Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl Honor Neil Young at Power to the People Festival
Dave Matthews and Tom Morello also join in for "Rockin' in the Free World" at Maryland festival
Source: Rolling Stone · October 4, 2026 at 5:02 PM · AI-assisted report
Single-sourceMARYLAND, COLUMBIA, 5 OCTOBER 2026 —
Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young’s legendary protest anthem "Rockin’ in the Free World" was revived at Maryland’s Power to the People Festival on Saturday, October 3, 2026, with a rare all-star collaboration featuring Dave Grohl, Dave Matthews, and Tom Morello—marking Springsteen’s first live performance of the song since 2004.
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The set, part of Morello’s Power to the People Festival in Columbia, Maryland, turned into a protest-rock supergroup finale, with Springsteen leading a night of politically charged covers. The performance was the centerpiece of a broader evening that included Joan Baez, Nathaniel Rateliff, and other guest artists, reinforcing the festival’s theme of resistance and solidarity.
Springsteen began the set solo with "Streets of Minneapolis", his tribute to murdered activists Renéé Good and Alex Pretti, before welcoming Baez for a rendition of Bob Dylan’s "Chimes of Freedom". Morello then joined for tracks by The Clash, including "Clampdown" and "The Ghost of Tom Joad". The guest list expanded further with Matthews and Rateliff performing Creedence Clearwater Revival’s "Fortunate Son", a song Springsteen had not played live since 2009.
Grohl then took the stage for "Rockin’ in the Free World", the first time Springsteen had performed it since 2004, when he sang it alongside Young at a Minnesota Vote for Change concert.
The night concluded with an epic finale: all performers gathered for Woody Guthrie’s "This Land Is Your Land" and John Lennon’s "Power to the People", capping off a night of defiant, politically charged music. The collaboration underscored the festival’s mission, blending activism with legendary rock performances.
While the event carries no direct economic or policy implications for Malaysia, it reflects a global resurgence of protest music as a form of cultural resistance, aligning with broader movements against authoritarianism and social inequality. The festival’s lineup and Springsteen’s participation signal a renewed interest in using music as a platform for political expression, a trend that could resonate with Malaysian artists and activists grappling with similar themes of dissent and solidarity.
The Power to the People Festival is set to continue, with no immediate announcements on future collaborations or Malaysian appearances by the participating artists.