For years, Book More Women has asked major festivals to diversify their lineups. In 2023, it seems as though Boston Calling took the request to heart.
According to a recent Instagram post from Book More Women, 57 percent of this year’s Boston Calling performers feature a woman or non-binary musician, the fest’s highest percentage since creator Abbey Carbonneau began tracking lineups in 2018. The number is a sizable leap from last year’s lineup — only 35 percent — and is significantly higher than percentages from other 2023 festivals, including Hangout Fest (39 percent), Bonnaroo (33 percent), and Coachella (37 percent).
An edited version of the Boston Calling poster demonstrates that these 57 percent of acts are spread evenly across Memorial Day weekend, from bigger names like Yeah Yeah Yeahs (pictured above), Paramore, and Alanis Morissette, to the local-heavy undercard that spans hip-hop, folk, blues, and rock. And while Boston Calling and other fests still have ample work to do when it comes to representation across all fronts — including race and genres — 2023’s lineup nudges the trend in right direction.
“From the headliners through to the EXCEPTIONAL local representation, this is huge,” the post explains. “Easily one of the best lineups for gender diversity of major multi-genre US festivals since I began tracking nearly 5 (?!) years ago.”
Check out Book More Women’s analysis below, and peep the full Boston Calling lineup here.