By Matt Juul Globe Staff,Updated May 21, 2025, 4:29 a.m.
Another rockin’ Memorial Day weekend is on the horizon thanks to the Boston Calling Music Festival, which returns with a new stage, fresh lineup, and three days of fun for local music lovers. From a preview of the weather forecast to set times to everything that’s new, here’s the ultimate fan’s guide to this year’s Boston Calling.
What’s new this year?
Boston Calling has a new look for 2025. Most notably, a massive single stage is replacing the separate Red and Green stage areas that existed in past iterations of the festival. The new main stage also has the ability to rotate, so as one act performs in front of the audience, the next singer or band can prepare simultaneously backstage.
According to a press release, the rotating stage will feature “state-of-the-art sound and video,” with the redesigned festival layout aimed at “making it easier for attendees to move between performances” while mitigating crowd congestion. The changes come after last year’s Boston Calling received some fan backlash over its crowd size.
In addition to the new stage, Boston Calling will have more water stations available at the fest to keep attendees hydrated. And if you’re looking to get out of the sun (or rain) and relax, the indoor arena makes its grand return this year. While past iterations of Boston Calling have used the space for stand-up performances and even a film festival curated by Natalie Portman, this year’s fest will utilize the indoor arena to showcase performances by Berklee College of Music jazz students.