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Boston Calling 2025: All the must-see moments from the festival
All weekend long, we shared the best photos, videos, and stories from Boston Calling 2025.
Believe it or not, Boston Calling 2025 has come and gone.
The city’s premier music festival brought more than 50 artists to the Harvard Athletic Complex in Allston this past weekend (May 23-25), with country star Luke Combs, alt-rock band Fall Out Boy, and jam band kings Dave Matthews Band headlining Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, respectively.
Didn’t make it to Lower Allston this weekend? Boston.com was at the festival all three days providing on-the-ground coverage of the best performances, the must-see moments, and more. Check out the below to see what Boston’s premier music festival had in store for us this year.
Jump to coverage of: Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Best and worst moments
LATEST BOSTON CALLING 2025 NEWS
Boston Calling 2025: Best and worst moments
There wasn’t much sunshine at Boston Calling 2025.
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Despite early weather reports calling for “scattered showers” on Friday followed by dry conditions for the rest of the weekend, concertgoers at Boston’s premier music festival were treated to six straight hours of rain on Day 1, sporadic rain on Day 2, and windy, muddy conditions on Day 3.
But just because the sun rarely showed its face doesn’t mean there weren’t plenty of bright spots at Boston Calling 2025.
Read the full review: Boston Calling 2025 review: The best and worst moments of the festival
— Kevin Slane
Boston Calling 2025: Sunday
Boston Calling 2025: Reviews from Day 3
The sun came out (somewhat) on Day 3 of Boston Calling. Here are a few short reviews from the music festival:
Dave Matthews Band
At 8:35 p.m. on Sunday night, Dave Matthews stood shrouded in darkness on the Green stage at Boston Calling, waiting.
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Fans were still making their way over from Public Enemy on the Blue Stage for the 8:40 show, but Matthews didn’t want to wait another second to get things going. There was too much to do, too much to say, and only two hours to fit it all in.
What followed was exactly what fans of Dave Matthews Band desired: An eclectic, expansive set that gave every member of DMB a moment in the spotlight and took the band’s well-known catalogue in inventive new directions.
Matthews took the stage in a heavy pea coat and tightly-wound scarf, nursing a giant tumbler of tea before launching into “Tripping Billies.”
“It’s unseasonably cold as a motherf*****,” Matthews told the crowd. “But if you just snuggle up, everything’s OK.”
Matthews kept his crowd interactions short and sweet, preferring to let the time slot be filled by lengthier versions of DMB’s hits. “Ants Marching” featured a round of call-and-response solos from every band member, while “What Would You Say” gave space for saxophonist Jeff Coffin to rip a flute solo that would make Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson proud. Matthews engaged in some light banter with drummer Carter Beauford before letting the percussionist go wild on the intro to “Anyone Seen the Bridge.”
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Read the full review: Dave Matthews Band made every minute count at Boston Calling 2025
— Kevin Slane
Tom Morello
When Tom Morello took the stage at Boston Calling 2025, the Rage Against the Machine guitarist welcomed fans “to the last big event before they throw us all in jail.”
Morello and RATM have always put their politics front and center in their music, and Sunday’s show was no different. From Bruce Springsteen to his alma mater Harvard University, Morello gave props to anyone who has been recently singled out by Trump during his hourlong set.
The atmosphere was one of cathartic defiance. Where you saw a smattering matte black American flag hats and Back the Blue shirts during Friday’s Luke Combs set, fans with “Nazi Lives Don’t Matter” T-shirts graced the Jumbotron at Morello’s set.
The guitarist gave fans a taste of the greatest hits, playing the iconic opening licks to a medley of RATM songs like “Bombtrack,” “Bulls on Parade,” “Guerilla Radio,” and “Sleep Now in the Fire.”
But running through a catalogue of rock radio standards took a backseat to the message of fighting the power, a call to action that was embraced by the Blue Stage crowd.
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Read the full review: ‘F*** that guy’: Tom Morello’s Boston Calling set was one big middle finger to Donald Trump
— Kevin Slane
Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend returned to Boston Calling more than a decade since they first performed at the festival in 2013. Taking the Green Stage as the sun set on Sunday, the indie rock group was greeted by a massive crowd eager to hear the band’s unique mix of preppy charm, clever lyricism, and globe-trotting soundscapes.
