ACLU Creatives for Freedom Concert’s Full Setlist: Sheryl Crow, Maggie Rogers, St. Vincent & More

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than supporting the work of the ACLU,” Maggie Rogers told the crowd ahead of her set at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)’s Creatives for Freedom benefit concert on Saturday night (Nov. 22).

Held at Pioneer Works in New York’s Red Hook neighborhood in Brooklyn, the event brought together a stacked lineup featuring headliner Sheryl Crow alongside St. Vincent, Mark Ronson, Joy Oladokun, Taylor Meier of CAAMP, Mon Rovîa and more. It marked the ACLU’s first benefit concert of its kind, supporting the organization’s work to protect civil rights and civil liberties. The show, presented by Ben & Jerry’s, Gabriela Hearst and YOLA Mezcal, is part of a broader ACLU initiative to unite leaders across music, fashion, film, comedy and other creative industries to spotlight the critical civil liberties issues defining today’s landscape.

“We’re living through an era of unprecedented attacks on our rights, from attacks on immigrants’ rights, speech, racial justice and LGBTQ communities,” said Nahal Zamani, ACLU’s director of state campaigns, in a statement to Billboard. “All of our voices are crucial right now. What’s more, creative voices have a unique ability to inform new audiences about these urgent issues, inspire people to get involved, and drive social change — which we need now more than ever.”

Arranged and directed by Rob Moose and Cody Fitzgerald, performers took the stage for one or two songs each, often pausing to voice their support for the ACLU and urge young people to get involved.

One standout moment came courtesy of artist Dread Scott, who, before introducing Mon Rovîa, spoke about his seminal 1989 work What is the Proper Way to Display a U.S. Flag. The piece sparked political controversy at the time for inviting viewers to step on the American flag. When Scott later burned the flag on the steps of the U.S. Capital in protest of laws restricting flag desecration, he was arrested — but the Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of him and the other protestors, striking down federal flag-desecration laws as unconstitutional. Scott credited the ACLU for helping protect his work and artistic freedom.

“I tell people I make revolutionary art to propel history forward,” he said on stage. “I’m happy to be here supporting the ACLU. They do amazing work, and they have advised and represented me and my art on numerous occasions. They’ve saved my a– and enabled my art to continue to reach its audience.”

In another statement to Billboard, Esha Bhandari, director of the ACLU’s Speech, Privacy and Technology Project, emphasized the longstanding relationship between artists and the civil liberties movement.

“While the ACLU is working in the courts, in legislatures and on the streets, artists are helping shift narratives, broaden understanding, and move people from awareness to sustained action,” she said. “This concert is the latest event in our Creatives for Freedom campaign and we hope to continue building momentum towards change and inspiring more people to join in working for a more equitable and free future.”

Sheryl Crow opened her headlining set performing “Redemption Day,” an anti-war song she wrote in 1996 after a USO trip to Bosnia with Hillary Clinton. She shared onstage that Johnny Cash approached her after he heard the tune in 2003 and later recorded a version of it himself.

“[He] called me and said, ‘I want to know what every single line means,’ so that he could stand behind what he was singing,” Crow told the audience. “He stood against the Vietnam War, he stood up for Native American rights — which was very unpopular at the time. These are the kind of leaders and artists that we want to emulate: people who speak up and want to leave the campground nicer than they found it.”

For the finale, Crow invited the entire lineup back to the stage for a joyous singalong of her 1996 hit “If It Makes You Happy.” With Crow leading the verses, the other artists wrapped their arms around each other, swaying and singing.

“I just want you guys to know that we artists don’t take it lightly that our First Amendment is under attack,” Crow said as the night wrapped. “But these artists right here I have great hope and faith in. They lift me up, they make me want to be a better songwriter and they make me want to be a better person.”

Here’s a look at the full setlist, which was followed by a DJ set from Mark Ronson:

Joy Oladokun
“I’d Miss the Birds”
“If You Got a Problem”

Taylor Meier
“We Will Dance Again”

Mon Rovîa
“Crooked the Road”
“Heavy Foot”

Andrew Wyatt
“Live Free and Be Gone”

Maggie Rogers
“Alaska”
“Don’t Forget Me”

St. Vincent
“…At the Holiday Party”
“New York”

Sheryl Crow
“Redemption Day”
“Strong Enough”
“If It Makes You Happy”