Power to the Peaceful

This is a music festival in San Francisco held annually on the weekend closest to September 11th. It's a free festival put on by Michael Franti in Speedway Meadows of Golden Gate Park. Several genres of music are featured, but the performers tend to mostly be jam bands and socially concious rap groups. Past performers include John Butler Trio, Blackalicious, String Cheese Incident, Talib Kweli and Anti-Flag. Michael Franti and Spearhead always close out the festival each year.

PTTP started nine years ago in support of Mumia Abu-Jamal but the date and the name took on a new meaning after 2001 and the start of the "War on Terror". Many social justice organizations have tables set up at the event and part of the line up includes noteable people speaking about progressive issues. If speakers are not really your thing, take the opportunity to cruise through the art and clothing vendors' stalls and get some food. Before the music starts, there is community yoga in the morning, so if want you can get there early and participate. There is always an after party (usually with a hefty cover) to raise money for the next year's festival.

This festival is like a peace march, with music and without the marching. If that bothers you, this festival probably isn't for you. Anything goes there and it is openly liberal. It comes closest to what I imagine San Francisco was like in the 60s. There are definitely attendees who look like they are from those days as well as the next generation. I love the progressive and positive vibe of the festival and being surrounded by colorful people!