2020 became 2021 became 2022, and Boston Calling finally returns this Memorial Weekend with one heck of a lineup from headliners Nine Inch Nails, The Strokes, and Metallica to a slew of incredible local acts on all stages. Peep through our picks to check out at this year’s festival and enter to win 3-day GA passes to this year’s Boston Calling.
Pom Pom Squad
New York’s Pom Pom Squad put out an incredible and nearly perfect power pop album last year, Death of a Cheerleader. If you missed their set opening for illuminati hotties at The Sinclair earlier this year, you HAVE to get over to the Blue Stage early on Friday to catch them at 2:20pm.
Born Without Bones
Mass-based pop punk outfit Born Without Bones bring their raucously charming songs to the Tivoli Audio Orange Stage at 6:55pm sharp on Friday. Touring in support of last year’s sleek n’ sexy EP Pictures of the Sun, this trio continues to chart a course for victory.
Frances Forever
Still riding the wave of success from smash hit single, and TikTok sensation, “space girl,” the infectiously bopping project from singer-songwriter Frances Garrett makes their Boston Calling debut on the Delta Airlines Blue Stage at 3:25pm on Saturday.
Coral Moons
Grab a cold drink and a hot friend and get your bums to the Tivoli Audio Orange Stage for 4:05pm on Saturday to catch Coral Moons. Get swept up in the summery sounds including tracks off of last year’s heartwarming debut record Fieldcrest.
Orville Peck
Everyone’s favorite masked cowboy makes his first appearance back in Massachusetts in several years at the Blue Stage on Saturday evening at 5:50PM. His major label debut Bronco definitely let a little more light in, but there’s still plenty of lonesome heartache for Orville and the band to bang out.
Oompa
Oompa put out one of our favorite local releases last year, and we can’t wait to catch her explosive live set to kick off Sunday at 1:45pm on the Red Stage. Whether she’s performing at a beer garden, headlining venues like The Sinclair or Paradise, or kicking off the day at Boston’s largest music festival, she brings all of her energy, and you’ll be happy you start your day with this jumpstart.
Cliff Notez
Cliff Notez made headlines a few years ago when he booked a local festival simultaneously with Boston Calling called Boston Answering. The multi-disciplinary artist is unrelentingly true to himself and puts his everything into his performance both on stage and within the community uplifting other local artists and the local music scene at-large in Boston. Catch him as one of the few lucky locals who get to perform on one of the main stages at Boston Calling on the Blue Stage at 2:15pm on Sunday.
Horsegirl
Chicago’s Horsegirl are barely out of high school, but their explosive post-punky sound caught the ears of legendary New York imprint Matador Records, who’ll be putting out their debut LP Versions of Modern Performance later this summer. Catch them over at the Red Stage on Sunday afternoon at 2:50PM.
Japanese Breakfast
No stranger to our digital pages, Michelle Zauner’s simmering indie pop project Japanese Breakfast is on something of a victory lap this summer after the success of 2021’s Jubilee. Between Grammy noms and best-selling books, this is clearly her year. Fresh off JBrekkie’s performance on the SNL season finale, catch them at the Blue Stage on Sunday evening at 4:35PM.