In response to the White House’s Great American State Fair even at the National Mall; The Boss Bruce Springsteen, along with several other artists, are planning a protest festival of their own in Washington, D.C. in October – a month before the mid-term elections.
Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Brittany Howard, and Joan Baez will headline the event.
As his “Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour” winds down, Springsteen performed a highly political concert at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. with some of his most political songs on the set list. It was during that concert that Springsteen and Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine joined The Boss for the announcement.
Springsteen noted, “the Gestapo tactics of this president and this administration will not stand here.”
He added, “this American tragedy can only be stopped by the American people: you. There is no one coming to save us. We’ve got to do it ourselves. So join us and let’s fight for the America that we love. Do you hear me, Washington?”
Titled the “Power to the People Festival”, the one day, two stage event is scheduled for October 3 at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. The show says it is about “freedom, justice, equality and rock ’n’ roll.” A portion of the proceeds from the ticket sales is going to VoteRiders and HeadCount.
Tom Morello spoke on the festival saying, “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.”