TL;DR
Get audio and creator gear delivered free — and shop member deals
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Access to Prime Big Deal Days deals on October 6–7
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
Tom Morello’s Power To The People benefit took place Oct. 3 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Maryland, with proceeds set to benefit VoteRiders and HeadCount. Bruce Springsteen closed the show with protest-song covers, while Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl dedicated “My Hero” to former special counsel Jack Smith. Morello also said he did not vote for Kamala Harris in 2024, citing his opposition to U.S. policy toward Gaza and corporate-backed Democratic candidates.
Bruce Springsteen closed Tom Morello’s Power To The People benefit on Oct. 3 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, with a set centered on protest songs and a finale of John Lennon’s “Power To The People.” The one-day event, which was livestreamed on MS NOW’s YouTube channel, raised funds for voter-engagement groups VoteRiders and HeadCount and featured appearances by Dave Grohl, Jack Black, Joan Baez and other musicians.
Springsteen began his set alone with “Streets Of Minneapolis,” then performed Bob Dylan’s “Chimes Of Freedom” with Baez. Tom Morello joined him for the Clash’s “Clampdown” and “The Ghost Of Tom Joad.” Springsteen also played Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son” and Neil Young’s “Rockin’ In The Free World,” songs he had not performed in years, according to the report. The concert ended with performers joining him for Lennon’s “Power To The People.”
Earlier, Foo Fighters covered Mose Allison’s “Young Man Blues,” which the band had not played live since 2021, according to the report. Grohl dedicated “My Hero” to his “new friend Jack”; former Trump special counsel Jack Smith was in attendance. Other sets and guest appearances included Jack Black with a young band performing Black Sabbath songs, Serj Tankian joining Morello, and a Soundgarden tribute featuring Taylor Momsen, Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready and drummer Matt Cameron.
The event was billed as non-partisan, but attention also turned to a Rolling Stone interview published as the festival began. Morello said he did not vote for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. He linked that decision to U.S. policy toward Gaza and his opposition to what he called “corporate Democrat” candidates, and noted that he lives in California. His comments are distinct from the festival’s stated fundraising purpose.
Protest Music Meets Civic Fundraising
The concert paired performances by prominent musicians with fundraising for VoteRiders and HeadCount, organizations named as beneficiaries of the event. The festival’s format gave artists a shared stage for politically themed music while directing proceeds toward civic-engagement work; the source does not provide a fundraising total or a breakdown of donations.
Morello’s remarks about his 2024 vote added a separate political development to the day’s coverage. His decision challenged assumptions some listeners might make about the voting choices of a prominent left-wing musician, but his explanation was his own account, not a statement on behalf of the event or its beneficiaries.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Morello’s Stated Festival Mission
Morello said over the summer that the festival was intended as an “anti-racist, anti-fascist” celebration and had teased surprise guests. The event was nevertheless billed as non-partisan, with proceeds designated for voter-engagement groups. Those details provide context for the contrast between the festival’s fundraising goals and the political debate prompted by Morello’s interview.
Springsteen enlisted Morello for his touring band earlier in 2026, according to the source. Their joint performances at the benefit included “Clampdown” and “The Ghost Of Tom Joad,” before Springsteen closed with the day’s performers onstage. The lineup also crossed generations and genres, from Baez and DMC to younger musicians who appeared with Black.
““I saw how the corporate Democrat sausage is made. It is worse than you think.””
— Tom Morello, in an interview with Rolling Stone
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Donation Totals And Vote Details
The source report does not give a total amount raised, the amount ultimately distributed to VoteRiders and HeadCount, or a timeline for those payments. It also does not provide further detail on Morello’s voting history beyond his statement that he did not vote for Harris and could not remember the last time he voted for a Democratic presidential candidate. His comments about Gaza and corporate-backed candidates are his stated reasons; the report does not independently establish how those factors shaped his decision.
The supplied report describes the concert’s performances and guests, but does not include a complete account of the event’s livestream or confirm whether all listed appearances were available to viewers online.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Festival Fund And Follow-Up
Morello and the festival asked attendees and viewers to consider donating to the Power To The People Festival Fund, which they said would benefit organizations advancing civic engagement, social justice and human rights. The source does not specify a deadline for donations or when organizers may publish results.
Any further accounting of proceeds, distributions or follow-up activity would clarify the benefit’s practical reach. The immediate next step identified by organizers is continued support for the fund; no additional event date or future lineup was announced in the supplied material.
guitar effects pedals for protest music
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
When and where did Power To The People take place?
The one-day event was held Oct. 3, 2026, at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. It was livestreamed on MS NOW’s YouTube channel.
Who benefited from the festival?
Proceeds were designated for VoteRiders and HeadCount. Organizers also invited donations to the Power To The People Festival Fund for organizations working on civic engagement, social justice and human rights. No fundraising total was reported in the source.
What did Bruce Springsteen perform?
Springsteen’s set included “Streets Of Minneapolis,” “Chimes Of Freedom” with Joan Baez, and songs with Tom Morello including “Clampdown” and “The Ghost Of Tom Joad.” He closed the event with John Lennon’s “Power To The People.”
What did Tom Morello say about the 2024 election?
In a Rolling Stone interview published as the festival began, Morello said he did not vote for Kamala Harris in 2024. He cited U.S. policy toward Gaza and his opposition to what he called “corporate Democrat” candidates.
Why did Dave Grohl mention Jack Smith?
Grohl dedicated Foo Fighters’ “My Hero” to his “new friend Jack.” The report identified the attendee as former Trump special counsel Jack Smith.
Source: rss
Fall Picks
fall essentials
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
