Tom Morello’s Power to the People Festival brought together Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, Dave Matthews, Cypress Hill, Anthrax’s Scott Ian and a host of others for a day of music and activism, culminating in a closing jam on Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World.”
Organizations such as the ACLU, Farm Aid, the National Domestic Workers Alliance and Oxfam were present at the event as part of an on-site nonprofit activation, which gave festival-goers the chance to interact with these groups while attending the performances. This turned the festival into a venue where political involvement was promoted alongside entertainment, extending the experience beyond mere enjoyment.
Opening Sets and Early Performances
A number of performances started the day, establishing its mood from the beginning. The Neighborhood Kids were first on stage, their button-covered vests bringing smiles to the Maryland crowd, before Morello later referred to them as “my new favorite band,”.
The afternoon’s programming opened with Nathaniel Rateliff pouring his soul into a set, which was succeeded by Delila Paz of the Last Internationale, who delivered a rousing performance that raised the energy level for the remainder of the event.
Grandson stepped onto the stage wearing a shirt that may have been just a little too on-the-nose, bearing the words: “Eat tainted meat, breathe poison air, drink nasty water, help only yourself: Vote Republican.”.
The All-Star Lineup
A brief yet fervent acoustic performance from Dave Matthews featured a rendition of Marvin Gaye’s “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology).”, part of a festival that otherwise overflowed with sound.
The festival featured a strong lineup of rap acts. Cypress Hill performed their SoCal rap classics for a rousing set. Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath was also there, shredding during his own set. Chuck D and Flavor Flav of Public Enemy brought their trademark energy to the event.
The Maryland crowd rose during a blazing set from Killer Mike, and State Radio added their own contributions. Ken Casey of Dropkick Murphys reached his listeners, while a photo taken by Captain America with a fan preserved a moment of the festival.
“Rockin’ in the Free World”
The Activism Activation
The festival’s nonprofit activation allowed attendees to engage with organizations fighting for civil rights, workers’ rights and environmental justice. The ACLU, Farm Aid, the National Domestic Workers Alliance and Oxfam all had tables where fans could learn more and get involved.
The music festival grew beyond mere entertainment, becoming a place where political engagement was actually encouraged. This development came about as a natural extension of the performances themselves.
The Grand Finale
The day reached its high point at the close. The artists gathered together for a final session led by Bruce Springsteen, joining their voices on Neil Young’s “Free World”‘s “Rockin’. It was a moment of unity that felt truly earned after a day filled with varied performances.
The closing set brought together Springsteen, Dave Grohl and Tom Morello, with Morello at the front of an all-star finale. That moment demonstrated how peace, love and political action can work in concert.
Other Notable Moments
Jack Black made joyful noise with a band that included Morello’s son, Roman Morello, on lead guitar. Chris Barker brought his bass skills — and some leaps — to the Last Internationale’s live show.
Bruce Springsteen joined Joan Baez on stage, and the Linda Lindas brought their raucous girl power to the festival, raging against racist, sexist boys.
Matt Cameron and Mike McCready were longtime bandmates in Pearl Jam. Cameron departed that group last year, yet the pair came back together for Sons of Soundgarden — an homage to Cameron’s other band that also features vocals from the Pretty Reckless’ Taylor Momsen. Their performance honored the late Chris Cornell through a set that featured “Loud Love,” “Outshined”, and “Spoonman.”.
Shepard Fairey, who works both as an artist and an activist, performed a DJ set during the festival. He additionally created the poster art for the occasion.
What We Made of It
The festival chose to keep art joined with purpose, rather than set them apart. Every act on the bill had a reason for being there, and the closing jam showed that the reason belonged to all of them together.
Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” is a song about resistance, and the artists chose it as their anthem. That choice spoke volumes about what they believed this event was about.
The festival wasn’t simply a concert, because it brought together groups like the ACLU, Farm Aid, the National Domestic Workers Alliance and Oxfam, showing that it was a call to action.
American music history runs wide from Anthrax to Springsteen, and the lineup showed it, with a broad range of artists sharing the stage united by a shared purpose. The gathering served as a reminder that rock music has always carried political weight.
Final Thoughts
The event was a triumph in every sense. It united people, honored music, and drew attention to significant causes. The final improvisation on “Rockin’ in the Free World” served as the ideal conclusion, a genuine moment of shared feeling.
The festival demonstrated what occurs when artists cease regarding politics as merely a topic and instead regard it as a duty. It served as a reminder that music can do more than simply amuse — it can inspire, educate and rouse people into action.
This gathering paid tribute to its title through three distinct elements: an attentive audience, powerful performances, and a plain and unmistakable message.
Source material: “Tom Morello’s Power to the People Festival: Springsteen, Dave Matthews, Foo Fighters and More Rock for Democracy,” Rolling Stone.
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