Boston Calling: New England's biggest music festival is back

Boston Calling is back, and for the 2025 edition, New England's biggest music festival is going big on nostalgic rock acts from the '90s and 2000s.
So drop the kids off at grandma's, slip on two-to-four layered tank tops or bust out your L.A. Looks Megahold hair gel (if you have any hair left) — it's time to rock.
Why it matters: Boston Calling returns this Memorial Day weekend, bringing headliners Fall Out Boy, Luke Combs and Dave Matthews Band to the Harvard Athletic Complex.
Catch up quick: The festival will be a bit different this year for the 40,000 or so expected attendees after crowd control and safety issues last year.
There will be a new rotating main stage instead of the separate Red and Green stages that split the crowd up.
A redesigned festival layout is meant to improve crowd flow, and more water stations will be available so aging Davers can stay hydrated.
The indoor arena, meant to provide a cooler venue out of the sun, is returning for the first time in six years.
Zoom in: This year's lineup is heavy on older rock favorites that wouldn't be out of place sharing an iPod circa 2008.
The exception is Friday, which features 35-year-old country star Luke Combs.
Saturday brings emo/pop-punk nostalgia from Fall Out Boy and Avril Lavigne.
Sunday closes with Dave Matthews Band and Vampire Weekend.
The basics: The festival is three days of music with 13 local New England artists and touring national acts you might find on a burned CD-R: Sheryl Crow, T-Pain, TLC, Cage the Elephant, The Black Crowes and Public Enemy.
There's no on-site parking, so take the T to Harvard or hail a ride.
Tickets are still available.
The weather forecast calls for clouds in the 50s and 60s Friday and Saturday and sun in the mid-60s Sunday.
The local stage will feature acts like hip-hop performer Latrell James on Friday night, and alt/punk band Rebuilder on Saturday afternoon.

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