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
