Boston Calling Announces Foo Fighters, The Strokes And Metallica As 2022 Headliners

Dave Grohl
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for American Museum of National History – Dave Grohl
Foo Fighters perform at the American Museum of National History Gala on Nov. 18, 2021

After it was announced on Thursday, Jan. 20, that Rage Against The Machine would no longer be headlining this year’s Boston Calling, the festival has unveiled its full lineup. Foo Fighters, The Strokes and Metallica will be headlining the event that takes place on Memorial Day Weekend, May 27 – 29. 

“We are so thrilled to bring Boston Calling back, and we cannot thank our loyal fans enough for supporting us as we navigated the pandemic,” Boston Calling Events LLC (BCE), Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Brian Appel, said in a statement. “This year’s lineup is particularly special for us. It not only signifies a return to the things we love, but it also celebrates some of the world’s most renowned acts, exciting up-and-comers, and Boston’s talented music scene. Knowing how much Boston musicians endured during the pandemic, it was very important to us that Boston Calling 2022 shine a spotlight on local and regional artists more than ever before. We are really looking forward to seeing everyone come together on Memorial Day Weekend.” 

Other artists joining this year’s lineup include Japanese Breakfast, Rüfüs Du Sol, HAIM, Avril Lavigne, Cheap Trick, Run The Jewels, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Black Pumas, Weezer, Glass Animals, Goose and more. The festival will also aim to highlight Boston’s own local talents, including Born Without Bones, Avenue, Crooked Coast, Cliff Notez and more. This year’s event will mark the festival’s return since its 2020 cancellation due to the pandemic.

“I’m about to be on one of Boston’s biggest stages with a bunch of my friends throughout the day,” local Boston hip-hop artist, Cliff Notez, said in a statement. “To say we dreamed of this at some point is an understatement, we’re all looking forward to giving fans some of the most amazing performances we’ve ever seen. Wait until you see what we have up our sleeve!”

Boston Calling celebrated its 10th edition in 2019 with a lineup that featured Twenty One Pilots, Travis Scott, Tame Impala, Odesza, Logica and more. In 2018, the festival was headlined by Eminem, The Killers and Jack White. 

Along with pulling out of this year’s event, Rage Against the Machine released a statement saying they would cut back their North American tour and begin their dates on July 9 instead of Mar. 31. The dates for the first leg of their upcoming tour have been postponed, with new dates expected to be announced sometime later on. 

Boston Calling first debuted in May 2013 and took place twice a year in May and September. In 2017, the festival transitioned to occur once a year and moved to a larger venue, the Harvard Athletic Complex in Allston, allowing for more stages.