A star-studded protest festival featuring Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Brittany Howard and Joan Baez is slated for the Washington, D.C., area next month, just weeks before the crucial midterm elections.
The “Power to the People” festival was announced by Springsteen and Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello on Wednesday, as they performed together at Nationals Park in Washington, marking the winding down of Springsteen’s “Land of Hope and Dreams” American tour.
During the concert, Springsteen delivered a politically charged set, including tracks such as “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. He declared, “The Gestapo tactics of this president and this administration will not stand here.”
Springsteen urged the public to act, stating, “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. So join us and let’s fight for the America that we love. Do you hear me, Washington?”
Scheduled for 3 October at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, the one-day, two-stage event is billed as a celebration of “freedom, justice, equality and rock ’n’ roll.” A portion of all ticket sales will benefit the organisations VoteRiders and HeadCount.
Tom Morello emphasised the collective power of the event, saying in a statement: “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.”
The festival’s line-up will also include performances from Dropkick Murphys, Jack Black, Serj Tankian, Killer Mike, Taylor Momsen, and The Linda Lindas, among others.
Springsteen has been a long-standing critic of President Donald Trump, who in turn has called for a boycott of Springsteen’s shows, labelling him a “total loser who spews hate.”
On Wednesday, Springsteen led the crowd in an “ICE out!” chant, encouraging the audience to ensure their voices reached the White House.
He further condemned the current political climate, asserting: “Our democracy, our constitution, our rule of law are being challenged right now as never before by a reckless, racist, incompetent, treasonous president and his ship of fools administration.”
Springsteen concluded his performance with a poignant tribute, saying, “God bless Renée Good, God bless Renée Good, God bless you and God bless America,” before launching into the night’s final song, “Chimes of Freedom.”
