The lineup is carefully created to spotlight some of the world’s most exciting artists. Look for Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett, pop rock sister trio Haim, celebrated singer/songwriter Sufjan Stevens, Swedish indie-pop sensations Miike Snow, the sultry Elle King, and R&B singer-songwriter Janelle Monáe.
Other must-see performances include guitarist for The National and Boston Calling curator Aaron Dessner in a unique collaboration with Irish musician Lisa Hannigan, hit-makers ODESZA, and cult hero City and Colour.
Noteworthy enhancements for 2016 include an intimate third stage featuring comedy and other performances, all of which will be announced in the coming weeks, and an expanded food and beverage program. Boston Calling will newly partner with local wine champions Wine Riot to create a specially curated wine experience, featuring leading wines from around the globe. Samuel Adams will once again be providing craft beers and ciders throughout the festival grounds, and Boston Calling will newly introduce a special guest European brewer, which will be creating a custom Boston Calling beer. New additions to the food pavilion will be revealed in the spring.
“We believe the upcoming festival will be the most interesting edition yet. The lineup that Aaron and his team created is amazing. We’ve spent so much time this year on making the attendee experience the best it can be, from the new food and beverage experience to the new performance stage; we have even more programming space this year. We also still have a few more surprises to share,” says festival co-founder Brian Appel.
“We have tried to make each successive edition of Boston Calling more exciting and diverse, and this May’s festival is no different,” says festival curator Aaron Dessner. “To have artists as adventurous and distinct as Sufjan, Sia, Charles Bradley, Haim, Robyn, Lizzo and Battles, to name just a few, is incredibly exciting and we can’t wait to take it all in.”
The VIP area will once again offer access to City Hall Courtyard, a 25,000 square foot Mezzanine with prime views of both stages as well as complimentary food by The Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar.
Boston Calling’s May 2016 lineup as of January 14, 2016 is as follows. The daily schedule will be announced at a later date. *Artists are subject to change.
Disclosure
Robyn
ODESZA
Sufjan Stevens
Haim
Miike Snow
Janelle Monáe
City and Colour
Courtney Barnett
Elle King
The Front Bottoms
BØRNS
Charles Bradley and his Extraordinaires
The Vaccines
Vince Staples
Battles
Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Christine and the Queens
Lisa Hannigan and Aaron Dessner
Lizzo
Palehound
Michael Christmas
About Boston Calling: Boston Calling has earned the praise of over 250,000 fans since its first edition in May of 2013 and has received glowing reviews from the likes of Rolling Stone and The Boston Globe for everything from its versatile lineup to its quality of production. Boston Magazinewrote, “In less than three years, Boston Calling has become not just the city’s biggest music festival, but one of Boston’s most iconic events. A three-day party in the heart of Government Center, it’s been a cross-genre, cross-generational success.” Set on a hill in Downtown Boston and with the city’s skyline as its backdrop, Boston Calling’s locale at City Hall Plaza continues to offer the ideal urban festival vibe. Production highlights include two primary performance stages with non-overlapping sets, festival-wide beer experiences from the locally founded and based Samuel Adams, a food pavilion comprised of locally and nationally known food vendors, along with world-class lighting, special effects and design. Boston Calling also features a VIP component whereby VIP ticketholders have access to City Hall Courtyard, a 25,000 square foot Mezzanine offering prime views of both stages as well as curated food menus and amenities.
Crash Line Productions is a Boston-based entertainment production company that owns and produces dozens of events each year. Formed in 2012 by Brian Appel and Mike Snow, Crash Line Productions continues to build its event platform around the semi-annual Boston Calling Music Festival and the new Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
City Hall Plaza is located at One City Hall Square in downtown Boston. The festival is accessible via the city’s T, at the Government Center stop on the Green or Blue line, the Park Street stop on the Green or Red Line, the State Street stop on the Orange or Blue line and the Haymarket stop on the Orange or Green line. The 92 and 93 buses also stop outside of City Hall Plaza on Congress Street.
