Bruce Springsteen Headlines ‘Power to the People’ Festival in Maryland Ahead of Midterms

Bruce Springsteen headlined the inaugural “Power to the People” festival on Saturday at Columbia, Maryland’s Merriweather Post Pavilion, delivering a politically charged performance alongside other renowned artists. Organized by Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, the event celebrated peace, justice, solidarity, and community activism while encouraging voter turnout ahead of the midterm elections.

Festival Purpose and Political Messaging

The “Power to the People” festival was designed to amplify messages of protest and solidarity. According to its mission statement, the event aimed to promote “peace, justice, solidarity, music and community action.” Many performers used their platform to denounce recent U.S. government actions. Springsteen opened his set with “Streets of Minneapolis,” a song responding to the federal immigration agents’ killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti.

Springsteen addressed the crowd saying, “The power and solidarity of the people of Minneapolis, of Minnesota, is an inspiration to the entire country. Their strength and their commitment told us that this is still America, and this will not stand. They gave us hope. They showed us courage.” The festival’s messaging extended beyond music, with fans wearing shirts bearing slogans such as “Immigrants Make America Great,” “No Kings,” “No one is illegal on stolen land,” and “Bring on the Matriarchy.”

Star-Studded Lineup and Unique Performances

Alongside Springsteen, the festival featured a range of veteran rock bands and notable artists including Joan Baez, who joined Springsteen for a duet on Bob Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom.” Later, Springsteen teamed up with Morello, Dave Matthews, and Nathaniel Rateliff for a rendition of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son.” Other performers included Dropkick Murphys, Jack Black performing as “Jack Sabbath,” Serj Tankian, Killer Mike, and the Linda Lindas.

Jack Black’s appearance was a highlight, as he performed Black Sabbath covers backed by children, including the sons of Morello and Anthrax’s Scott Ian. The late Ozzy Osbourne was honored when Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler joined the stage for “War Pigs.” The festival was full of surprise moments and collaborations.

Activism and Voter Engagement

The festival included “Freedom Village,” an area where attendees could engage with nonprofits like the ACLU, Farm Aid, National Domestic Workers Alliance, and Oxfam. A portion of proceeds from ticket sales benefited VoteRiders and HeadCount, organizations focused on voting rights and voter turnout.

Political activism was a central theme, with performers urging attendees to participate in the upcoming elections. Rapper Killer Mike emphasized, “Vote locally in thirty days. And hold the (expletive) you vote for accountable — on school boards, county commissions … and when you do, don’t have an ounce of fear or trepidation because this republic is ran by you.”

Grandson, one of the early performers, stirred the crowd with a song including the refrain “My president’s a felon” and a cover of Dylan’s “Masters of War.” His set included a provocative staged performance featuring actors portraying Jeffrey Epstein and President Donald Trump.

Notable Attendees and Political Context

Among the audience was former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, seen wearing a black Springsteen T-shirt that read “No Kings.” His attendance came shortly after he defended prosecutions against President Donald Trump in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. News of Smith’s presence at the festival sparked a reaction from President Trump, who posted on Truth Social calling Smith a “Deranged Jack Smith is a Crooked Prosecutor! President DJT.”

“Power to the People” was announced in May as a direct counter to America’s 250th anniversary celebration, “The Great American State Fair,” which several artists had withdrawn from due to its ties to President Trump. The timing of the festival, just one month before midterm elections, underscored its focus on political engagement and community action.

The “Power to the People” festival brought together music legends and activists in a powerful call for justice and voter participation, leaving attendees inspired and ready to engage in the democratic process.