Boston Calling Music Festival returns this weekend for its annual Memorial Day Weekend event, and Live For Live Music will once again be on-site to capture the action.

Before we head out to Harvard Athletic Conference on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 23rd, 24th, and 25th, we’ve compiled this handy list of 12 acts not to miss at Boston Calling 2025, organized by day. With a blend of genres, contemporary and nostalgic acts, local artists getting their own stage, and the return of sets inside the arena, it’s shaping up to be a memorable weekend of music. Revisit our coverage of Boston Calling 2024 here.

FRIDAY, MAY 23

Wilderado

Wilderado has created its own unique sound somewhere in the world of Caamp, Mt Joy, and Houndmouth. Call it indie-folk or something like that, but it’s a sound that has always resonated deeply with Boston music fans and Boston Calling (See also: The crowd shots at 2023’s Saturday sets with Joy Oladokun, Mt Joy, Noah Kahan and The Luminners). Wilderado is a perfect pick for an early afternoon set on the main stage and we can’t wait to hear them live.

Thee Sacred Souls

Thee Sacred Souls have taken the country by storm. The amount of growth this band has shown since it was opening for St Paul and The Broken Bones in 2021 is enormous. Halfway between soul and R&B, Thee Sacred Souls put on an incredibly engaging set, getting up-close and personal with fans.

T-Pain

Banger after banger. T-Pain has successfully ditched the era when he was a punchline about autotune ruining music and has emerged as a well respected artist who has more than proven his vocal chops. Between his original hits, his many features, and the covers that he’s made a staple of his shows, T-Pain is the perfect set to get you dancing and lead into a headliner.

SATURDAY, MAY 24

Mon Rovia

With hauntingly beautiful vocals, Mon Rovia has the sort of lyrics that don’t need much more. With a somewhat minimalist sound, he, like Wilderado, has found his own unique space in the indie-folk world. With just over 1.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Boston Calling is the perfect opportunity to show off his sound to a larger audience that should be right in his wheelhouse.

Lucius

The voices of angels. That’s really the only way to describe Grammy-nominated Lucius lead vocalists Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig. They’ve been indie darlings for years now, have deep roots in Boston, and have notched collabs with The War on Drugs, Brandi Carlile, The Killers, and Nathaniel Rateliff, to name a few. Their live show has been phenomenal for years, and their newest single, “Gold Rush”, is sure to be a perfect addition to the setlist.

Cage The Elephant

Cage the Elephant is simply one of the best live bands of the past decade. With an insanely deep discography after the group’s most recent album, Neon Pill, any combination of songs in this set will vie for the best rock set of the weekend. Matt Shultz is the closest thing we have to a young Mick Jagger, bouncing around stage (as long as he doesn’t have a cast on his leg like last tour). This is the can’t-miss set of the weekend.

Fall Out Boy

Besides all of the great tunes we all know, Fall Out Boy is a rock show’s rock show. Anything less than Pete Wentz shooting fire out of his bass again will be a disappointment.

SUNDAY, MAY 25

Snacktime

Snacktime leads off what’s probably the strongest day of the Boston Calling in 2025. Out of Philly, this brass band blends R&B, hip hop, and indie music. You can’t help but get up and dance. They bring headliner energy to an opening set—impossible not to love.

Goth Babe

Another high-energy set that will undoubtedly have the crowd going wild, Goth Babe’s indie-kind-of-not-really-pop music was made for festivals in the sun. In addition to encouraging stunts like having an audience member crowd surf on a giant watermelon pool float, he’s got the musical chops and stage presence to impress.

Remi Wolf

The main stage is the place to be Sunday. Remi Wolf will keep the energy high following Goth Babe. With absolute bops like “Disco Man”, “Photo ID” and her most recent hit, “Cinderella”, Remi is a walking dance party. She and her band move, shake it, and rock out from the opening note to the last. She’s the freest spirit you can see in a live show and it’s infectious.

Vampire Weekend

Prepare to debate the oxford comma. Vampire Weekend, veterans of the indie scene with deep ties to Boston and New England, return for a second time on their most recent album (and maybe their best album to date), Only God Was Above Us. Beyond their deep catalog of hits, they’ve gone viral for special guests like a real housewife of Salt Lake City at Kilby Block Party last year and an encore of open requests for covers of Phoenix, Tame Impala and more. Considering their custom of long breaks between albums, this may be the last time to catch Vampire Weekend in New England for a while.

Dave Matthews Band

With all of the other stages due to finish their weekend programming before Dave Matthews Band hits the main stage on Sunday, it won’t be difficult for Dave Matthews Band to be the “Best of What’s Around” on Sunday night. Catch the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees how they were meant to be seen an heard—outdoors, on a summer evening, surrounded by friends.

Boston Calling 2025 takes place at the Harvard Athletic Fields over Memorial Day Weekend. Tickets and more information are available here.