Springsteen, Dave Matthews headline Merriweather Post Pavilion festival tied to voter mobilization
Bruce Springsteen and Dave Matthews performed at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, at a music festival that Fox News reported promoted voter mobilization and fundraising for nonprofits ahead of the midterm elections.
Fox News reported Oct. 3, 2026, that the event—identified on its promotional materials as “Power To The People”—included a roster of nonprofit partners and on-site organizing that the outlet said aligned with Democratic causes and efforts to turn concertgoer enthusiasm into political engagement.
The article said performers opened with chants including “Free, free Palestine!” and that the festival combined performances with voter registration, activist organizing and charitable donations. Fox News reported the festival’s online materials called for activating “the power everyday human beings have” to “shape” the world “on, and beyond, Election Day.”
Fox News identified several nonprofit organizations on site or named as recipients of proceeds, including Indivisible, Third Act, the ACLU, Head Count Inc. and VoteRiders. The outlet reported that the “Power To The People Festival Fund” is listed as a fiscally sponsored project of Catalyst Philanthropy Fund, which Fox News said was established in 2024 in Nashville and had $6.5 million in annual revenue according to its latest tax filing. Fox News also cited tax-filing figures of about $14 million in revenues for Head Count Inc. and $7.8 million for VoteRiders.
The Fox News piece described tiered ticketing and VIP packages, including a top “Robinhood Package” advertised with exclusive viewing areas and other premium amenities, and noted differing website language about how much of ticket or VIP sales would be donated to partner nonprofits.
Fox News said the festival’s livestream partner MS NOW marketed paid access and advertised daily interactions with personalities it labeled as Democratic-aligned, including Rachel Maddow, Jen Psaki, Al Sharpton and Joe Scarborough.
The outlet reported that some performers and organizers have histories of political advocacy; it named guitarist Tom Morello among organizers and noted prior events and endorsements involving Springsteen and others. Fox News said festival organizers did not respond to a request for comment.
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