Festivals
Boston Calling 2025 – Day One Recap & Photos
Harvard Athletic Complex, Boston, MA – May 23, 2025
Day One of Boston Calling 2025 kicked off with soggy shoes and big energy. Despite the rain (and a last-minute cancellation from TLC), spirits were high. The lineup delivered, the ponchos came out, and everyone just leaned into it. Honestly, we couldn’t have asked for a better way to start the weekend.
Friday’s heavy-hitters included Luke Combs, Megan Moroney, and the one-man party himself, T-Pain. The undercard was stacked too: Sheryl Crow brought the sunshine with her hits (and her vintage Springsteen tee), while Kyle Dion, Mike., and jazz powerhouse Tiril Jackson pulled in crowds across the Harvard Athletic Complex.
In my opinion, T-Pain’s set was the highlight of the night, and not just because of the bangers. He gave us everything from “I’m Sprung” to “Bartender,” but it was his charisma that really lit up the wet evening. Between cracking jokes, dancing like nobody was watching, and belting out those auto-tuned hooks, it was clear he was having just as much fun as we were.
Megan Moroney kept the country crowd happy, turning the field into a singalong zone with “Am I Okay?” and “Tennessee Orange.” Her stage presence was confident, like she’d been playing to massive festival crowds her whole life.
Sheryl Crow was a total pro. She joked about Boston’s weird spring weather: “Who knew it was going to be winter in Boston? We’re going to soak up the sun anyway,” before launching into a killer 11-song set that reminded everyone why she’s still so beloved. “If It Makes You Happy” hit especially hard in the rain. Her Springsteen shirt also got its own cheer!
Local artists held their own, pulling crowds of supportive fans and attracting curious festival goers. Among these artists was powerful jazz vocalist Tiril Jackson who is set to headline JoyFest Somerville (in Somerville, Massachusetts) later this month. She performed her rendition of many famous songs, including Brenda Russell’s “Piano in the Dark”.
Unfortunately, TLC had to cancel their set due to a medical issue, which was a bummer. But festival organizers pivoted quickly, and the rest of the schedule kept things moving.
Luke Combs closed the night with a stormy set that matched the mood perfectly. His performance of “When It Rains It Pours” was very ironically timely. Seeing him sing “One Number Away” with actual rain falling gave it a whole new vibe.
Boston Calling 2025 is just getting started, and if Friday’s any indication, it’s going to be a hell of a weekend. Saturday’s got Fall Out Boy and Avril Lavigne lined up. We’re calling it now: the emo kids are coming out in full force.
Forecast says less rain tomorrow, but Day One proved we don’t need clear skies to have a good time. See you back out there!
Check out some our favorite photos of T-Pain at Boston Calling 2025 Day One or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
All Photo Credit: Faith Constantine
Festivals
Governors Ball 2026 Release Daily Schedules
The set times are in. Governors Ball Music Festival just dropped its daily schedules for June 5–7, and the usual game begins: mapping your day, picking your battles, and accepting you can’t see everything.
Friday, June 5
Day one leans indie-pop into rap by night. Lorde closes the main stage at 8:30, opposite the tail end of Baby Keem(7:30–8:30). That’s your first big call: polished pop spectacle or Keem’s high-energy set.
Earlier, things get messy in a good way. KATSEYE (6:35–7:30) overlaps with Pierce the Veil (5:30–6:30) bleed, and The Beths (6:00–7:00) sit right in between. Indie fans will feel that pinch.
Midday conflicts are lighter, but The Dare (4:00–4:45) vs. Arcy Drive (3:30–4:15) creates a small fork in the road.
If you’re pacing yourself, the cleanest run is late afternoon into Mariah the Scientist (4:45–5:30), then pick your lane.
Saturday, June 6
Saturday is the most chaotic on paper. Stray Kids headline at 8:30, directly after Kali Uchis (7:30–8:30). That transition is smooth if you stay put.
The real trouble hits earlier. Major Lazer (6:30–7:30) collides with Blood Orange (5:30–6:30) and the start of Amyl and the Sniffers (7:30–8:30). Dancehall vs. alt-R&B vs. punk. Pick a mood and commit.
Mid-card is stacked with clashes: Ravyn Lenae (4:00–4:45) overlaps with Jane Remover (3:30–4:15), and Snow Strippers (4:45–5:30) runs right into Wet Leg (4:45–5:30). That last one is a true coin flip, two buzzy acts at the exact same time.
Sunday, June 7
Sunday might be the strongest day top to bottom. A$AP Rocky closes at 8:45, opposite the end of JENNIE (7:45–8:45) and Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist (7:45–8:45). That’s the toughest final hour of the weekend.
The lead-up is just as tight. Dominic Fike (6:45–7:45) overlaps with Clipse (5:45–6:45) and Hot Mulligan (6:15–7:15). Three different crowds, same window.
Earlier, Japanese Breakfast (4:00–4:45) and Holly Humberstone (3:15–4:00) form a nice back-to-back if you stay mobile, but Between Friends (2:30–3:15) cuts into that flow.
The takeaway
Friday is manageable. Saturday is conflict-heavy. Sunday is stacked late.
If you hate missing songs, plan short splits. If you want full sets, accept you’ll miss something big. That’s part of the deal, and honestly, half the fun.
Festivals
PNE Summer Night Concerts Announce 2026 Lineup
Vancouver’s summer concert calendar is locking into place. The annual Summer Night Concerts are set to return to the Pacific National Exhibition from August 22 through September 7, bringing live music back to one of the city’s biggest seasonal events.
This year carries a bit more weight than usual. The series will debut at the brand-new Freedom Mobile Arch, a 10,000-seat outdoor amphitheatre built for large-scale performances. The venue promises better sightlines, improved sound, and a more immersive setup for fans. It’s a major shift for the fair, which spent much of last year dealing with construction that limited its footprint and contributed to a drop in attendance.
Now, with the full site back in action, organizers are aiming for a reset. The 2026 lineup leans into that idea, mixing legacy acts with newer names across genres like rock, pop, hip-hop, and electronic.
Headliners include Blue Rodeo, The Guess Who, The Beaches, Nelly, and Zedd, alongside artists like Mt. Joy, Train, and Barenaked Ladies. Special performances include Cynthia Erivo backed by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, as well as appearances from Punjabi Virsa, Weird Al Yankovic, Earth, Wind & Fire, Pierce the Veil, Sarah McLachlan, and Boy George & Culture Club.
The full schedule runs nightly:
- Aug. 22: Blue Rodeo
- Aug. 23: The Guess Who
- Aug. 25: The Beaches
- Aug. 26: Nelly
- Aug. 27: Zedd
- Aug. 28: Mt. Joy
- Aug. 29: Cynthia Erivo with VSO
- Aug. 30: Punjabi Virsa
- Sept. 1: Train
- Sept. 2: Barenaked Ladies
- Sept. 3: Weird Al Yankovic
- Sept. 4: Earth, Wind & Fire
- Sept. 5: Pierce the Veil
- Sept. 6: Sarah McLachlan
- Sept. 7: Boy George & Culture Club
Tickets start at $49 plus fees and include admission to the PNE Fair. Presale began April 19, with general on-sale launching April 20 through TicketLeader.
New venue, full fairgrounds, and a lineup that leans both nostalgic and current. After a quieter year, the PNE looks ready to feel busy again.