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With the first day of Spring in the rear-view, our festival attention now turns to Boston Calling, which kicks off exactly 10 weeks from tomorrow. The May 24 to 26 fest at Harvard Athletic Complex in Allston, is headlined by Tame Impala and Travis Scott, and its undercard is all types of fierce.
Today, the fest has unveiled details of its indoor Arena Stage, which since Boston Calling’s relocation from downtown two years ago has evolved to feature a variety of talents, from music to comedy to … dance?
Included in this year’s Arena offerings are performances by Boston Ballet, comedians Fred Armisen, Jenny Slate, and Michael Che, and two of our most anticipated performers, electronic music artist Yaeji and rapper Princess Nokia.
Here’s how it all shakes down, according to Boston Calling:
Friday, May 24
Friday at the Arena will see comedic sets from Fred Armisen and Boston hometown standup favorites Sam Jay and Lamont Price. As the sun goes down, fans can retreat to the Arena for an electro-beat filled performance from Yaeji and sets from Naeem and DJ Frank White.
Saturday, May 25
Saturday shines with the debut of Boston Ballet at Boston Calling. Attendees will be treated to an excerpt from legendary choreographer William Forsythe’s Playlist (EP) set to R&B star Khalid’s “Location.” Boston Ballet premiered Playlist (EP) as part of the Full on Forsythe program in March, starring powerhouse dancers and set to a soundtrack with hits from pop, dance, and R&B charts. Additionally, attendees will experience an original work for two Boston Ballet dancers by Yury Yanowsky, choreographer, former principal dancer of Boston Ballet, and faculty member at Harvard University, set to Wilsen’s “Final.”
Hometown local Jenny Slate will deliver a headlining set of comedy while Imogen Heap will return to Boston for the first time in nine years to present a special spoken word performance featuring her groundbreaking Mi.Mu gloves, a revolutionary technology that produces sound by capturing movement and hand gestures. Standup sensation Marina Franklin will also bring her act to the Arena, and Lamont Price will return to the stage to keep the laughs going. Following the stellar dance and comedy, Princess Nokia and Dessa will perform pop culture rhymes while Naeem will return for a DJ set.
Sunday, May 26
SNL’s Michael Che and Melissa Villaseñor will both take to the mic on Sunday while the day’s Boston Ballet performances in the Arena will feature the return of Yanowsky’s Final and a new work choreographed by Boston Ballet artist, Sage Humphries, set to an original score by Michael Humphries, the artist behind Future Self, and brother of Sage. Imogen Heap also returns on Sunday to perform. On Sunday night, Chromeo will spin their funky beats in a DJ set. The full-on Sunday evening dance party will also star hip-hop electro phenom Kilo Kish and DJ Joshua Carl.
Check out the info in flyer form below.
