Bruce Springsteen and Musical Giants Rally for Political Change in Maryland

Columbia, Md. (AP) — At a festival just outside Washington, D.C., Bruce Springsteen, along with several notable musicians, delivered a powerful message: “Let them hear you in Washington,” he exclaimed.

During his headlining performance at the inaugural “Power to the People” protest festival held at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, Springsteen played a series of politically charged songs. The festival, organized by Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, aimed to champion “peace, justice, solidarity, music and community action,” with a focus on encouraging voter participation.

A portion of the ticket sales is set to benefit organizations like VoteRiders and HeadCount.

Numerous performers took advantage of the platform to criticize recent actions taken by the U.S. government.

For his opening, Springsteen chose “Streets of Minneapolis,” a response to the tragic deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of federal immigration agents.

He told the enthusiastic audience, “The power and solidarity of the people of Minneapolis, of Minnesota, is an inspiration to the entire country. Their strength and commitment remind us that this is still America, and this will not stand. They gave us hope. They showed us courage.”

In a delightful moment, folk legend Joan Baez joined him on stage for Bob Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom.” Later, Springsteen, Morello, Dave Matthews, and Nathaniel Rateliff collaborated on Creedence Clearwater Revival’s classic “Fortunate Son.”

The crowd reflected the festival’s message with shirts bearing bold slogans like “Immigrants Make America Great,” “No Kings,” “No one is illegal on stolen land,” and “Bring on the Matriarchy.”

A section of the festival was dubbed “Freedom Village,” where attendees engaged with various nonprofits, including the ACLU and Oxfam.

Background on ‘Power to the People’

The “Power to the People” festival was announced in May, coinciding with some performers backing out of a related event, “The Great American State Fair,” due to its connection with President Donald Trump.

This festival, in contrast, featured a robust lineup of established rock bands and artists like Dropkick Murphys and Killer Mike, creating a vibrant atmosphere just a month before midterm elections.

Festival performer Taylor Momsen expressed, “The timing is a reminder that showing up matters. I hope people leave feeling connected, inspired to care about those around them. If the festival can create that feeling, then I think it’s a success.”

Music with a Purpose

The event saw a quick influx of political messages. Early performer Grandson addressed the crowd with a song declaring, “My president’s a felon,” and followed it with Bob Dylan’s “Masters of War.”

A live broadcast from the festival even cut out when Grandson introduced actors mimicking Jeffrey Epstein and Trump, bound by a leash.

Other musicians emphasized the festival’s core message: highlighting the importance of voting and encouraging attendees to visit the Freedom Village.

“Vote locally in thirty days,” urged rapper Killer Mike during his set. “And hold the (expletive) you vote for accountable… Don’t have fear because this republic is run by you.”

A Day Full of Surprises

Just after three in the afternoon, comedian Jack Black brought humor to the occasion as “Jack Sabbath,” performing Black Sabbath covers with a youthful band that included Morello’s and Scott Ian’s sons. It was a heartwarming tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne, enhanced by a surprise appearance from Sabbath’s bassist, Geezer Butler.

Morello’s set featured a duet with Serj Tankian of System of a Down, honoring the late Chris Cornell with “Like a Stone.” Following them were Chuck D and Run DMC, who also joined in for various covers, while Morello and Dave Grohl tackled Kiss’s “Rock and Roll All Nite.”

Baez, Rateliff, and Matthews collaborated on Woody Guthrie’s “Deportees,” leading into Baez’s “(Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody) Turn Me Around.”

Stephen Stills later took to the stage to perform Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth.”

The festival climaxed with all performers singing Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” in its entirety, followed by John Lennon’s “Power to the People.”

Younger attendee Evangeline Topete, wearing a “Destroy American Fascism” shirt, shared her thoughts: “This festival shows that peace, love, and justice can become verbs — things we all can contribute to when we come together and rock out against fascism. Rock ‘n’ roll can save us. The power belongs to the people!”