“We’re so happy to be back!” frontman Ezra Koenig said to the crowd.
The band opened with “Ice Cream Piano,” a fan-favorite that felt especially appropriate for Memorial Day weekend, followed by “Classical,” “Unbelievers,” and “Step.”
Before launching into “Capricorn” from their latest album, “Only God Was Above Us,” Koenig shouted out the Harvard Athletics Complex and a friend of his from high school, Will Rodger, who played offensive tackle for the university in 2003.
“This song is dedicated not just to Willie but to the entire 2003 offensive line,” Koenig joked to the crowd, which laughed in turn.
Longtime fans were treated to classics like “Diane Young,” “Cousins,” and “Oxford Comma,” the latter which sparked an eruption of cheers and dancing across the festival grounds.
The band wrapped the night up with “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa,” and expressed their appreciation for playing in the commonwealth.
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“Playing in Massachusetts is really special to us,” Koenig said.
— Annie Jonas
Remi Wolf
Remi Wolf lit up the stage at Boston Calling 2025 on Sunday, bringing her kaleidoscopic blend of funk, soul, pop, and indie rock to a festival crowd eager for something fresh. Wolf’s vibrant energy and unapologetically quirky humor provided a jolt of color and fun that had the entire audience grooving from start to finish.
Despite some technical difficulties at the start of her set – during which she amused the crowd with stories of using ChatGPT as her temporary therapist – she kicked off her set with the high-octane favorite “Cinderella,” immediately setting the tone for a funky set. Known for her dynamic vocal range, Wolf belted soulful riffs with ease and transitioned seamlessly into crowd-pleasers like “Pitiful” and “Liz.”
“All I want you to do today, Boston, is have the best [expletive] weekend of the summer, are you with me!” she screamed to the crowd, which cheered in agreement.
Midway through the performance, Wolf performed a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” nodding to the ’70s “funky soul pop” sound she evokes. Her playful banter and stage antics — at one point switching places with her drummer to pound out a drum solo of her own — kept the atmosphere light and joyful.
As the set closed with “Photo ID,” the audience was fully immersed in Wolf’s world — a world where funk, psychedelia, pop, and sincerity blend into a singular experience. With Boston Calling known for curating a diverse and fresh lineup, Remi Wolf’s performance stood out as one of the most original and engaging of the day.
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— Annie Jonas
Copilot
Local band Copilot brought nothing but joy to the stage during its Boston Calling debut Sunday on the Orange Stage. Kicking its 40-minute set off with “Let Me Down” and “A Little Too Well,” both songs off its recent EP, “Vroom Vroom, etc.,” the soulful rock-pop band immediately showed off the strengths of its three lead vocalists — Maggie Hall, Ry McDonald, and Jake Machell — and its upbeat rhythm section featuring Jack Snow on lead guitar, Austin Beveridge on bass, and Dylan Allwine on drums.
Three lead singers might sound like a lot, but Hall, McDonald, and Machell performed a beautifully blended and well-balanced set with palpable chemistry throughout. With standout songs including “Right With You,” “Like Love Again” and “Theme Song,” Copilot proved it’s a Boston band to watch.
Local band Copilot kept the audience swaying during its Boston Calling debut with songs like “Right With You.” @boston.com
— Heather Alterisio (@heathalt.bsky.social) May 25, 2025 at 7:14 PM
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— Heather Alterisio
Boston Calling 2025: Photos and Videos from Day 3
Sunday’s set times
The festival grounds open for a final time at 1 p.m. on Sunday, with Snacktime first on the bill at 1:30 p.m. on the Green Stage.
The Dave Matthews Band will close out the festival from the Green Stage at 8:40 p.m., with festival grounds closing at 11 p.m.
Other top artists performing on Sunday include Public Enemy (7:35 p.m., Blue Stage), Vampire Weekend (7:10 p.m., Green Stage), Remi Wolf (4:40 p.m., Green Stage) and Tom Morello (5:55 p.m., Blue Stage).
