Festivals
Boston Calling 2025 – Day Two Recap & Photos
Harvard Athletic Complex, Boston, MA – May 24, 2025
Day Two of Boston Calling 2025 was a sun-soaked celebration of pop-punk nostalgia and alternative rock energy. The weather was a welcome shift from Friday’s rain, with clear skies and a gentle breeze setting the stage for a day filled with great performances.
Saturday continued the epic weekend, and did not disappoint. With star-studded performances from headliners, Avril Lavigne and Fall Out Boy, fans flocked to the stages, shoulder-to-shoulder across the grounds, ready to scream every word of their teenage anthems. Undoubtedly Saturday was the most packed day of the entire weekend.
By far, the day’s biggest draw was Avril Lavigne. Her last Boston Calling set in 2022 was a fan favorite, and this year she somehow managed to top it. She strutted onstage to massive cheers, immediately launching into a string of hits that had the crowd losing it with “Girlfriend,” “Complicated,” and “What the Hell” right out of the gate. Her voice sounded sharp, and her energy was high. Somewhere around “My Happy Ending,” she whipped out a slime green guitar. And in a surprise twist, she brought out All Time Low’s Alex Gaskarth to perform their new song “Fake As Hell.” Avril’s set felt like a love letter to the early 2000s, but it never felt stale, just a lot of pop-punk joy.
Speaking of chaos, Cage The Elephant brought it. Matt Shultz is somehow even more of a wild man than he was pre-pandemic. He didn’t say much, but he didn’t need to. His dance moves, frantic energy, and full-send vocals said everything. “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” had the whole crowd moving like it was a last-chance dance party. Their hour-long set was a nonstop swirl of sweat and catharsis. If you weren’t winded after that, you weren’t doing it right.
The Black Crowes added a gritty change of pace with a set that felt like a reminder that rock and roll still has a heartbeat. Chris Robinson came out swinging, declaring, “There are some rock ’n’ roll people here today!” He had a point. While the rest of the fest leaned alt and pop-punk, the Crowes delivered guitar solos and bluesy swagger. “She Talks to Angels” was a highlight.
The afternoon was peppered with impressive sets from All Time Low, James Bay (who looked exactly like he did a decade ago when Chaos and the Calm first broke him wide open), and The Maine, each bringing their unique flavor to the festival. Local act Rebuilder held their own on the orange stage, delivering a gritty performance that showcased the depth of Boston’s music scene.
Fall Out Boy closed the night like seasoned pros, celebrating 20 years of From Under the Cork Tree. Pete Wentz literally lit up the stage with flames shooting from his bass. Patrick Stump sounded as good as ever, and their setlist was tight. “Sugar, We’re Goin Down” and “Dance, Dance” brought out the loudest singalongs of the night. They even managed to squeeze in tracks from every one of their eight albums.
Saturday was the most packed day of the fest and for good reason. It hit every emotional note: nostalgia, chaos, joy, catharsis, and made a solid case that pop-punk and alt rock are aging just fine. The crowd’s enthusiasm never waned, and as the final notes echoed into the night, it was clear that Day Two had hit all the right notes.
There are still many great shows to look forward to tomorrow, Remi Wolf, Sublime, and Vampire Weekend being major fan favorites. See you on the final day!
Check out some photos of the day below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
All Photo Credit: Faith Constantine
Festivals
Coachella 2026 Set Times Are Out, With Jack White Added to Weekend One
The schedule for the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is here, and weekend one is already looking packed. Music starts at 1 p.m. PST on Friday, April 10, kicking off three days of tight set clashes, late-night headliners, and one surprise addition.
Headliners Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G lead the bill across the weekend. Carpenter opens things on Friday with a 9:05 p.m. set on the Coachella Stage, running just over 90 minutes. She’s followed by Anyma, who takes over at midnight to debut a new production titled “Æden.”
Saturday belongs to Bieber, who closes out the night with an 11:25 p.m. start. Before that, The Strokes hit the same stage at 9 p.m. Sunday wraps with Karol G, with competing sets from BIGBANG and Kaskade pulling fans in different directions.
The big curveball this year is Jack White, who joins the lineup for a Saturday afternoon slot. He’ll open the Mojave Stage at 3 p.m., marking a return to the festival after last headlining as a solo act in 2015. His appearance follows a recent run of surprise bookings at Coachella, a trend that’s become part of the festival’s identity.
Saturday night also brings Nine Inch Noize—a collaboration between Trent Reznor and Boys Noize—to the Sahara Tent for an 8 p.m. set.
Elsewhere, Coachella is leaning into immersive experiences. A new installation tied to Radiohead, called “Radiohead Motion Picture House: Kid A Mnesia,” will debut near the Sahara Tent. The 75-minute film blends visuals and audio pulled from the recording era of their albums Kid A and Amnesiac, created by Thom Yorke and longtime collaborator Stanley Donwood. It’s free with a reservation, with standby access for anyone willing to wait.
Beyond the headliners, the real challenge this year is picking a path through the schedule. Set conflicts are everywhere: David Byrne vs. Interpol, FKA twigs vs. The Rapture, and a crowded overlap featuring The xx, Dijon, Ninajirachi, DEVO, and more. Late Saturday gets especially messy with PinkPantheress going up against The Strokes, and Sunday throws in clashes like Moby vs. Turnstile.
A few lineup tweaks round things out. Foster the People move to Sunday, and new additions include Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Afrojack x Smiza, Deep Dish, and more.
Weekend two set times are still under wraps. For now, weekend one already looks like a scheduling headache, in the best way.
More information on the festival’s website.
Festivals
Morrissey and The Smashing Pumpkins to Headline Darker Waves 2026
Morrissey and The Smashing Pumpkins will headline Darker Waves Festival on November 14, 2026 in Huntington Beach, CA. Returning to Huntington Beach City Beach at Huntington Street and Pacific Coast Highway, the ocean-side festival will feature legendary performances from over 35 artists across three stages including Simple Minds, Bad Religion, Adam Ant, The Psychedelic Furs, Soft Cell, The Damned, Manic Street Preachers, Gary Numan, Silversun Pickups, Buzzcocks, EMF, Circle Jerks, Spacehog, Marky Ramone and more. Fans can sign up now for the festival SMS list at DarkerWavesFest.com to receive a passcode to the presale beginning Thursday, April 2 at 10am PT with access to the lowest-priced GA tickets from 10am to 11am PT. GA, GA+, VIP, and Ultimate VIP Tickets will be available, with layaway payment plans starting at $19.99 down. Any remaining tickets will go on sale to the public following the presale.
GA+ tickets include access to the exclusive GA+ Lounge with shaded seating and air-conditioned restrooms, plus a dedicated entry lane at the festival main entrance, and more. VIP tickets include unlimited entry into the VIP Lounge with preferred viewing area by the main stage, charging stations, air-conditioned restrooms, dedicated entry lane at the festival main entrance and more. Ultimate VIP tickets feature all amenities of VIP, plus access to elevated and unobstructed views of both main stages with shaded open lounge seating, dedicated VIP concierge team, a complimentary locker to store personal items, three complimentary drinks including choice of craft cocktails, beer, wine or non-alcoholic beverages, a complimentary meal redeemable for exclusive food options in the VIP Lounge and more.
Official Darker Waves vacation packages from Jampack pair GA, GA+, or VIP tickets with beachfront stays at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa or The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel, and more. Bundles include a dedicated entrance, re-entry access, and commemorative merch.
For tickets and the full list of amenities available in each ticket package, please visit DarkerWavesFest.com.