Columbia, Maryland (AP) — In the shadow of Washington, DC, Bruce Springsteen and a few musical giants had a message for the world: “Let them hear you in Washington,” he cheered.
The Boss played a number of political songs during his headlining set at Columbia’s first star-studded “Power to the People” protest festival at 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 its mission statement, and to promote voter participation.
Additionally, a portion of proceeds from all ticket sales will benefit the VoteRiders and HeadCount organizations.
Many actors have used their platform to denounce recent actions taken by the American government.
For example, Springsteen opened with “The 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, of Minnesota, is a source of inspiration for the entire country,” he told a packed house. “Their strength and commitment told us that this is still America and it won’t last. They gave us hope. They showed us courage.”
For her second number, folk icon Joan Baez emerged, and the duo performed a duet of Bob Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom.” Later, Springsteen, Morello, Dave Matthews and Nathaniel Rateliff joined forces for Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son.”
Along with protest music on stage, fans in the crowd wore shirts with strong messages. “Immigrants make America great,” one read. “No kings” “No one is illegal on stolen land”, “Bring on the matriarchy” read others.
And on the festival grounds was a “Freedom Village,” an activation where attendees could engage with nonprofits like the ACLU, Farm Aid, National Domestic Workers Alliance, Oxfam and more.
How “Power to the People” was born
“Power to the people” was revealed in May, around the same time several musical guests announced they had withdrawn of America’s 250th Birthday Celebration, “The Great American State Fair,” on the event’s ties to the president Donald Trump.
“Power to the People” strongly opposed this. The one-day, two-stage festival featured a lineup packed with veteran rock ‘n’ roll bands. It also included performances from artists like Dropkick Murphys, Jack Black, Serj Tankian, Killer Mike and Linda Lindas.
And as luck would have it, “Power to the People” took place a month before the midterm elections.
“I think the timing reminds us that coming is important. I’m not here to tell anyone what to think or how to vote,” Taylor Momsen, one of the festival’s artists, told the Associated Press. “I hope people walk away 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.”
The festival brought music with a message
The political messages came fast and furious at the event. One of the first artists of the day, rap rock artist Grandson, performed a song with the chorus “My President’s a Felon” before launching into a cover of Bob Dylan’s Demonstration against the Cold War, “Masters of War”.
Later, a live broadcast of the “Power to the People” festival interrupted as Grandson introduced two actors playing Jeffrey Epstein and Trump, who joined him on stage, connected by a leash.
Other acts focused on a central message of the festival: directing attendees to nonprofit organizations in the adjacent Freedom Village and, more commonly, the importance of voting in the upcoming midterm elections.
“Vote locally in thirty days” rapper Killer Mike » said midway through the set. “And hold accountable the (expletive) people you vote for – on school boards, on county commissions…and when you do, don’t have an ounce of fear or apprehension because this republic is run by you.”
“Power to the People” was also full of surprise performances
Shortly after 3 p.m., comedian Jack Black appeared on stage as “Jack Sabbath,” performing Black Sabbath covers while being supported by a group of kids – including Morello’s sons and Anthrax’s Scott Ian – in what feels both like an actual movie “School of Rock” together and a touching tribute to the late, great Ozzy Osbourne. In fact, Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler joined them on stage for “War Pigs.”
Early in the evening, Morello was joined by System of a Down’s Serj Tankian for a duet of Audioslave’s “Like a Stone” in honor of the the late frontman Chris Cornell. It’s the start of a trend: after Tankian come Chuck D, Run DMC, Flavor Flav for various covers; Morello and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl also covered Kiss’ “Rock and Roll All Nite.”
Baez, Rateliff and Matthews joined forces for Woody Guthrie’s protest song “Deportees,” before launching into Baez’s “(Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody) Turn Me Around.”
As they came out, Stephen Stills took the stage to perform Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth.”
The festival, which Baez called a “magnificent antidote,” ended with all of the day’s artists singing. “This Land Is Your Land” by Guthrie — with all his original verses — as well as That of John Lennon “Power to the people”.
“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 unleash in the name of radical, anti-fascist equality,” a young fan named Evangeline Topete, who wore a shirt that read “Destroy American Fascism”, told the Associated Press. “Rock’n’roll can save us. Just like giving power where it belongs: to the people!”
Gn entert
