Memorial Weekend Preview: Boston Calling

It’s been nearly two years since the Boston Calling festival first graced City Hall Plaza, and after four weekend-long parties packed with live music it’s hard to imagine life without it. Household names like Lorde, Vampire Weekend, Bastille and Passion Pit have rubbed elbows with Boston bands like Bearstronaut, Bad Rabbits and Gentlemen Hall, causing 40K+ music fans to flock to the concrete jungle we call downtown.

As Memorial Day weekend approaches, buzz over May’s lineup is palpable. Boston Calling has once again picked an eclectic mix of acts – from Grammy-winning postmodern performer Beck to the irreverent stylings of Tenacious D and the stirring folk rock of The Lone Bellow — that resonate with a wide audience. Talk about range; you’ve got radio-dominating up and comer Tove Love breathing the same air as The Pixies – Boston locals who have been rocking since 1986.

If the weather report holds steady we can look forward to warm, breezy days spent dancing in the festival crowds or chilling out under the trees. Sam Adams is back as a sponsor of the leafy beer garden, which means seasonal favorites like Porch Rocker and Summer Ale will be back on tap along with perennial hit Boston Lager and relative newcomer Rebel IPA.

One addition that caught my eye this time around is Brick Red — the draft-only Irish Red Ale style that Sam Adams has been serving only in Boston for the past six years. When asked about the decision making process behind the beers that Sam Adams will be bringing to Boston Calling, Jennifer Glanville, Brewery Programs Manager explained, “All of these beers are perfect for enjoying while listening to great music, and I like to think we have a beer for every beer lover’s palate.”

So there you have it – bands that appeal to thousands of music lovers, paired with beers that have made their mark on thousands of budding craft drinkers. If I were a betting woman, I’d say it’s going to be a great long weekend.