Boston Calling 2025: Saturday
Boston Calling 2025: Reviews from Day 2
The rain still couldn’t dampen the fun as more acts took the stage on Day 2 of Boston Calling. Here are a few short reviews from the music festival:
Fall Out Boy
Will Fall Out Boy be remembered for “Centuries“? Only time will tell, but Saturday’s career-spanning Boston Calling set certainly made the case for it.
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Over the course of one hour and 45 minutes, the Chicago rock band truly thanked fans for the memories, as it played songs off of each of its eight studio albums.
Fiery pyrotechnics, including some attached to the end of Pete Wentz’s bass, lit up the stage. But the band’s talents — Patrick Stump’s lead vocals, Joe Trohman’s guitar playing, Andy Hurley’s drumming, and Wentz’s crowd interactions and overall stage presence — are what truly sparked the crowd’s energy.
Read the full review: Fall Out Boy thanks fans for the memories with fiery, career-spanning set
— Heather Alterisio
The Black Crowes
From the thundering opening strains of “No Speak No Slave” — off The Black Crowes’ second album, “The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion” — Chris Robinson and company seemed to have something to prove during their Saturday Blue Stage set at Boston Calling. Well, especially Chris Robinson.
“There ARE some rock ’n’ roll people here today!” he declared after that first number, as the crowd finally started to fill in behind the stalwarts in front of the stage. (Everybody else was apparently at Avril Lavigne.) And later he lamented how lonely the band gets when they play a music festival. “We’re the only f****** rock ’n’ roll band at all these things.”
It’s true that, on Saturday anyway, alt-rock and punk-pop were ruling the day at Boston Calling. But Robinson needn’t have been concerned about his band’s ability to carry the blues-based, guitar-driven rock ’n’ roll torch — Robinson, and his brother Rich on guitar, can still rev things up just like they did back in 1990, when they rescued us from the Paula Abdul wasteland of contemporary popular music and provided the perfect springboard for the grunge movement just around the corner.
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Read the full review: Black Crowes prove a point at Boston Calling 2025
— Peter Chianca
Cage the Elephant
There “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” and there certainly ain’t no rest for Matt Shultz once he gets on a stage.
The Cage the Elephant frontman may not have said much to the crowd during the band’s 14-song set at Boston Calling on Saturday – despite acknowledgment of some minor technical difficulties – but he sure let his strong vocals and dance moves do the talking. (Note: This reviewer saw Cage the Elephant on tour last summer when Shultz had a broken foot. No one has ever made a knee scooter look so cool. Safe to say, Shultz knows how to work that stage.)
From “Broken Boy” and “Spiderhead” to “Cold Cold Cold” and “Come a Little Closer,” the rock band was the perfect addition to the Boston Calling lineup to keep the crowd moving and grooving for 60 minutes.
Cage the Elephant kept the crowd moving and grooving with hits like “Spiderhead” during its roughly 60-minute set at Boston Calling on Saturday. @boston.com
— Heather Alterisio (@heathalt.bsky.social) May 25, 2025 at 8:40 AM
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— Heather Alterisio
Avril Lavigne
Pop-punk sensation Avril Lavigne delivered an electrifying performance on Day 2 of Boston Calling 2025, holding court during the penultimate set of the night on the Green Stage.
Lavigne’s return to the festival was highly anticipated by fans, many of whom still remember her standout appearance at the festival in 2022.
“It’s incredible to be back!” she said to the screaming crowd. “I love Boston so much, we always have the best [expletive] shows here.”
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This year, Lavigne once again took fans on a nostalgic journey through her biggest hits, starting off strong with “Girlfriend,” “What The Hell,” and “Complicated.” Lavigne played back-to-back bangers, including newer songs from across her discography, like “Here’s to Never Growing Up,” before tossing it back to the 2000s.
Read the full review: Avril Lavigne turns back the clock at Boston Calling 2025
— Annie Jonas
James Bay
With his long dark hair and his iconic black wide-rim hat, the James Bay that took the stage at Boston Calling Saturday night looked just like the James Bay of old.
It’s been a decade since Bay’s breakthrough 2015 album “Chaos and the Calm,” and on stage, you could tell two things: 1) Nothing has changed about him, and 2) he really was just having the time of his life.
