Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews and More to Perform at ‘Power to the People’ Festival Organized by Tom Morello

Tom Morello, the celebrated guitarist and co-founder of the iconic band Rage Against the Machine, has unveiled plans for a major new music festival, "Power to the People." The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, a venue situated just outside Washington D.C. Organizers describe the gathering as a "non-partisan celebration of peace, justice, solidarity, music, and community action," blending entertainment with activism in a unique way. Morello, a vocal advocate for political and social causes throughout his career, made the announcement during his current tour with Bruce Springsteen, revealing the news onstage at Washington D.C.'s Nationals Park on Wednesday night. This venue, typically home to the Washington Nationals baseball team, has increasingly become a hub for major concerts, adding a layer of symbolic weight to the reveal. Morello, whose 1992 debut album 'Rage Against the Machine' sold over three million copies in the U.S. alone, has long used his platform to challenge systemic inequality.

The festival's lineup is both impressive and eclectic, featuring Foo Fighters and Dave Matthews as headliners, alongside a special guest appearance from Bruce Springsteen. Other notable acts include folk legend Joan Baez, rock band Dropkick Murphys, actor-musician Jack Black (performing with Roman Morello, Revel Ian, Yoyoka Soma, and Hugo Weiss), System of a Down vocalist Serj Tankian, hip-hop group Cypress Hill, rapper Killer Mike, Grandson, former Pretty Reckless frontwoman Taylor Momsen, Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron, and the Linda Lindas. Tom Morello will also perform, with an art exhibition and DJ set by renowned visual artist Shepard Fairey rounding out the bill. Brittany Howard, best known as the lead singer of Alabama Shakes, adds further depth to the diverse roster. The event will span two stages, offering a full day of music and interactive activities. Joan Baez, now in her 80s, remains a powerful voice in protest music, having marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s—a testament to the festival's deep roots in activism. Music analyst Dr. Sarah Jenkins of Georgetown University notes, "This festival represents a strategic evolution in how artists leverage their platforms, moving beyond one-off benefit concerts to create sustained, community-focused events that directly engage audiences in civic action."

Tickets will be released in two phases. A pre-sale kicks off on Friday, May 29, at 10 AM ET, followed by a general on-sale beginning Saturday, May 30, at 10 AM ET. Fans can find more details and purchase tickets at the official website, www.powertothepeoplefest.com. In a statement, Morello emphasized the festival's mission: "The Power to the People festival is about freedom, justice, equality and rock and roll. 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." This sentiment reflects Morello's decades-long commitment to using music as a platform for social change—a hallmark of his career since the early 1990s, when Rage Against the Machine first blended rap-metal with radical politics. The festival's timing, just weeks before the 2026 midterm elections, is seen as a deliberate effort to galvanize young voters. According to the Pew Research Center, voter turnout among 18-29 year olds increased by 11 percentage points between 2016 and 2020, a trend organizers hope to continue.

Beyond the performances, the festival will feature a dedicated "Freedom Village"—an immersive space where attendees can connect with nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, and community partners. This area is designed to highlight opportunities for civic engagement, grassroots organizing, education, mutual aid, and social impact initiatives. A portion of all ticket sale proceeds, along with 100% of net profits from VIP tickets, will be donated to two key organizations. VoteRiders, a nonpartisan group focused on eliminating voter ID barriers to protect democratic access, and HeadCount, which works to register voters and educate the public on election participation, will both benefit. HeadCount representatives will also be on-site to assist fans with voter registration and provide information about upcoming elections. Organizers have promised additional participating organizations, activations, and special guests in the weeks leading up to the event. This focus on voter access is particularly timely, given the upcoming midterm elections in 2026, which experts predict will see heightened turnout among younger demographics—a key audience for this festival. The inclusion of these groups underscores a broader trend in the music industry, where artists like Lizzo and Taylor Swift have also partnered with voter advocacy organizations to mobilize their fanbases.