Ed Sheeran, Tyler Childers and The Killers will headline Boston Calling this year, but they aren’t the only notable acts taking the stage at the three-day festival at the Harvard Athletic Complex.
The headliners will be joined by more than 50 artists, including more than 20 acts from the Northeast.
To highlight these local artists, MassLive has published profiles for more than a dozen of the acts, summarized and collected below. You can also find a list of all of the acts below.
JVK
Based out of: Boston
Playing: The Orange Stage from 5:20-6 p.m. Friday, May 24
Is this your first time performing at Boston Calling? If not, when did you play before: “This is our first time playing Boston Calling and we couldn’t be more excited!”
What makes you most excited to perform at the festival this year: “I am the most excited to be able to get into rehearsals and put our hearts and souls into making this the most amazing performance possible. It’s only up from here!”
Divine Sweater
Based out of: Boston
Playing: The Red Stage from 1:45-2:15 p.m. Friday, May 24
Is this your first time performing at Boston Calling? If not, when did you play before: “This is our first time performing at Boston Calling.”
What makes you most excited to perform at the festival this year: “It might be the best opportunity we’ve ever had to play to so many new faces in a live setting! It will also be beautiful to see our family, friends, and fans who have supported us from our earliest days as a band get to share this experience with us. We are truly grateful for this opportunity.”
Billy Dean Thomas
Based out of: Boston
Playing: The Red Stage from 1:45-2:15 p.m. Friday, May 24
Is this your first time performing at Boston Calling? If not, when did you play before: “Yes, this is my first Boston Calling Performance.”
What makes you most excited to perform at the festival this year: “Performing in front of a wide range of music listeners! I want to connect more with audiences. My sound has a lot of influences and I often don’t feel like the bills I am on reflect the audience who truly understand what I am going for. I think festivals like Boston Calling are exactly for bands like mine. I hope to capture the attention of people who love nuance and all things rap, rock and a touch of R&B. I just want to meet new people and gain new likeminded supporters!”
Justin Clancy
Based out of: Boston
Playing: The Orange Stage from 4:05-4:35 p.m. Friday, May 24
Is this your first time performing at Boston Calling? If not, when did you play before: “I’ve never been to Boston Calling before as I always told myself I wanted my first time attending to be when I’m performing!”
What makes you most excited to perform at the festival this year: “Being able to expose my music to a new audience that may not have heard me before as well as having access to such a large stage!”
Tysk Tysk Task
Based out of: Lowell
Playing: The Orange Stage from 2:50-3:20 p.m. Sunday, May 26
Is this your first time performing at Boston Calling? If not, when did you play before: “First time!”
What makes you most excited to perform at the festival this year: “This will be our largest crowd to date and we’re just so excited to connect with the audience and bring our woodland grunge vibes from the basem*nts of Lowell and the underground DIY scene to a main stage.”
Highwater Haulers
Based out of: Boston and Providence
Playing: The Orange Stage from 2:55-3:25 p.m. Saturday, May 25
Is this your first time performing at Boston Calling? If not, when did you play before: “This is our first time!”
What makes you most excited to perform at the festival this year: “I think the celebration and focus on local music that Boston Calling has long provided is incredibly important and validating. Being a part of that spotlight is exciting and incredibly rewarding.”
The Wolff Sisters
Based out of: Boston
Playing: The Orange Stage from 2:55-3:25 p.m. Saturday, May 25
Is this your first time performing at Boston Calling? If not, when did you play before: “First time”
What makes you most excited to perform at the festival this year: “Being on the same bill as Leon Bridges and Tyler Childers is very exciting.”
Stefan Thev
Based out of: Brockton
Playing: The Red Stage from 1:40-2:10 p.m. Sunday, May 26
Is this your first time performing at Boston Calling? If not, when did you play before: “Yes, this is my first.”
What makes you most excited to perform at the festival this year: “I’m performing on the Red Stage so I’m excited to be on a stage that big.”
