The Boston Calling music festival, known for its eclectic mix of headlining artists and a dedication to all things music, has reportedly had a splashy kickoff this past Friday despite experiencing the tail end of a nor'easter the day before. According to Boston25News, the inclement weather did little to dampen the spirits of the thousands of fans who have congregated to enjoy a lineup featuring Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, Megan Moroney, and others.
Amidst the changes announced for this year's event, the festival organizers decided to merge the green and red stages into one, to seemingly better manage the crowd and create a more dynamic atmosphere. "I think the vibe is unmatched, don’t you think? It’s just like everyone is so into it, everyone’s so happy to be here," Haley Barrett, a festival-goer, told WHDH.
The rain notwithstanding, attendees have been looking forward to this weekend for months, with one festival-goer, Kara Corslund, explaining her excitement for acts like T-Pain, Fall Out Boy, and Avril Lavigne, "it’s our pre-teen emo years that we’re reminiscing," Corslund said in an interview with Boston25News.
While the lineup boasted a diverse array of performers, festival attendees were caught slightly off guard by the absence of the group TLC, who was unable to play due to a medical issue. "Any time that an artist needs to be like, ‘hey, I can’t do this for whatever reason’, that’s their choice, it stinks they’re not here, but take care of yourself," Corslund empathetically added. Among other adjustments, organizers added extra water stations and an indoor arena, hoping to avoid issues like those experienced last year with the heat, as reported by attendee Allison Stacey to Boston25News.
The excitement is not only contained to the performances, as the festival also offers a variety of food options from local vendors like El Jefe’s Taqueria and Tasty Burger, alongside engaging sponsor activations such as the Dunkin’ Scoop Shop and the Subaru of New England Tent, as noted by WHDH. Despite the need to come prepared for a bag check at the gate, with restrictions on size and transparency, fans seem more than ready to shoulder the minor inconvenience to soak up the festival's vibrant atmosphere. "We took the train from Providence to Boston and then we got an Uber. And then we walked all the way across Harvard," Natalie Myers recounted her journey, eager to join the fray.
Fall Out Boy and Avril Lavigne were scheduled to headline Saturday's performances, with Sunday's marquee acts to include the Dave Matthews Band among other stellar artists. With the festival in full swing, more updates and information are expected to follow as this thriving hub of music and culture continues through the Memorial Day weekend.
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