thoughts on: Boston Calling 2024

Maybe this should be more of a general thoughts on music festivals, but I’ll go into some details of performances and such later in the post too. I’ve been going to Boston Calling almost every year since I was in high school and I wanna discuss some of the changes I’ve noticed over the years with festivals in general and also share what I think makes for the best festival going experience. I should say I have been to other festivals and even worked at one so my knowledge is not just limited to the Boston festival.

Let’s start with what I’ve noticed. Festivals have existed basically forever, but I’d say the modern music festival started in the 60s. They were very community based and unorganized. While this meant less gourmet food options, no porta potties, and a lack of VIP tickets, it also was not a corporate million dollar industry. The 2010s in particular ushered in this huge rise in festival popularity due to millennials preference for an experiential economy, a streamline ownership system, and live music being the primary income source for artists replacing record sales after the rise of streaming services. Festivals also altered with the rise of social media. No longer was the primary focus going to see music, it was about the outfits, the photos, the brands, it was a marketer’s dream in a lot of ways. I am starting to see that reverting a bit, with celebrities keeping more low profiles while attending, more lowkey outfits, and a larger focus on the artists performances being shared on social media. Obviously, once something enters a corporate cycle it’s hard to totally remove that from the dynamic, but I do feel like as people start to want to revert to communal and lived experiences the corporations will have to cater to and prioritize that.

Now on to my tips!

• Go with people you trust and feel comfortable being yourself in front of. If your someone who gets stressed out in big crowds be with those who will understand if you need a moment. If you’re with a big group maybe find some buddies who you may be able to break off with if need be.

• Dress however you will feel best! If you wanna wear lingerie and you’ll feel comfortable in that go for it, but if you’d feel better rocking mom jeans and a tshirt do that. (i wore sweatpants and a hawaiian shirt once, just do you)

• WEAR SUNSCREEN and DRINK WATER!!! You risk ruining the whole weekend if you’re “too cool” for safety particularly on the first day.

• Being at the barricade isn’t always worth it. I’m a big proponent of exploring the grounds entirely and if your towards the back there’s more room to dance!

• Look at the map and the other offerings before hand. Most music festivals offer way more than just music, so find your openings to explore food, drink, and the often large collection of free stuff!

• Have fun! I know original right, but if you dance like no one’s watching everyone else will feel more comfortable to do so too, and then everyone is having a better time.

Little review time!!

Renee Rapp: She’s a very talented lady. The way she could bounce from tragic, emotional ballads to brilliant pop hits is incredibly impressive.

Ed Sheeran: So I guess I’m a fan. He performs entirely solo which is cool, but also so much fun. I didn’t realize how many of his songs I knew, and it was a great start to a very fun weekend.

Chappell Roan: What a performer. From the outfit to the energy and the vocals she delivered so incredibly. She drew a major crowd too which is so exciting because she is such a star.

Hozier: The most magical performance of the weekend. Beyond his performance he gave an incredible speech about the state of the world and I think it’s lovely when artists do that.

The Killers: Just a massive sing along to all their hits. A great conclusion!!