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There are four performance areas at Boston Calling, with the Orange Stage serving as a showcase of local talent. Highlights from day one include Boston’s own Divine Sweater, who kick things off at 1:45 p.m. Friday on the Red Stage. Later in the day, “I Hate Boston” singer and “Mean Girls” star Reneé Rapp takes over the Green Stage at 5:55 p.m., followed by local rapper kei on the Orange Stage at 7 p.m., singer-songwriter Leon Bridges on the Red Stage at 7:05 p.m., and rockers Young the Giant on the Blue Stage at 7:40 p.m. Friday’s headliner is English crooner Ed Sheeran, who performs on the Green Stage at 8:40 p.m.
Day two of Boston Calling commences with Lowell artist Brittany Tsewole’s Senseless Optimism at 1:45 p.m. on the Red Stage. Meanwhile, Boston band Bad Rabbits, who opened the first Boston Calling back in 2013, make their grand return to the festival with a performance on the Red Stage at 3 p.m.
Other highlights from Saturday include Roxbury rapper Cakeswagg on the Orange Stage at 4:05 p.m., English singer-songwriter Frank Turner and his band the Sleeping Souls on the Red Stage at 4:55 p.m., followed by Phish frontman Trey Anastasio and his band Classic TAB on the Red Stage at 7:15 p.m. Country fans are in for a treat on Saturday night, as Grammy-nominated “Whitehouse Road” singer Tyler Childers headlines day two with a performance on the Green Stage at 9 p.m.

Boston Calling 2024 wraps up on Sunday with a slew of performances. Indie alt-rocker Stefan Thev kicks things off at 1:40 pm. on the Red Stage. Later in the afternoon, pop sensation Chappell Roan takes over the Green Stage at 4:05 p.m.
Additional highlights from day three include rockers the Revivalists on the Red Stage at 5:15 p.m., rapper Megan Thee Stallion on the Green Stage at 6:25 p.m., and Irish singer Hozier on the Red Stage at 7:35 p.m. This year’s fest ends with a performance by rock band the Killers, who headline the Green Stage on Sunday with a performance at 9:10 p.m.

Yes! Tickets to Boston Calling 2024 are still available at bostoncalling.com/tickets. One-day general admission tickets are $196, while three-day general admission passes are $392. Single day and three-day GA+, VIP, and platinum tickets are also available. Attendees who already purchased their tickets in advance should have received their wristbands in the mail. Guests who didn’t receive one in the mail can also head to the box office onsite to pick up replacement wristbands.
The food and drink lineup at Boston Calling will feature a few newcomers, plus plenty of familiar returning vendors. Stillwater chef and “Chopped” champion Sarah Wade brings a mac and cheese feast to the fest with The MacBar. Fellow festival newbie Ricen will have an offering of Thai dishes on hand, while Shaking Crab will have Cajun- and New England-inspired seafood fare. All three vendors will be available at the DoorDash Food Village, which also includes bites by Blackbird Doughnuts and Sally’s Sandwiches, Dumpling Daughter, El Jefe’s Taqueria, Flour, and Lily P’s Fried Chicken.
Additional returning vendors that can be found in the festival’s main field area include Chicken & Rice Guys, Jaju Pierogi, Naco Taco, Roxy’s Grilled Cheese, The Smoke Shop BBQ, Tasty Burger, and more. For guests looking for vegetarian and vegan options, try a bite at spots like The Chubby Chickpea, Zinneken’s, Love Art Sushi, Moyzilla, Ricebur, Flatbread Company, and FoMu.
As for adult beverages, guests 21 and over can enjoy libations from Samuel Adams, Miller Lite, Heineken, Truly, Josh Cellars, and more. GA+, VIP, and platinum ticket holders will also have access to exclusive bar areas with a special lineup of craft cocktails.
Boston Calling platinum ticket holders will also receive gourmet food experiences each day of the festival, kicking off on Friday with bites by James Beard Award-winning chef Ken Oringer of Uni, Toro, Coppa, and most recently, Faccia a Faccia. On Saturday, Will Gilson of Puritan & Co. takes the helm, while Sunday features bites by Joanne Chang, the James Beard Award-winning chef behind Myers + Chang and Flour.