There were times in the set where it felt like he and his bandmates were in their own world, freestyling as if no one was watching them. Towards the end of his set, Bay had a 10-minute-or-so solo in the middle of “Best Fake Smile,” with closed eyes and a real smile on his face as he played.
Then eventually he would open his eyes, come back to the mic, and ask the audience to join in, repeating each line of the chorus after him, bringing us into his own little world.
Bay played with the audience’s sense of nostalgia, intentionally putting us on an emotional rollercoaster as he weaved his old hits and new releases. From the very beginning, his setlist jumped from the newest (2024’s “Up All Night”) to the oldest (2015’s “If You Ever Want to Be in Love”) and back again (2024’s “Hopeless Heart”).
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“I dreamt about playing this song at festivals in America,” he said, before launching into “Hopeless Heart.”
Bay journeyed back to the song that made him famous (2015’s “Let It Go”), which the Boston Calling audience sang along to with all their hearts. Then later came Bay’s latest song, “You and Me Time,” which features fellow Boston Calling artist Sheryl Crow. (Unfortunately, Crow did not make a surprise appearance.)
Bay ended with a powerful performance of “Hold Back the River.” Belting the chorus at the top of his lungs and ripping through the song’s final guitaro solo, it brought me straight back to listening to “Chaos and the Calm” for the first time a decade ago.
Despite the wet weather that dampened the first two days of Boston Calling, not a single drop of rain landed during his performance. The sun emerged and shined even harder as he sang.
“It feels like it never even rained,” Bay said. “You brought the sunshine.”
— Kelly Chan
Lucius
I’m not sure why — maybe it’s their exquisite harmonies, or matching bob haircuts — but for some reason, I didn’t expect Lucius to rock. (Roll, maybe, but not rock.) I got schooled during their Boston Calling set on Saturday: Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig blend their voices beautifully, yes, but the rest of the band — guitarist Peter Lalish, drummer Dan Molad, and Jacob Peters on bass — provided the perfect complement, cementing the band’s driving, alt-pop authenticity.
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Dressed head to toe in red — jumpsuits for the men, fringy, oddly adorned capes for the women — Wolfe and Laessig seemed at first a bit reticent and even vaguely sad (especially Laessig, who was all business). But it didn’t take long for them to loosen up, grooving along to the deep, thumping bass of “Gold Rush,” and then, in their third number on Boston Calling’s Blue Stage, joining in for some fiery percussion on “Nothing Ordinary.” (Wolfe, in particular, clearly knows her way around a pair of sticks.)
The absolute highlight though, was “Stranger Danger,” off their new self-titled album. With its slow start driven by Laessig’s longing keyboards, the duo sauntered up to the front as the track shifted into a higher gear midway through, shaking their bob hairdos and pounding cowbells like nobody’s business. If you weren’t convinced of their rocking bonafides by that point, there was no way to miss it during that cathartic moment.
Like no shortage of Boston Calling acts over the years, Laessig and Wolfe got their start at Berklee College of Music, and acknowledged those origins toward the end of the set: “We started right here in this great city!” And now they too can lay claim to being great, at least based on their performance here Saturday.
— Peter Chianca
Setlist for Lucius at Boston Calling Saturday:
- Final Days
- Gold Rush
- Nothing Ordinary
- Hallways
- Stranger Danger
- Two of Us on the Run
- Joy Ride
- Old Tape
- Genevieve
sidebody
Well, we found them: The funnest band at Boston Calling. And yes, we know “funnest” isn’t really a word, but we have a feeling the irreverent members of sidebody would accept and even appreciate our mangling of the English language.
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Hailing from Somerville (only at Boston Calling can the announcement “We are from Somerville!” elicit an ovation like this one got), it’s hard to overstate, or even really describe, the wacky coolness of their theatrical art rock, complete with props, raucous choreography, and homegrown outfits that fall somewhere between Sesame Street and the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Then there’s the music, which manages to merge social commentary, goofy non sequiturs, and a vaguely distressing sense of, well, maybe menace? Think the B-52s, if the women in the band hit Fred Schneider over the head and stuck him in a bush out back, and took it themselves from there. (Listen to their darkly comic set standout “He’s Dead” if you don’t believe it.)
