Bruce Springsteen and Tom Morello are organizing a new protest music festival after several artists withdrew from the White House’s Freedom 250 event. The one-day Power to the People festival is scheduled for October 3 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, and is being framed as a celebration of “freedom, justice, equality and rock ’n’ roll.” A portion of the proceeds will go to VoteRiders and HeadCount, two groups that support voter participation and civic engagement.
The festival was announced on Wednesday during Springsteen and Morello’s performance at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. Springsteen used the moment to sharply criticize the Trump administration, accusing it of using “Gestapo tactics” and urging ordinary Americans to take action themselves. He told the crowd that the country’s problems would not be solved by waiting for outside help, saying people must organize and fight for the America they believe in.
Morello echoed that message in a statement, describing the event as a gathering built around the power of everyday people coming together through music, art, community and action. He said the goal is to bring a strong lineup to the Washington area for a day that highlights activism, creativity and hope.
The event comes at a politically charged moment, about a month before the midterm elections. The lineup announced so far includes Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Brittany Howard, Joan Baez, Dropkick Murphys, Jack Black, Serj Tankian, Killer Mike, Taylor Momsen, the Linda Lindas and additional performers.
The announcement follows a separate wave of controversy around the White House’s Freedom 250 celebration, which recently unveiled its Great American State Fair lineup. In the days surrounding that announcement, several artists, including Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, Morris Day, Young MC and The Commodores, reportedly dropped out of the June 25-July 10 event planned for Washington’s National Mall.
The competing developments set up a cultural clash in the nation’s capital region, with Springsteen and Morello positioning Power to the People as both a concert and a call to action. By tying the event to voter outreach organizations and rallying artists known for political engagement, the festival is being presented as an alternative expression of American identity centered on protest, participation and public responsibility.
With a high-profile roster already attached and more names expected, Power to the People is emerging as a major political music event for the fall. Its message is direct: music can be a platform for organizing, and activism can be amplified by the energy of a live crowd.