The festival has a full bag policy, meaning all bags will be searched before entry. Fans are allowed to bring small clutch purses and fanny packs that are 6 X 9 inches or smaller, don’t have to be transparent, and can have more than one pocket. However, all other bags that are larger than 6 X 9 inches must not exceed 12 X 6 X 12 inches and must be transparent.
Attendees are also allowed to bring hydration packs that don’t need to be clear, but cannot have more than two total pockets, plus must be emptied of all liquids prior to entry. Reusable bottles are permitted as well, but must be emptied before entering the festival. Water stations will be available onsite to refill bottles and hydration packs.
Additionally, guests are allowed to bring personal-sized hand sanitizer, non-aerosol containers of sunscreen that are 3.4 ounces or less, and cameras, although detachable lenses and accessories like tripods, GoPro mounts, selfie sticks, and similar items won’t be allowed.
For guests who need to bring their prescription medication with them to the festival, they must show the medical staff at the entrance gates the pharmacy-labeled container that includes the patient name, dosage, and other information. Visitors will only be allowed to bring with them enough of the prescribed medication for that day only. Over-the-counter medication must be checked out by the medical staff at the entrances as well.
Additional prohibited items at Boston Calling include coolers; weapons, fireworks, and explosives of any kind; professional video, camera, and audio recording equipment; drones; hammocks; baby strollers; Frisbees; chairs; binoculars; blankets, sheets, and towels; inflatables; umbrellas; spiked jewelry and large chains; glass containers; carts; tents or any shaded structures; and illegal or illicit substances.
Outside food and beverages are also prohibited, as are pets (except for service animals), plus personal transportation items like skateboards, scooters, and bicycles. Free bicycle parking will be available near the entrance.
Boston Calling is also a completely cashless festival, so leave the Benjamins at home. Guests are encouraged to register their wristbands online to sync a payment method, enabling them to pay with just a tap of the wrist. Lockers with charging stations will be available to rent out as well throughout the weekend.
Another belonging you should leave at home: your car. There will be no parking available onsite or on the street in the surrounding area (expect strict ticketing and towing of vehicles that weekend).
Instead, attendees are encouraged to walk or take the T, with the Red Line station at Harvard Square located just a short walk from the festival’s main entrance at 65 N. Harvard St. at the Harvard Athletic Complex in Allston. Festival-goers can also take the bus, with both the 66 and 86 routes stopping at Harvard Stadium. Commuter rail riders can take the Worcester line to the Boston Landing Station, located a little more than a mile from the venue.
Fans opting to use a rideshare app can get dropped off near the main entrance at Harvard Stadium, with gates opening at 1 p.m. each day. However, at the end of each night, attendees using a rideshare app to get home should follow signs to the designated rideshare pickup lot.

Music lovers of all ages are welcome at Boston Calling, and children under 10 can even attend for free without a wristband. When you and the little ones are tuckered out from dancing, relax with a ride on the Ferris wheel located near the Blue Stage for epic views of the festival. Proceeds from the Ferris wheel rides will also go to benefit Music Drives Us, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting school music programs.
Boston is due for a bit of summer-like heat this week according to the Globe’s Dave Epstein, before a cold front moves in bringing “a few showers and even the rumble of thunder.” Luckily, it sounds like “it should be a fairly nice weekend” as the festival kicks off, with temperatures expected to “be more typical for this time of year.” We’ll keep you updated on the weekend’s weather as new forecasts come in.
It’s always great to score free swag or other freebies at festivals, and there’ll be plenty to check out at Boston Calling this year. Head to the House of Dunkin’ for free iced coffee, munchkins, plus additional activities and giveaways. Meanwhile, fans who have the Jersey Mike’s app on their phone can enter the Sub Above Club area, featuring free subs and a performance by a surprise guest.
Attendees who are 21 and older can check out the Miller Lite area at the festival’s Bar 75, featuring complimentary WiFi and charging stations, plus games like cornhole, pop-a-shot, and more. Additionally, the canned water company Liquid Death has a club set up where guests are invited to try a complimentary beverage, get airbrushed tattoos, and have their horoscopes read.

