated entirely by Morello, the Power to the People Festival brings together a wide-ranging lineup of musicians and activists for what promises to be one of the more politically charged live events of the fall season.
Springsteen himself is among the headliners; his presence at the announcement, standing alongside Morello on the Nationals Park stage, made the booking feel more like a handshake than a press release. The Foo Fighters are also confirmed, as is folk legend Joan Baez, whose presence on the same bill as Cypress Hill and Killer Mike is something of a testament to the breadth of what Morello is attempting to pull together. Dave Matthews, Brittany Howard, Dropkick Murphys, Serj Tankian, grandson, Taylor Momsen, Matt Cameron, and the Linda Lindas round out the musical performances. Jack Black is also on the bill in an ensemble configuration, performing alongside Roman Morello, Revel Ian, Yoyoka Soma, and Hugo Weiss. Visual artist and graphic designer Shepard Fairey, perhaps best known for his iconic Barack Obama "Hope" poster, will contribute original artwork to the festival and perform a DJ set.
The festival is designed to operate on two stages, with what organizers describe as intimate, collaborative, and special performances throughout the day. But the music is only part of what Morello has in mind. A dedicated section of the festival grounds called Freedom Village will house nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, and civic engagement initiatives, bringing together grassroots organizing, mutual aid efforts, and social impact work under the same roof as the performances. The intention, at least as Morello has framed it, is to create a space where the political spirit embedded in the music has a physical, tangible outlet, somewhere that attending a concert can translate, if the attendee wants it to, into direct civic action.
That thread of civic action runs through the festival's charitable structure as well. HeadCount, the nonpartisan organization that has spent years embedding voter registration into live music events, will be on the grounds helping attendees register. VoteRiders, a pro-democracy, pro-voter organization focused on helping citizens navigate voter ID laws and registration barriers, will also benefit from the festival financially; a portion of proceeds from all general ticket sales will go toward the group, along with the full net proceeds from VIP ticket purchases.
Morello, who has spent his entire career threading political conviction through his guitar work, from Rage Against the Machine's confrontational early catalog to his years of solo activism and collaboration with artists across genres, described the festival in terms that were characteristically direct. "The Power to the People festival is about freedom, justice, equality and rock & roll," he said in a statement released alongside the announcement. "It's about the power everyday human beings have when they come together through music, art, community, and action. We're honored to bring this incredible lineup to the DC area for a day that celebrates the spirit of activism, creativity, and hope."
Pre-sale tickets go live Friday, May 29, at 10 a.m. ET, with general on-sale beginning Saturday, May 30, at the same time. More information is available at powertothepeoplefest.com.
