Springsteen, Foos Join Tom Morello’s Activist Rock Summit

Tom Morello is turning his long-running fusion of rock and political activism into a full-scale festival this fall. The Power to the People fest will take over Merriweather Post Pavilion outside Washington, D.C., on Oct. 3 with a lineup featuring Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Joan Baez, Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard, Dropkick Murphys, System of a Down’s Serj Tankian, Cypress Hill, Killer Mike, grandson, the Linda Lindas and Morello himself.

Even Jack Black is getting in on the action alongside a younger next-gen crew of musicians that includes Rage Against the Machine guitarist Morello’s son Roman, Revel Ian, Yoyoka Soma and Hugo Weiss. Meanwhile, legendary street artist Shepard Fairey drew the event poster and will also provide a DJ set. The bill is rounded out by the Pretty Reckless’ Taylor Momsen, former Soundgarden/Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron and Run-DMC’s Darryl “DMC McDaniels.

More from Spin:

• Swedes Saddle Up For Portola Festival
• Gracie Abrams Plots Huge ‘Daughter’ Tour
• Noah Kahan Nabs Hayley, Mt. Joy For Cancun Fest

Springsteen announced the festival onstage in D.C. Wednesday night (May 27) during the second-to-last show of his Land of Hope and Dreams tour, for which Morello has joined the musicians each night for nearly half of the 27-song set. “In the future we want to keep raising our voices for hope and justice together. Tom Morello and I will be back again here in D.C. on Oct. 3 for another night of music and resistance,” he said. “We encourage you to come out and make a goddamned ruckus with us.”

“The Power to the People festival is about freedom, justice, equality and rock and roll,” Morello adds “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 D.C. area for a day that celebrates the spirit of activism, creativity and hope.”

Alongside two performance stages, the festival will host a Freedom Village featuring nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups and community organizers focused on voting access, grassroots activism and mutual aid efforts. A portion of all ticket proceeds, plus 100% of net VIP proceeds, will benefit VoteRiders and HeadCount, both of which will also help register voters onsite. Tickets go on sale later this week; click here for details.

Morello previously hosted Springsteen for the first live performance of his protest song “Streets of Minneapolis” during a late January benefit concert in the city for two citizens slain by I.C.E. personnel.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.

Tom Morello is turning his long-running fusion of rock and political activism into a full-scale festival this fall.SPIN Staff{authorlink}https://www.spinmagazine.com/feed/SPINMusic News, Album Reviews, Concert Photos, Videos and Morehttps://static.spinmagazine.com/files/2023/08/cropped-logo-spin-s-340×340.png