BOSTON (WHDH) - Boston Calling — an annual three-day music festival featuring artists T-Pain, Avril Lavigne, and Sublime this year — kicked off Friday afternoon at the Harvard Athletic Complex.
The festival announced several changes this year, including merging the green and red stages into one, adding an indoor arena, and increasing the number of water stations throughout the complex.
“I think the vibe is unmatched, don’t you think? It’s just like everyone is so into it, everyone’s so happy to be here,” said festival-goer Haley Barrett. “Inside it’s a little bit more contained and clustered, but here everyone can roam around and just live their truth. It’s great.”
Organizers said the festival would take place rain or shine — and the weather continued to improve Friday. Although Thursday’s nor’easter soaked the Boston area, the chances of rain slimmed out for Friday, Saturday, and especially Sunday.
Friday’s concert lineup featured country headliners Luke Combs and Megan Moroney, along with artists Sheryl Crow, T-Pain, Infinity Song, and Thee Sacred Souls. TLC was originally scheduled to perform, but canceled due to a medical issue.
Saturday boasts headliners Fall Out Boy and Avril Lavigne, and features artists including Cage the Elephant, The Black Crowes, All Time Low, and James Bay.
On Sunday, festival-goers can jam out to headliners Dave Matthews Band and Vampire Weekend, as well as Sublime, Remi Wolf, Public Enemy, Goth Babe, and I Dont Know How But They Found Me.
Schedules for each day of Boston Calling can be found online.
When guests get hungry, they can enjoy a wide variety of concessions from El Jefe’s Taqueria, Tasty Burger, Dumpling Daughter, and Fomu Ice Cream, among a slew of other food stands.
In addition to the live tunes and grub, festival-goers can visit several activations including the Dunkin’ Scoop Shop, the Subaru of New England Tent, and the Electrolit Hydration Zone.
Fans streamed into the festival grounds Friday afternoon, many dressed in long-sleeved shirts and jackets.
“We took the train from Providence to Boston and then we got an Uber. And then we walked all the way across Harvard,” said Natalie Myers.
Chantal Finlay said she trekked to Boston from Tampa, Fla., to watch one of Friday night’s headliners.
“Luke Combs. Boston was calling and we had to answer,” Finlay said.
All bags will be searched at the gate, the festival noted. Small clutch purses and fanny packs that are 6″ x 9″ or smaller do not need to be clear, but can have no more than one pocket, according to the website. All other larger bags must be clear and 12″ x 6″ x 12″.
For a full list of prohibited items, visit the Boston Calling website.
(Copyright (c) 2024 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)