Festivals
Boston Calling 2025 – Day Three Recap & Photos
Harvard Athletic Complex, Boston, MA – May 25, 2025
The final day of Boston Calling 2025 was a melting pot of genres, offering a diverse lineup that catered to rock enthusiasts, hip-hop heads, and indie aficionados alike. If you couldn’t find something to love on Sunday, that’s on you.
It started with local funk crew SNACKTIME, who wore matching Allen Iverson-era Sixers jerseys and blew the grogginess off the early crowd. Nothing wakes you up like a horn section!
Then came Remi Wolf, chaotic good incarnate. She hit the stage in a “Be Proud of Yourself” tee, ready to party, even if her mic wasn’t. Tech issues tried to sabotage the set early on, but Wolf handled it like a champ, cracking jokes, giving her bandmates nicknames, and buying time with banter. Once her vocals finally blasted through, it was on. “Cinderella,” “Hello Hello Hello,” and “Pitiful” lit the crowd up. She even threw in a soulful cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” before launching into the full-throttle finale of “Photo ID.” If Boston Calling gives out gold stars, she earned a galaxy.
Sublime brought the West Coast vibes, their reggae-infused rock providing a laid-back contrast to the day’s earlier acts. Jakob Nowell, carrying on his dad Brad’s legacy, made the set feel both nostalgic and alive. He reminded the crowd it was the 29th anniversary of his father’s passing, then jumped right back into the feel-good chaos. “Let’s play something fast so we can all shove each other around a bit.” The crowd happily obliged.
Over at the Blue Stage, Tom Morello came out swinging. No band, just a man and his guitar, railing against injustice with fury. He got the crowd chanting, jumping, and yelling along to Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” (the uncensored version). He even brought out Chuck D for a surprise drop-in to perform “Prophets of Rage,” because why not?
Chuck D wasn’t done yet. Thirty minutes later, Public Enemy took the stage, bringing that full-force, speak-truth-no-matter-what energy they’ve had for four decades. “Fight the Power” still hits hard. Flavor Flav and Chuck D were steady as ever, and the crowd (including the Gen Z kids) danced and shouted like the revolution was starting right then.
As the sun dipped behind the Harvard Athletic Complex, Vampire Weekend made their return, 12 years after first playing Boston Calling. Ezra Koenig sounded like he hasn’t aged a day. They opened with “Ice Cream Piano,” and hit every note fans could have hoped for with “Step,” “Unbelievers,” “Diane Young,” “Oxford Comma.” It was a warm, breezy, feel-good set that satisfied all indieheads.
Then came the closer: Dave Matthews Band. Fresh off their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, they came out bundled in jackets (Dave joked his was “confining”). “Crash Into Me” and “Ants Marching” got the biggest singalongs, while the extended jams gave fans what they came for. It wasn’t the flashiest ending, but it was warm, grounded, and exactly what a Sunday night closer should feel like.
The rain held off. The merch lines stayed long. The music hit the sweet spot between political fire and indie comfort. Sunday felt like a mixtape built to please everyone — young, old, loud, mellow, radical, or just here for the vibes.
Boston Calling 2025 closed on a high note. Here’s to next year and all the great memories that will ensue!
Check out our photos of Remi Wolf below 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.