Returning to Tulsa’s historic Cain’s Ballroom after a 44-year absence, U2 band members Bono and The Edge accepted the prestigious 2025 Woody Guthrie Prize on October 21, marking a significant moment in the intersection of rock and folk activism. The Irish rockers last performed at the venerable Oklahoma venue during their Boy tour in 1981, making this return particularly meaningful in Guthrie’s home state.
The ceremony, which honors artists embodying Guthrie’s spirit of social justice advocacy, featured introductions by Cady Shaw, senior director of the Woody Guthrie Center, and Anna Canoni, Guthrie’s granddaughter and President of Woody Guthrie Publications. U2 joins an illustrious roster of past recipients including Joan Baez, Bruce Springsteen, and Pete Seeger.
Following the formal presentation, Bono and The Edge delivered an unexpected six-song performance that bridged their catalog with Guthrie’s folk legacy. Their setlist included U2 classics “Running to Stand Still,” “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” and “Pride (In the Name of Love),” alongside Guthrie compositions “This Train is Bound for Glory” and “Jesus Christ.” During their performance, the duo joked about being able to legally buy pints this time around, referencing their underage status during their 1981 appearance.
The performance featured harmonica solos and incorporated snippets of traditional songs, demonstrating the musical through-line between their activism and Guthrie’s protest heritage. Event organizers created eye-catching content across social platforms to engage fans who couldn’t attend in person.
The evening included an intimate conversation with T Bone Burnett, during which Bono cited Bob Dylan as his gateway to discovering Guthrie’s influential work. “Music remains our most effective instrument to expose social and political realities,” Bono remarked during the discussion. The event also served as a fundraiser for educational programs at the Woody Guthrie Center, ensuring the continuation of Guthrie’s legacy for future generations.
Throughout the event, speakers emphasized how both Guthrie’s folk tradition and U2’s rock platform share a common purpose in confronting war, violence, corruption, and injustice. The duo discussed how their advocacy through music has created sync deals with social justice documentaries, amplifying their message to wider audiences.
The selection of Cain’s Ballroom, with its historical significance to both Guthrie’s legacy and U2’s early career, provided a symbolic backdrop for this celebration of music as a catalyst for positive social change.
The ceremony reaffirmed U2’s long-standing commitment to humanitarian themes and underscored the continuing relevance of protest music across generations and genres.
