The Boston Calling 2022 lineup is finally here, and it’s a doozy — on both a national and local level.
The music festival returns to Allston’s Harvard Athletic Complex for three days around Memorial Day weekend, May 27 to 29, for its first edition since 2019 after two years of pandemic-related cancellations. Headlining this year are the previously-announced Foo Fighters, as well as the newly announced Metallica and the Strokes. Dave Grohl and the boys are the lone holdover from the cancelled 2020 festival, which was to also feature Rage Against the Machine and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Yesterday, Boston Calling revealed that RATM would not be on board after the band cancelled all its live appearances through the spring.
Enter Metallica, which makes for a pretty remarkable replacement headliner, and welcome The Strokes, who haven’t played Boston since 2006.
The trio of Metallica, Foo Fighters, and The Strokes lead a lineup of more than 50 performers, which includes nearly 20 homegrown Boston and New England bands on the bill.
Among the notable national acts playing Boston Calling are Rüfüs Du Sol, Weezer, HAIM, Run The Jewels, Glass Animals, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Avril Lavigne, Black Pumas, Japanese Breakfast, Modest Mouse, Goose, Cheap Trick, Oliver Tree, EARTHGANG, Orville Peck, The Struts, KennyHoopla, Paris Jackson, Cults, and others.
On the local tip, the healthiest and heartiest homegrown lineup in Boston Calling’s nearly 10-year history features Van Buren, Cliff Notez, Pom Pom Squad, The Chelsea Curve, Cam Meekins, Born Without Bones, Avenue, Ali McGuirk, Crooked Coast, Aaron and the Lord, Miranda Rae, Coral Moons, Paper Tigers, Dutch Tulips, Frances Forever, Oompa, Julie Rhodes, and Charlotte Sands. Ripe, who got their start in Boston, are also playing.
“We are so thrilled to bring Boston Calling back, and we cannot thank our loyal fans enough for supporting us as we navigated the pandemic,” says Brian Appel, co-founder and CEO of Boston Calling Events, LLC (BCE). “This year’s lineup is particularly special for us. It not only signifies a return to the things we love, but it also celebrates some of the world’s most renowned acts, exciting up-and-comers, and Boston’s talented music scene.”
Appel adds: “Knowing how much Boston musicians endured during the pandemic, it was very important to us that Boston Calling 2022 shine a spotlight on local and regional artists more than ever before. We are really looking forward to seeing everyone come together on Memorial Day Weekend,”
Boston rapper and artist Cliff Notez, who was originally part of the 2020 lineup, shares the excitement: “I’m about to be on one of Boston’s biggest stages with a bunch of my friends throughout the day. To say we dreamed of this at some point is an understatement, we’re all looking forward to giving fans some of the most amazing performances we’ve ever seen. Wait until you see what we have up our sleeve!”
Weekend tickets start at $369, with additional VIP and Platinum packages available. Get all that info here, and check out the flyer before for all the band and the daily lineup breakdown.
