Boston Calling, one of the Northeast’s most iconic events and one of the largest metropolitan music festivals in the world, announces its 2017 lineup today. This year, Boston Calling more than doubles its number of music acts with an exciting collection of 45 performances, which once again have been assembled by founding member of The National, Aaron Dessner. Tool, Mumford & Sons, and Chance the Rapper will headline the festival. This year also marks a historic change for Boston Calling; it will be held for the first time at the fields of Harvard Athletic Complex in Allston (65 North Harvard Street, Boston) on Memorial Day Weekend, May 26-28, 2017.
The new location allows Boston Calling to greatly expand as a multi-disciplinary festival: this year, in addition to its 45 act lineup performing across three outdoor stages, it will add a film experience curated by Academy Award-winning actress, producer, and director Natalie Portman, along with comprehensive food, drink, and visual arts components – details on each of these are forthcoming. A limited number of Early Bird tickets are available today, Thursday, January 12, 2017 at 10:00am EST at www.bostoncalling.com and regular priced tickets will be available when Early Bird tickets are gone.
2017 Boston Calling Lineup
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In true Boston Calling fashion, the 2017 lineup creates an experience that is both eclectic and star-studded, with music that crosses genres and includes performers who have stood the test of time, as well as those who are just beginning to make their mark. As music curator Aaron Dessner promised, the festival’s expanded footprint allows Boston Calling to deliver a wider range and diversity to the festival’s programming.
Expect headlining sets from legendary rock band Tool, performing in the Greater Boston area for the first time since 2012, English folk-rock superstars Mumford & Sons, and the charismatic, show-stopping, seven-time 2017 Grammy nominee in categories including Best New Artist and Best Rap Album, Chance the Rapper.
Artists showcasing new material include Bon Iver, which scored a Grammy nomination for its first album in five years, 22, A Million, and has not played in Boston since 2012, The xx, which will release their first album in four years on January 13th, and Solange, whose critically-acclaimed new album A Seat at the Table recently debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
Artists on the lineup who are known for riveting performances and their ability to captivate the audience include Weezer, Major Lazer, The 1975, Sigur Rós, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats, Sylvan Esso, Run the Jewels, Cage the Elephant, and Francis and the Lights.
Giving attention to solo artists on the rise, Boston Calling will feature Lucy Dacus, named one of Rolling Stone magazine’s “10 Artists You Need to Know” in 2016; Mondo Cozmo, creating a stir with punk-dance singles like Shine and Higher, Australian hip-hop queen Tkay Maidza, and electro soul singing phenom Moses Sumney.
Finally, as with each Boston Calling, local acts will be celebrated. Highlights for this year include Boston’s alt rock favorites Buffalo Tom, hip-hop up-and-comer Cousin Stizz, Worcester’s own The Hotelier, the recently reunited punk band Piebald, and Allston based Vundabar.
New Location for 2017
This year’s Boston Calling will take place at an exciting new location, as the festival moves from Boston’s City Hall Plaza to the fields of the Harvard Athletic Complex. The change in venue has enabled the festival to expand its programming to feature a combination of music, film, and visual art.
In a shift from its bi-annual model, Boston Calling bypassed its September 2016 festival, making May 2017 its first installment since the May 2016 edition at Boston’s City Hall Plaza. In total, this is the eighth edition of the festival since its 2013 inception.
With its new and expanded footprint of 16 acres at the Harvard Athletic Complex, Boston Calling has tapped world-acclaimed festival designer, artist and sculptor Russ Bennett to bring the look and aesthetic of 2017’s festival to greater heights. Bennett is most known for creating the layout and visual design for such world-renowned festivals as Bonnaroo and Outside Lands, as well as for being the artistic brains behind many of Phish’s visual spectacles, including their historic show in Coventry, VT in 2004.
Further details on Boston Calling’s film experience curated by Natalie Portman as well as more information about the festival’s food and drink components will be shared in the months to come.
Tickets available now at bostoncalling.com.