Hava, Martha, Lena, and Cara, the members of sidebody, say they started off singing Avril Lavigne covers during the pandemic, taught themselves instruments, and “somehow, we are here now!” We suspect they may be exaggerating their initial inexperience, given how at ease they seem switching off instruments and vocals — between that and the joy they clearly have doing it, they’re a pleasure to watch. It’s contagious.
A highlight on the Orange Stage Saturday: Their recent single “no commercial enterprise,” a David Byrne-meets-CAKE spoken-sung treatise on art vs. commerce, complete with call and response, tossed T-shirts, and the announcement that despite being averse to commercial success, “We are selling merchandise.”
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Another highlight: The incorporation of an actual rotary phone and a real, working sidebody hotline. (It’s 617-564-1180, and if you call them to tell them about your favorite Boston Calling experience, they would appreciate it.)
My new favorite band sidebody has an actual working hotline, which is something every band should have.
— Pete Chianca (@pchianca.bsky.social) May 25, 2025 at 8:28 AM
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— Peter Chianca
Boston Calling 2025: Photos and Videos from Day 2
PINKLIDS, above, brought down the house with a cover of the Beatles’ Helter Skelter on Saturday. Video by Peter Chianca
Saturday’s weather outlook
The sun has appeared for Day 2 of Boston Calling. Though festivalgoers can expect some scattered showers, precipitation will be lighter than it was on Friday, according to Boston meteorologists.
“Brighter days ahead!” the National Weather Service in Boston/Norton reported. “Mostly cloudy conditions expected Saturday & Sunday, but increasing sunshine Monday to end the holiday weekend. Tuesday looks bright as well. The chart above, the higher the % = more cloud cover, lower % = less cloud cover.”
Saturday’s set times
The festival grounds once again open at 1 p.m., 30 minutes before Sofia Isella gets the music started on the Green Stage.
Fall Out Boy closes out the day from the Green Stage at 8:55 p.m., with other notable performances including The Black Crowes (7:45 p.m., Blue Stage), Avril Lavigne (7:10 p.m., Green Stage), and Cage the Elephant (5:50 p.m., Green Stage).
Boston Calling 2025: Friday
Boston Calling 2025: Reviews from Day 1
Rain didn’t dissuade concertgoers or artists from bringing the energy at Day 1 of Boston Calling 2025, with all four stages in full swing throughout the day. Here are a few bite-sized reviews of the acts we really enjoyed on Friday.
Luke Combs
According to Setlist.fm, Luke Combs’ most-played song across all of his catalogued concerts is “When It Rains It Pours.”
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Combs didn’t wait long in his set at Boston Calling 2025 to treat his rain-soaked fans to the 2017 tune, punctuating the chorus with a hearty “It really does!”
The North Carolina songwriter wasn’t telling no lies: Despite a forecast that called for scattered showers on Friday, it rained lightly but steadily for six straight hours at Day 1 of the music festival, sending denim-clad country fans to the shelter of various branded activations throughout the day.
When Combs finally hit the stage a little after 9:15 p.m., he led off with a song that described a sizable portion of the audience (“1, 2 Many”) followed quickly by a pair of tracks that described 100 percent of the crowd (“When It Rains It Pours,” “Cold As You”).
Read the full review: Luke Combs triumphs over rain, delays with headline set
— Kevin Slane
T-Pain
The rain could simply not bring T-Pain down if it tried.
Taking the Blue Stage on Friday evening, the multi-talented rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer brought the party to Boston Calling, kicking his set off with “Maybach Music 2” and an infectious energy that had the crowd bouncing.
T-Pain, born Faheem Rashad Najm, weaved together natural vocals and autotune, balanced original songs and covers, kept the energy upbeat and silly with jokes and dance moves, and ensured the crowd continued to move and sing throughout his hourlong performance.
Wearing a bright teal suit and blue hat and dripping in jewels and flair, T-Pain came out ready for a show. He was joined on stage by DJ Montay, who donned a vibrant pink suit and added to the fun-loving atmosphere.
Read the full review: T-Pain brings fun and finesse to rain-filled performance
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— Heather Alterisio
Sheryl Crow
First things first: After her set at Boston Calling Friday night, there’s no doubt which side Sheryl Crow is on in a certain recent dispute. “I don’t know, Bruce Springsteen for president?” Crow asked the crowd to cheers and applause, after pulling off her sparkly black jacket to reveal a vintage Springsteen concert T.
