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Every year on Memorial Day weekend, Boston Calling returns to Harvard Athletic Complex to whip out three music-filled days with some of the best names in the business. In the past, we have seen Metallica, Eminem, Twenty One Pilots, Tame Impala, and Kendrick Lamar. The festival first made its way into the spotlight in 2013 after having artists like Marina and the Diamonds, Of Monsters and Men, and Fun. on the stage.
This year, the roster for May 26-28, 2023 is being headlined by Foo Fighters, The Lumineers, and Parame with a large pack of supporting acts such as Fletcher, Niall Horan, and Declan McKenna. The co-headliners will be Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Alanis Morissette, and Queens of the Stone Age; the festival is perfect for rock junkies.
The Foo Fighters are making their first return back to the stage after hosting the Taylor Hawkins memorial concert after their legendary drummer passed almost exactly a year ago on March 25th. The Foo Fighters, most known for their 1997 album The Colour And The Shape, was formed in Seattle by the ex-drummer of Nirvana, Dave Grohl. We’re expected to hear their biggest songs “The Pretender,” “Learn to Fly,” “Best of You,” and of course their big hit “Everlong” from their most successful album. They will be shaking it up by kicking off the festival on Friday, May 26th. They will be joined by Yeah Yeah Yeahs who are known for their song from It’s Blitz, “Heads Will Roll,” of 2009. The three-member band is made up of female vocalist Karen O, guitarist Nick Zinner, and drummer Brian Chase. Other notables who will perform this day are Niall Horan, an icon from One Direction who just released his new single “Heaven,” and Chelsea Cutler, a bedroom lo-fi artist known for her big hit “you were good to me.”
The next day of the festival will be headlined by The Lumineers, a band that must be mentioned when speaking about the music of the 2010s. We’ll hear them sing, “Oh, Ophelia'' along with "Cleopatra"; both an album and song of theirs. They have racked up seventeen million monthly listeners on Spotify with only more to come after giving the reminder to Boston of their iconic music which should be relived. They just released a new album "BRIGHTSIDE" last year in January so lyrics from that album will be shouted for one of the first times since being released. The Lumineers will be supported by co-headliner Alanis Morissette, an alternative rocker who won Album of the Year at the 1996 Grammys. We have all listened to and sung to her song “Ironic” from the album "Jagged Little Pill" released in 1995. Additionally on this day, Fletcher (a worldwide-beloved artist), Declan McKenna (a British pop singer-songwriter and a personal favorite of mine), and Loveless (a rock n roll duo who is known for covering famous songs and posting them on Tik Tok) will be taking the stage to sing their biggest hits.
To conclude the annual music festival, likely the most anticipated act yet, Paramore will be headlining Sunday. They just made a recent return to the industry after first releasing their single “This is Why,” then announcing an entire album with the same name. Since October they have been touring to perform their new album for the fans who have been listening since 2005. Paramore, fronted by icon Michelle Williams, is most known for their songs “All I Wanted,” “Still into You,” and “Misery Business.” They will be supported by Queens of the Stone Age, a California 1996 rock band that is known for their album …"Like Clockwork". Another artist of this day will be Maren Morris, who you know from singing on Zedd’s chart-breaking song “The Middle.” But she is also prominent for her many singles and three albums: Humble Quest, GIRL, and HERO.
Although the tickets are a whopping $150 for one day (of your choice) of the festival, if you are able to go, it can be a great experience to listen to great music from multiple legendary artists plus many more up-and-coming artists who will eventually be the headliners in the future.