On Friday night, Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls will play an after party show at Big Night Live beginning at 10 p.m.
Safety: Boston Calling has a zero-tolerance policy against harassment. According to the festival’s website, organizers “will not tolerate any harassment based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, body size, appearance, age or national origin.” Should a festival-goer feel threatened, harassed, or unsafe in any way, they are asked to report the incident immediately to the closest staff member.
Accessibility: The festival will have an ADA accessibility center onsite, located to the right of the welcome arches. Staff members there can help answer questions as well as request wristbands that allow entry to the accessibility viewing areas or the deaf/hard of hearing areas. The accessibility center can also provide outlets to recharge mobility devices, as well as assisted listening devices for those who need them. Guests with disabilities can also enter the festival via designated lanes. Festival-goers can request ASL interpreters for specific performances by e-mailing ada@bostoncalling.com. Visit bostoncalling.com for more information.
Matt Juul can be reached at matthew.juul@globe.com.
Local News
An East Boston father is suing ICE, alleging immigration agents unlawfully stopped, arrested, and detained him because of his race and national origin despite having his legal status, his lawyers said.
Lawyers for Civil Rights filed the lawsuit Thursday on behalf of Jose Pineda, a 62-year-old Salvadoran immigrant who has lived in the U.S. for more than three decades and is authorized to remain and work through humanitarian relief, the nonprofit legal organization said in a press release.
The suit is seeking damages under the Federal Tort Claims Act, alleging false arrest, false imprisonment, assault, and severe emotional distress.
“I came to the United States to escape the civil war that devastated El Salvador. I worked hard, started a family, and built a life here,” said Pineda, who works as a landscaper and lives with his wife and 13-year-old daughter. “I never expected to feel that kind of fear again, much less in the United States.”
According to the 30-page complaint, written by LCR senior attorneys Victoria Miranda and Mirian Albert, Pineda has been a recipient of Temporary Protected Status, which allows certain foreign nationals from designated countries to live and work legally in the U.S.
Pineda also had a pending asylum petition and had been granted a T visa, which provides immigration protections to trafficking victims, the complaint states.
“We will not stand idly by as ICE wreaks havoc on immigrant families. Through racial profiling, ICE agents are carrying out an unquestionably discriminatory agenda,” Miranda said in the release. “The law exists to protect people like Mr. Pineda, and it must be enforced against ICE.”
The lawsuit stems from a May 2025 encounter in Weymouth, where Pineda was driving a landscaping truck to a job site when agents in unmarked ICE vehicles surrounded him, according to the complaint.
“The aggressive nature of the questioning made it clear to Mr. Pineda that he was not being judged based on any evidence of unlawful conduct, but rather on his identity, race, ethnicity, and/or national origin,” Pineda’s attorneys wrote.
The lawsuit alleges ICE officers then “forcibly” handcuffed and shackled Pineda before taking him to the agency’s field office in Burlington.
Officers searched Pineda’s belongings during the stop and again at the field office, allegedly confiscating $600 in cash that he intended to use to pay his family’s rent. The money has not been returned, according to the complaint.
Pineda spent two days in ICE custody under what the lawsuit describes as “cruel and inhumane conditions.”
“After what ICE did to me, and after everything my family has endured, I don’t know if I will ever truly feel safe again,” Pineda said.
According to the complaint, he was held in severely overcrowded cells containing more than 40 people — at times as many as 60 — leaving little room to sit and forcing him to remain standing for much of his detention. Detainees also allegedly shared a single toilet and sink without soap or toilet paper and were not provided toothbrushes, clean clothes, or showers.
Fluorescent lights remained on around the clock, making it difficult to sleep, while temperatures became “extremely cold” overnight and some detainees received only aluminum blanekts for warmth, the complaint states.
Pineda was given only a two-minute phone call during his detention and received two bottles of water each day, along with “inadequate and limited” food and water, according to the complaint.
“Mr. Pineda has suffered devastating and ongoing physical and emotional harm that has impacted all aspects of his life,” his attorneys wrote. “Mr. Pineda brings this action to seek accountability for these violent and traumatizing tortious acts of the ICE officers and to address the harms inflicted upon him.”
According to LCR, Pineda was released following advocacy by Centro Presente, a Massachusetts immigrant rights organization.
After his release, ICE initiated removal proceedings against him depsite his humanitarian protections, the organization said. Those proceedings were ultimately dismissed.
“ICE targeted Mr. Pineda based on nothing more than his perceived national origin and the nature of his work,” Albert said in the press release. “Our laws prohibit this kind of arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement. Through this lawsuit, we seek to hold the federal government accountable for the violence and harm inflicted on Mr. Pineda.”
ICE referred questions about the lawsuit to the Department of Homeland Security. DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday evening.
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BOSTON (WHDH) – A pedestrian was hit and killed in Roxbury Thursday morning.
The collision occurred just before 8:20 a.m. on Tremont Street.
Police said Tremont Street was closed in both directions between Brigham Circle and Roxbury Crossing.
This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.
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A 96-year-old Boston woman received the surprise of a lifetime when she discovered the French men’s national soccer team had become her neighbors at the Four Seasons Hotel in the Back Bay.
Shirley, a beloved resident of the neighborhood, said she had no idea she would end up meeting the players in town for the World Cup.
“They’re my buddies,” she said with a laugh.
Her caretaker, Samia, said Shirley has become well known around Back Bay.
“Anyone outside, when we are walking, people come to her and want to talk to her,” Samia said.
The U.S. is out of the World Cup. Fellow co-hosts Mexico and Canada are too. So who should
The excitement around the hotel grew after the French team arrived to stay there during the tournament.
Shirley said the encounter happened unexpectedly while she was eating lunch.
“I was having lunch and they came over, and since then, it’s been wonderful to have them here,” she said.
Shirley said team representatives soon invited her to meet the players.
“And they said, ‘He would like to meet you.’ I said, ‘I’m glad to meet anybody,’” she recalled.
For this Massachusetts teenager, attending a World Cup match was more than a dream come true, it was a milestone in a journey that began when he was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma — something that might not have happened if he hadn’t been playing soccer.
After the visit, Shirley recorded a cellphone video sharing her excitement.
“This is absolutely — I cannot tell you how unbelievably fabulous this is,” she said.
The meeting ended with a memorable gift: A jersey from French star Kylian Mbappé.
The team also made her a promise.
“[They] told me that if they win, he will sign it, and then it will be worth a lot of money,” she said, laughing.
Samia, who is from Algeria, quickly agreed. She said she was already a devoted supporter of the French squad after spending many years living in France.
“I’m so excited. I went to Philadelphia to watch the game this past weekend. So, believe me, I’m totally 100% with them. I wanted them to go back to France with a cup,” she said.
Shirley said she never expected to become a fan, but she appreciated the sense of community the tournament brought to her neighborhood.
“It’s good to see such camaraderie happening, with people here getting along. Yeah, it’s the greatest thing,” she said.
She said she still did not know why the team wanted to meet her, but she’s grateful nonetheless. Shirley remains hopeful her new friends would keep winning, and keep returning to Boston.
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