But her 11-song set wasn’t about politics: It was about spotlighting an amazing catalog of well-crafted, singalong California pop that she quietly amassed over the course of the 1990s and early 2000s. She’s done some great stuff since then too, but Friday’s set was about playing the hits, and did she ever do them justice.
Read the full review: Sheryl Crow’s sunny Boston Calling set shone through the rain
— Peter Chianca
Infinity Song
Talk about multi-talented: The New York City siblings who make up Infinity Song — Abraham, Angel, Israel and Momo Boyd — all let their soulful talents shine during their Friday afternoon set. Momo in particular, who showed off her guitar chops in addition to riveting R&B vocals, proved that this is a band to watch.
— Peter Chianca
Future Teens
Future Teens may call themselves a “bummer pop band,” but the Boston group’s set Friday afternoon was anything but. Well, it was pop, but more purple-tinted pop punk that actually cheers you up on a dark and dingy day. This reviewer was anything but bummed out, especially during a closing number that proved the patented pogo stick move never goes out of style.
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— Peter Chianca
Thee Sacred Souls
Does California soul get any smoother and sweeter than Thee Sacred Souls? Lead vocalist Josh Lane wasted no time getting to the heart of the matter Friday, calling out the lovers in the crowd and asking, “Where are the lucid girls at?” (“Lucid Girl” is a standout track on their 2024 album “Got a Story to Tell,” and it certainly stood out Friday.) The most lucid of the lucid girls in the crowd were probably the ones that brought ponchos, which started to come out as the sprinkles and then full-on rain picked up during the set. No worries, though, especially during “Let Me Feel Your Charm,” when backup singer Viane Escobar blended perfectly with Lane’s smooth, well, charms to warm up the crowd.
— Peter Chianca
Boston Calling 2025: Photos and Videos from Day 1
The Dunkin’ Lounge is back at Boston Calling 2025
Would you dine at a retro Dunkin’?
At Boston Calling 2025, the New England staple was serving up vibrant orange and pink vintage diner vibes. Inside the “Dunkin’ Scoop Shop”, festivalgoers were welcomed to try melted ice cream flavors: Pistachio and Butter Pecan, Cookie Dough and Mint Chocolate Chip.
This year marks 75 years since the original location opened in Quincy, Massachusetts.
TLC cancels Boston Calling 2025 set
Only one hour before the gates opened at Boston Calling 2025, the festival announced that one of its artists would be cancelling their set.
TLC, the iconic ’90s R&B group, will no longer be performing during their scheduled set at 4:40 p.m. on Friday “due to an unexpected medical circumstance,” according to the festival.
As a result, local act Dalton & The Sheriffs will be taking the Green Stage at 2:50, pushing the original start times for Wilderado (3:45 p.m.) and Max McNown (4:40 p.m.) by about an hour. You can see the updated Boston Calling 2025 Friday set times below.
Boston Calling 2025 Friday set times
The festival grounds are now open, with Bebe Stockwell kicking off the music at 1:30 on the Green Stage.
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Before Luke Combs closes the night out from the Green Stage at 8:55 p.m., other top artists in Friday’s lineup include T-Pain (7:40 p.m., Blue Stage), Megan Moroney (7:10 p.m. Green Stage), and Sheryl Crow (5:50 p.m., Green Stage).
Due to an “unexpected medical circumstance,” TLC will no longer be taking the Green Stage at 4:40 p.m., with local act Dalton & The Sheriffs joining Friday’s bill at the last minute.
What meteorologists are saying about the weather for Boston Calling 2025
After a blustery nor’easter pelted New England with strong wind and several inches of rain, the forecast for Memorial Day weekend is looking better than previously expected. Nevertheless, festivalgoers should prepare for the possibility of scattered showers and cooler temperatures — not to mention plenty of mud from Thursday’s storm.
“The outlook for Memorial Day calls for milder temperatures and dry weather. Conditions will slowly improve through the holiday weekend, although scattered showers are expected today and Saturday,” the National Weather Service reported Friday.
