Power to the People Festival: Uniting Music, Activism, and Community on October 3, 2026
A new single-day event called the Power to the People Festival is set to take place on October 3, 2026, at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. The festival, organized by Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, will feature a diverse lineup of rock and alternative music royalty. Artists like Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Joan Baez, Brittany Howard, and Serj Tankian are among the headliners. The event will also include performances by Killer Mike, Cypress Hill, Dropkick Murphys, and Taylor Momsen. Actor Jack Black will join the lineup with a backing group that includes Morello's son Roman, and activist Shepard Fairey will provide visual art and a DJ set.
The festival is described as a non-partisan celebration of peace, justice, solidarity, music, and community action. The lineup showcases musicians who have been vocal in challenging government policies. Morello emphasized that the festival is about freedom, justice, equality, and rock and roll, aiming to empower individuals through music, art, community, and action. The event will feature live music on two stages and an interactive area called the Freedom Village, highlighting grassroots advocacy, community aid, and civic education.
Proceeds from the concert will support democratic engagement, with a portion of general ticket sales and all net earnings from VIP packages going to HeadCount and VoteRiders, organizations dedicated to assisting citizens with voter registration and identification. The Power to the People Festival promises a day of activism, creativity, and hope in the Washington, D.C. area. For more details, visit the festival's website.