Columbia, Maryland — In the shadow of Washington, D.C., Bruce Springsteen and several music giants had a message for the world: “Let them hear you in Washington,” he chanted.
The Boss played a series of political songs during his opening set for the “Power to the People” star-studded protest festival at 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” and increase voter turnout, according to its mission statement.
Additionally, a portion of the revenue from all ticket sales will be transferred to VoteRiders and HeadCount.
Many of the actions used their platforms to condemn recent actions taken by the US government.
For example, Springsteen opened with “Streets of Minneapolis” in response to the killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents.
“The strength and solidarity of the people of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is an inspiration to the entire country,” he told the sold-out crowd. “Their strength and determination told us that this was still America, and that it wasn’t going to be that way. They gave us hope. They showed us courage.”
Folk icon Joan Baez appeared on the second issue, and the duo duetted with Bob Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom.” Springsteen, Morello, Dave Matthews and Nathaniel Rateliff then joined forces for Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son.”
Fans in the crowd wore shirts with powerful messages alongside protest music on stage. One read: “Immigrants Make America Great.” Others read “No to Kings,” “No one is illegal in stolen lands,” “Introduce Matriarchy.”
Also across from the festival grounds was the “Freedom Village,” an activation where attendees could interact with nonprofits like the ACLU, Farm Aid, National Domestic Workers Alliance, Oxfam, and more.
“Power to the People” was announced in May, around the same time many musical guests announced they were withdrawing from the “Great American State Fair,” a celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, due to the event’s ties to President Donald Trump.
“People’s Power” was in stark contrast. The one-day, two-stage festival boasted a packed line-up of seasoned rock ‘n’ roll bands. It also featured performances by artists such as Dropkick Murphys, Jack Black, Serj Tankian, Killer Mike and Linda Lindas.
And fittingly, “Power to the People” took place a month before the midterm elections.
Taylor Momsen, one of the festival’s performers, told the Associated Press: “I think the times are a reminder that it’s important to show up. I’m not here to tell anyone what to think or how to vote.” “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 it’s a win.”
Political messages arrived at the event fast and furious. Rap rock artist Grandson, one of the first performers of the day, performed a song with the chorus “My president is a criminal” before launching into a cover of Bob Dylan’s Cold War protest “Masters of War.”
The live broadcast of the “Power to the People” festival was then interrupted as Grandson introduced two actors portraying Jeffrey Epstein and Trump, who joined her on stage and were tied together by a leash.
Other actions focused on the festival’s central message: directing attendees to nonprofits in the adjacent Freedom Village and, more generally, the importance of voting in the upcoming midterm elections.
“Vote locally in thirty days,” rapper Killer Mike said mid-set. “And be accountable for the (expletive) things you vote for, on school boards, on county commissions… and when you do that, don’t have an iota of fear or concern, because this republic is run by you.”
Comedian Jack Black took the stage as “Jack Sabbath” shortly after 3 p.m., performing Black Sabbath covers backed by a group of kids — including the sons of Morello and Anthrax’s Scott Ian — in what read as both a real-life “School of Rock” set and a touching tribute to the late, great Ozzy Osbourne. Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler even joined them on the “War Pigs” stage.
During Morello’s set earlier in 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: Tankian was followed by Chuck D, Run DMC, Flavor Flav for various covers; Morello and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl also tackled Kiss’s “Rock and Roll All Nite.”
Baez, Rateliff and Matthews joined forces for Woody Guthrie’s protest song “Deportees” and then began playing Baez’s “(Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody) Turn Me Around.”
As they walked out, Stephen Stills came on stage and sang “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield.
The festival, which Baez called “a magnificent antidote,” ended with performers throughout the day singing Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” (with all its original verses) and John Lennon’s “Power to the People.”
A young fan named Evangeline Topete, who wore a T-shirt that read “Destroy American Fascism,” told the Associated Press: “This festival means that peace, love, and justice don’t have to remain just names. They can become verbs — things we can all contribute to — when we come together and show up for anti-fascist, radical equality.” “Rock’n’roll can save us. So can putting the power where it belongs: to the people!”