Read more about the latest Boston weekend weather forecast here.
Everything to know for Boston Calling 2025
Boston Calling 2025 has officially opened the gates at the Harvard Athletic Complex for three days of fun. With the festival now underway, we’ve put together a full guide to Boston Calling 2025, including what’s new at the festival this year, the best food to try, set times for all three days, and tips from a festival veteran.
Here’s a few highlights from that guide.
What’s new at Boston Calling 2025?
When the Boston Calling 2025 lineup was announced in January, organizers also announced a number of operational changes for the festival.
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Chief among the changes is the decision to combine the Red and Green stages into a single rotating stage (The Green Stage), which will eliminate a pinch point that led to complaints of “dangerous crowds” during Sunday’s star-filled lineup at Boston Calling 2024. According to organizers, the rotating stage system will “provide better views, more space to roam, and enhance audio-video experience for everyone.”
Boston Calling 2025 also marks the return of the indoor arena, which allows festivalgoers to beat the heat (or rain) and enjoy performances from Berklee College of Music jazz students inside the Bright-Landry Hockey Center. On the topic of heat, the festival also announced there will be additional water stations at the festival.
How can I avoid long lines at Boston Calling 2025
Boston Calling is a large music festival, so you’re inevitably going to run into crowds at some point during the day. But as someone who has attended every single edition, I’ve learned a few helpful tips along the way.
1. Pre-register your wristband
In an effort to speed up lines for concessions and merch, Boston Calling 2025 is an entirely cashless festival.
Festivalgoers can register their wristband either before or during the festival to connect it to a credit or debit card through the Boston Calling website. Vendors will also accept credit cards.
2. Buy artist merch early
The biggest lines at previous editions of Boston Calling have been for the official artist and festival merchandise, which can be purchased just inside the entrance.
Boston Calling added a second merch kiosk last year to help minimize the issue, but if you’re set on getting a tee for your favorite artist, you might want to consider setting aside the first 30 minutes of your day at the festival to make your purchase.
3. Learn the festival map, and take the road less traveled
Another way to avoid any bottlenecks is to familiarize yourself with the festival map (see below) before heading to Allston on Friday.
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With the removal of the Red Stage, the layout is a little different from previous years, but the basics are the same. You enter the festival from the corner of Soldiers Field Road and N. Harvard Street, then proceed to the entrance.
If you’re headed to the Green stage, proceed straight, where you will pass a number of food options and brand activations. If you want the Blue or Orange stages, make a left toward the merch stations.
There is always less traffic on the path from the Blue Stage to the Green Stage (located on the far left of the map below). It’s not only a more direct path, you’ll also pass local artists on the Orange Stage you may not have known about.
What are the best food and drink options at Boston Calling 2025?
After looking at the Boston Calling 2025 food and drink lineup, one thing’s for sure: No one at the festival is going hungry this Memorial Day weekend.
A mix of eye-catching new restaurants and returning favorites will be on offer at the annual music festival, with more than 25 local eateries serving up food at the Harvard Athletic Complex.
Sally’s Apizza, which has consistently drawn long lines since opening in Woburn in 2023, is probably the most notable new addition to the food lineup. The New Haven pizzeria is opening three more Boston-area locations this year, in the Seaport, Dorchester, and Concord.
Also new on the menu this year are Southern fried chicken sandwiches from Flip The Bird, lobster rolls and oysters from New England Provisions, seafood from Jasper White’s legendary Summer Shack, sandwiches from High Street Place staple Pennypacker’s, and healthy bowls from Amelia’s Acai.
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Popular menu options returning to the Boston Calling food lineup for 2025 include dumplings from Dumpling Daughter, Neapolitan-style slices from PieSons Pizza, heaping plates of barbecue from The Smoke Shop BBQ, and gyros from Greco.
For vegetarians and vegans, check out Love Art Sushi, Moyzilla, and The Flatbread Company, among other restaurants.
For dessert, there are sweet treats from Zinneken’s Waffles, FoMu Ice Cream, Blackbird Doughnuts, and Flour Bakery + Cafe.
To see a full list of participating vendors, as well as some of the options available to VIP and Platinum ticket-holders, check out our full Boston Calling 2025 food and drink guide.
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