Beach Weather
Based out of: Boston
Playing: The Red Stage from 3:00-3:50 p.m. Friday, May 24
Is this your first time performing at Boston Calling? If not, when did you play before: “It’s our first time.”
What makes you most excited to perform at the festival this year: “Looking out at a hometown crowd is always a special feeling. We just played a headlining show in town a week ago and it blew me away. Also, to be able to wake up/go to sleep in my own bed and also play a festival that same day is going to be a cool feeling.”
Kei
Based out of: Dorchester
Playing: The Orange Stage from 7-7:40 p.m. Friday, May 24
Is this your first time performing at Boston Calling? If not, when did you play before: “This is my first time ever performing at and attending Boston Calling!”
What makes you most excited to perform at the festival this year: “This will be the biggest stage I’ve performed on thus far! I’m super excited to be headlining the Orange Stage before Ed Sheeran closes out the show! Being able to showcase myself & represent Boston at one of the largest festivals in the city is the biggest blessing I could have received.”
Kieran Rhodes
Based out of: Burnt Hills, New York
Playing: The Blue Stage from 2:15-2:50 p.m. Friday, May 24
Is this your first time performing at Boston Calling? If not, when did you play before: “Yes”
What makes you most excited to perform at the festival this year: “Just playing these songs for people! At this stage in my career, I feel absolutely honored to have this opportunity.”
Cakeswagg
Based out of: Boston
Playing: The Orange Stage from 4:05-4:35 p.m. Saturday, May 25
Is this your first time performing at Boston Calling? If not, when did you play before: “Yes, this is my first time.”
What makes you most excited to perform at the festival this year: “What excites me most about performing at Boston Calling this year is the opportunity to connect with a diverse audience on a larger scale. It’s a chance to share my music and message with people who may not have encountered it before, and hopefully, leave a lasting impression. Additionally, being able to perform on such a renowned stage alongside established and emerging artists is so exciting! I’m eager to showcase my unique blend of lyrical skill, energetic stage presence, and infectious personality to the festival attendees and leave them wanting more.”
ToriTori
Based out of: Brockton
Playing: The Blue Stage from 2:20-2:50 p.m. Saturday, May 25
Is this your first time performing at Boston Calling? If not, when did you play before: “Yes.”
What makes you most excited to perform at the festival this year: “I’m always working on new music, and I’m excited to get to share some that for the first time. But I’m most excited to tell a story reimagined through the songs from my debut EP ‘Pocket Knife.’”
Zola Simone
Based out of: Boston and New York City
Playing: The Orange Stage from 5:15-5:50 p.m. Sunday, May 26
Is this your first time performing at Boston Calling? If not, when did you play before: “Yes it is my first time!”
What makes you most excited to perform at the festival this year: “Literally everything. Can’t choose!”
Paper Lady
Based out of: Boston
Playing: The Orange Stage from 5:20-5:50 p.m. Saturday, May 25
Is this your first time performing at Boston Calling? If not, when did you play before: “Yes this is our first time!”
What makes you most excited to perform at the festival this year: “This will be the largest show we have played, so I think we are all really buzzing as it approaches. Just to be seen and heard by this many people, and have the chance to take the moment in for what it is.”
The Thing
Based out of: Brooklyn, New York
Playing: The Blue Stage from 2:10-2:45 p.m. Sunday, May 26
Is this your first time performing at Boston Calling? If not, when did you play before: “Yes, first time!”
What makes you most excited to perform at the festival this year: “We usually play in smaller energetic rock clubs and we’re excited to bring that to the bigger stage.”
Boston Calling will take place Memorial Day Weekend from Friday, May 24, until Sunday, May 26, at the Harvard Athletic Complex in Allston.
Fans looking to purchase tickets for Boston Calling can visit StubHub and VividSeats. More information about this year’s lineup and how to purchase tickets can be found here.
More on Boston Calling's Local lineup
- Boston Calling local acts: First festival performance full-circle moment for Zola Simone
- Boston Calling local acts: ToriTori to play new music during festival debut
- Boston Calling local acts: Justin Clancy’s first time at show is on stage
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