Bruce Springsteen and Dave Matthews are headlining the "Power To The People" music festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, an event featuring a network of nonprofits and activists mobilizing against President Donald Trump ahead of the midterms. The festival, which began with performances by the hip-hop group The Neighborhood Kids, explicitly links pop culture entertainment with political organizing and charitable fundraising. The Neighborhood Kids opened the concert with a chant of "Free, free Palestine!" and a declaration protesting the "funding of genocide" and the "terrorist organization" Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The group dedicated their performance to "the martyrs" and railed against "Western imperialism."
The event’s official website describes its goal as activating the power of everyday human beings to shape the world on and beyond Election Day. Organizers have not responded to requests for comment. A "Freedom Village" set up on the festival grounds includes nonprofit organizations such as Indivisible, Third Act, and the ACLU. These groups have been central to coordinating "No Kings," "Tesla Takedown," and "Hands Off" protests against Trump over the past two years. Last year, Springsteen performed at a "No Kings" protest in St. Paul, Minnesota, organized by Indivisible and featuring activist Jane Fonda, and also headlined a similar event at Target Center in Minneapolis.
Festival organizer Tom Morello, guitarist for Rage Against the Machine, has previously called socialism a "necessity." During his set, Morello criticized "dictators" and "oligarchs." The festival’s fundraising structure identifies the "Power To The People Festival Fund" as a fiscally sponsored project of Catalyst Philanthropy Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in Nashville in 2024 with $6.5 million in annual revenue according to its latest tax filing. Proceeds from the festival support two other nonprofits: Head Count Inc., a New York City-based organization with approximately $14 million in revenues, and VoteRiders, a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) with $7.8 million in revenues.
Several performers have documented histories of supporting Democratic candidates. Springsteen endorsed Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in 2024, calling Trump "the most dangerous candidate for president in my lifetime." Dave Matthews participated in the 2020 "I Will Vote" concert supporting Biden and Harris, and previously backed Bernie Sanders. Artist Shepard Fairey, who created the Obama "Hope" poster, promoted the Harris-Walz ticket on his website and linked readers to Head Count Inc. for voter registration. Musician Jordan Benjamin, known as "Grandson," uses his platform for climate advocacy and youth empowerment through his XX Resistance Fund.
The festival’s community partners include Ben & Jerry's and Red Emma's, a Baltimore bookstore that sells titles such as Lenin's "Teachings of Karl Marx." The event offers tiered admission packages ranging from lawn access to a "Robinhood Package" VIP suite with reserved seating and concierge service. While organizers state that premium packages serve a charitable purpose, the website provides conflicting descriptions of donation pledges. One section promises 100% of net proceeds from VIP tickets to VoteRiders and Head Count, while package descriptions state that all proceeds from VIP sales go to nonprofits supporting human rights. The festival also promotes a paid membership with livestream partner MS NOW, offering access to interactions with hosts including Rachel Maddow, Jen Psaki, Al Sharpton, and Joe Scarborough.