Power to the People Festival Adds Stephen Stills, Geezer Butler, Mike McCready and More to October Lineup

Tom Morello’s Power to the People festival has added seven more names to its bill: Nathaniel Rateliff, Stephen Stills, Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath, State Radio, Scott Ian of Anthrax and The Last Internationale. The one-day event takes place Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C.

• New additions: Nathaniel Rateliff, Stephen Stills, Mike McCready, Geezer Butler, State Radio, Scott Ian and The Last Internationale
• Date and location: Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Maryland
• State Radio, led by Dispatch co-founder Chad Stokes, was active from 2002 to 2013 and has been inactive for the past 13 years
• Jack Black’s festival backing band, called Jack Sabbath, includes Roman Morello (Tom Morello’s son), Revel Ian (Scott Ian’s son), Yoyoka Soma and Hugo Weiss
• Shepard Fairey will perform a DJ set at the event

Who Else Is Playing Power to the People?

The newly confirmed artists join a lineup that was already loaded with major names. That existing bill already includes Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, Jack Black, Public Enemy, Joan Baez, Cypress Hill, Brittany Howard, Killer Mike, Dropkick Murphys, Serj Tankian, The Linda Lindas, Taylor Momsen, Matt Cameron, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and Tom Morello himself, plus other performers still to be named.

What Is the Power to the People Festival About?

Curated by Tom Morello, the festival bills itself as a “once-in-a-lifetime day of peace, love, justice, music and community.” Morello described the intent behind the event in a statement: “The Power To The People festival is about freedom, justice, equality and rock and roll. It’s about the power everyday human beings have when they come together through music, art, community, and action. We’re honored to bring this incredible lineup to the DC area for a day that celebrates the spirit of activism, creativity, and hope.”

Beyond the music, the festival will host a “Freedom Village,” an interactive area meant to promote civic engagement, grassroots organizing, education, mutual aid and social impact work. Organizations set to take part include the ACLU, Rock the Vote, Oxfam, Trans Maryland and the Woody Guthrie Center, among others.

Where Do Ticket Proceeds Go?

A share of proceeds from every ticket sold, along with all of the net proceeds from VIP tickets, will go to VoteRiders and HeadCount, two organizations focused on voter registration and access. General admission tickets to Power to the People sold out after the festival was first announced, prompting organizers to launch a Face Value Ticket Exchange in partnership with CashorTrade so fans can buy or sell tickets without paying above face value.

Timing With Tom Morello’s New Solo Album

The festival lands just over a week after the September 25, 2026 release of Tom Morello’s first solo rock album, “Everyone Gets Everything They Want.” The record features collaborators Serj Tankian and Beartooth, and Morello’s teenage son Roman, who co-wrote five of the album’s tracks.

More Info

• Nathaniel Rateliff, Stephen Stills, Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready, Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler, State Radio and More Join Power to the People Lineup | Relix
• Stephen Stills, Mike McCready, Geezer Butler, and Scott Ian join Tom Morello’s Power to the People festival | Guitar World
• Tom Morellos Power to the People Festival Expands Lineup with Nathaniel Rateliff, Stephen Stills, Geezer Butler, and More | Consequence
• Power To The People Festival Adds Stephen Stills, Nathaniel Rateliff, Mike McCready More | JamBase
• Pearl Jam, Sabbath, CSNY Members Join Power To The People | SPIN