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 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.
Springsteen announced the festival onstage Wednesday night (May 27) during the 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.”
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.
