Boston Calling Announces 2018 Lineup
Boston Calling, one of Boston’s most iconic events and one of the world’s largest metropolitan music festivals, announced its 2018 lineup yesterday. The internationally acclaimed and locally grown music festival returns for its ninth edition and will take place for the second consecutive year at the Harvard Athletic Complex in Allston (65 North Harvard Street, Boston) on Memorial Day Weekend, May 25 – 27, 2018. Headlined by Eminem, The Killers, and Jack White, Boston Calling 2018 will deliver over 54 performances from musicians, bands, and comedians across its three stages and the festival’s indoor arena. Adding to the excitement, Academy Award-winning actress, producer and director Natalie Portman is confirmed to curate and host a series of special programming at this year’s festival.
More details will be announced in the months ahead.
A limited number of Early Bird tickets to Boston Calling are available today, Thursday, January 4, 2018, at 10:00am EST at www.bostoncalling.com; regular priced tickets will be available after Early Bird tickets sell out.
“Each year we continue to push ourselves to bring fans the very best festival experience. With some new changes and features already announced for this year’s festival, and many more on the way, we are ready and excited to treat our fans to an incredible weekend of performances from some of the world’s most iconic music acts,” said Boston Calling Events, LLC (BCE), Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Brian Appel.
The 2018 Lineup
As always, Boston Calling’s 2018 lineup is curated by Aaron Dessner of The National and features a strikingly deep roster of talent from various genres. From world-renowned superstars to Grammy winners and nominees to buzzworthy local artists on the rise, this year’s festival will offer fans an incredible amount of options over the course of its three days. Fans are bound to experience performances from both must-see acts and exciting newcomers.
This year’s headliners include Eminem, who hasn’t performed in New England since 2005, chart toppers The Killers, and the multi-talented and 12-time Grammy award-winner Jack White, who recently announced he will release his new album, Boarding House Reach, in 2018.
Each year, the festival crafts a lineup that celebrates both heavy hitters and breakout stars while consistently expanding parameters of the music a festival should offer. 2018 is no exception, with Boston Calling’s lineup featuring Queens of the Stone Age; The National; Paramore; Tyler, The Creator; Khalid; Bryson Tiller; Portugal. The Man; Fleet Foxes; St. Vincent; The Decemberists; Brockhampton; Maggie Rogers; Royal Blood; Manchester Orchestra; Daniel Caesar; Thundercat; Stormzy; Pussy Riot; Julien Baker, and many more.
Local and regional acts will include Boston’s 90s alt-rock favorites Belly, indie rock trio Weakened Friends from Portland, Maine, and hip-hop up-and-comer STL GLD. Both Weakened Friends and STL GLD recently took home honors at the 2017 Boston Music Awards.
Boston Calling’s comedy and entertainment programming, held indoors at the festival’s arena, will expand with the addition of two wildly popular and politically charged podcasts: Pod Save America and Lovett or Leave It. The good times will roll with star-studded comedians Jenny Slate, a Boston local, Bridgett Everett, Cameron Esposito, Tony Hinchliffe, Jo Firestone, Max Silvestri, and Martin Urbano.
The 2018 Layout
Boston Calling’s new layout, features and improvements include additional entrance lanes, stronger wi-fi, more activations and art installations, bigger video screens, dozens of additional food vendors, expanded craft brewing options, a brand new 20,000 square foot VIP & Platinum lounge, and an all new Platinum level viewing experience. A new sound system is being deployed on all stages, designed to provide a better experience for attendees, as well as mitigate sound bleed in surrounding communities.
World-acclaimed festival designer, artist and sculptor Russ Bennett is back to bring a reimagined look and aesthetic to 2018’s festival. In 2017, he wowed the Boston Calling crowd with clever art installations and thought-provoking spectacles. Bennett is most known for creating the layout and visual design for such world-renowned festivals as Bonnaroo and Outside Lands, as well as for being the artistic brains behind many of Phish’s shows.
2018 Music Lineup
Eminem
The Killers
Jack White
Queens of the Stone Age
The National
Paramore
Tyler, The Creator
Khalid
Bryson Tiller
Portugal The Man
Fleet Foxes
St. Vincent
The Decemberists
Brockhampton
Maggie Rogers
Royal Blood
Manchester Orchestra
Daniel Caesar
Dirty Projectors
Stormzy
Thundercat
Belly
Pussy Riot
Julien Baker
Alvvays
The Menzingers
Thee Oh Sees
Perfume Genius
Noname
(Sandy) Alex G
Big Thief
Mount Kimbie
Citizen
Pond
Zola Jesus
Taylor Bennett
Westside Gunn & Conway
Charly Bliss
Leikeli47
Field Report
Lillie Mae
Tauk
This Is The Kit
Weakened Friends
Stl Gld
2018 Comedy & Entertainment
Natalie Portman
Pod Save America
Lovett or Leave It
Jenny Slate
Bridget Everett
Cameron Esposito
Tony Hinchcliffe
Jo Firestone
Max Silvestri
Martin Urbano
Further details on Boston Calling’s programming curated and hosted by Natalie Portman, as well as more information about the festival’s food and drink components will be shared in the coming months.
