The All Protest Headliners Lineup.
Think about it - the 2020 election day will be less than a month after the two weekends of the Festival. If the current political climate is any indication, the entire nation will be frothing at the mouth with fear and excitement and loathing and anger. So what better way to sink our teeth into that environment than to have a lineup of headliners who all know how to stick it to the man?
Rage Against the Machine. Even if we don't have a festival of all protest music, this would be an amazing addition to the lineup for me. Never seen them live, but would love to see them blast out the jams in a big festival setting. The only shows announced so far are El Paso, Las Cruces, Phoenix, and Coachella, so they have plenty of time to come to Austin in October and rage through their hits for us.
Bruce Springsteen. I've been wishing that he would show up on the lineup for about as long as I've been writing about these lineups. Not necessarily so that I could hear him play Ghost of Tom Joad from front to back or something, but just so that I could enjoy the hits and finally see Springsteen. Forbes says that he is going to put out a new album and tour in 2020, so this one could actually work!
Green Day. American Idiot from front to back, anyone? They are on tour right now for something called the "Hella Mega Tour," which is an unfortunate name, and also features Weezer and Fall Out Boy. Which, I have to say, actually appeals to me regardless of how much that hurts my credibility. The tour hits Dallas and Houston in July 2020, but no Austin or San Antonio dates. Plus, the tour ends on August 29 in Philly, so they have plenty of time to rest up to come and blast us with Dookie at Zilker. Who says no!?!
Public Enemy. Fight the Power! I mean, this would be super cool to see them again. I saw them a few years back at Stubb's and they still bring the noise. However, the web has no evidence of them touring at all, and their last Twitter entry was in November 2017. That being said, Chuck D has been playing with the Rage guys as part of the Prophets of Rage project, so why not bring the guys together to support their homies?
Neil Young. Although I'd actually prefer to have Pearl Jam come and just play "Rockin' in the Free World" on his behalf... I read that he postponed 2019 touring plans to work on movies, but that he is "likely to tour" with Crazy Horse in 2020. And then this article says that he wants to do a "Democracy Tour" in 2020. So, sure, why not? That fits into what I am trying to put together here.
Bob Dylan. Don't get me wrong - I'd rather not listen to Dylan croak on stage for two hours. Did that one time and am fine without hearing it again. That being said, any discussion of an artist who puts out political lyrics that crush the competition would be woefully incomplete without Dylan. He is currently on a tour that ends in April 2020 in Japan, so he could fit it in.
Dixie Chicks. Prior to crapping on W, and releasing "I'm Not Ready to Make Nice," you probably wouldn't have called them a political band, but with that history, and them getting pretty well cancelled by conservative Country radio, now I could see it. Also, how awesome would it be to see them in Austin? I had tickets years ago when they came through the Austin 360 Amphitheater but we ended up having to sell the tickets. Their website only lists two shows next year, and the second is in Austin in February. Hell you say! I want tickets to that immediately. It is a show called "Voices for Justice" and includes Gary Clark Jr. See! They are wanting to tour on the back of political messages! They've got the time and space to make it happen!
Uh, like System of a Down? Or U2? Or an NWA reunion? Like half of all bands have already sent out a cease and desist to Trump to stop using their songs at his rallies, so I can't just blanket include them. But other folks have kind of generally spoken up about political issues in the past. An R.E.M. reunion? Be still my beating heart. Dave Matthews Band? Is Joan Baez still alive? Wilco and Billy Bragg could come and play all the Woodie Guthrie songs from Mermaid Avenue? Crosby Stills & Nash could come without Young? John Cougar Mellencamp? He slammed Trump at a Farm Aid show. Willie Nelson? He seems primed for it. Hell, Taylor Swift has started speaking out politically, even if none of her songs ever go there...
On the other hand, ACL could book some counterpoint artists like Kanye West and Kid Rock and Ted Nugent to come play to provide the counterpoint for all of the MAGA folks.
It's an interesting idea though, right? Right?
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