Friday belonged to “emo cowgirls,” Saturday to rock lovers and Sunday to 1990s alternative fans. All weekend long, prominent headliners and small artists alike brought energy and variety to the Boston Calling crowd at Harvard Athletics Complex from May 23 to 25 — despite the gloomy weather. 

Country fun Friday

Country vibes were in the air May 23, as concertgoers donned cowboy boots, hats and an abundance of denim. 

Boston-born Bebe Stockwell kicked off the day, setting the tone with her heartwarming indie songs like “Call Me By Your Name” and a cover of “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

The country theme continued with Dalton and The Sheriffs, featuring BU alum Brian Scully, who stepped in after TLC dropped out. Their set included songs about growing up on the South Shore and working at Lansdowne Pub. 

The atmosphere was truly Bostonian — especially evident in the long line for Dunkin’ Donuts samples. 

Other acts like Wilderado, a folk band from Oklahoma, and nine time Grammy winner Sheryl Crow kept the energy high all afternoon. 

By evening, the crowd was ready for headliners Megan Moroney and Luke Combs. 

Moroney started out with my personal favorite and one of the only love songs on her album, “Am I Okay?” By the end of the show, she performed “The Girls,” a track about her friends who have always been there for her, and “Bless Your Heart” for anyone who’s dealt with people bringing them down — we’ve all been there.  

Moroney didn’t miss a beat even with the small slip during “Am I Okay?” Between multiple outfit changes, matching guitars and a sparkling set, she rocked the stage and brought the crowd to life.  

Though Luke Combs took the stage 20 minutes behind schedule, the crowd was ecstatic for his arrival.

The crowd cheered and sang along from the jump as Combs opened with “1, 2 Many.” He then played “When It Rains It Pours” — a fitting choice given the weather — and other top hits including “Going, Going, Gone” and “Better Together.”

My favorite moment of the set was when he brought Moroney back on stage to sing “Beer Never Broke My Heart.”

Combs closed out the night with “Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma,” a song he wrote for the “Twisters” soundtrack, and the experience felt straight out of a movie despite a lack of tornado. 

Although I’m not the biggest fan of Combs, the show was intense, and the energy was captivating — he made for an epic headliner. 

From ‘emo cowgirl’ to emo rock

The Arena Stage, featuring Berklee College of Music students like Srisley, was a crowd favorite. 

Srisley’s Latin-inspired jazz songs were fun and dynamic, and it was clear her band had a strong connection with their seamless harmony. My favorite was her song “Cucaracha,” written about a late-night cockroach encounter she had in her kitchen. 

The Maine, an emo alternative rock band from Arizona, set the day up for success with their upbeat music that was perfect to jump and bop heads to.

New England locals like Sidebody and Copilot brought strong hometown energy to the festival at the Orange Stage. 

Sidebody vocalist Hava Horowitz wore a sash with a real phone number for fans to call in and tell the band a Boston-centric story. The band said they’ll eventually be turning those calls into a song — something I can’t wait to hear. 

At the Green Stage, indie pop band Cage The Elephant brought phenomenal energy and strong vocals. Their songs sounded just as good live as they do on their studio recordings. 

The band closed with a personal favorite of mine, “Cigarette Daydreams.” The song is the epitome of summer and will definitely be on my playlist.

Later, fans came decked out in temporary tattoos and Y2K fashion to see the 2000s pop-punk queen, Avril Lavigne. 

Lavigne delivered one of the most electric performances of the weekend, complete with pyrotechnics and a hit-filled setlist. From “What the Hell” to “Sk8ter Boi,” she rocked out with her lime green hair and a matching bedazzled guitar. 

Emo pop-punk band Fall Out Boy closed out May 24’s lineup with a nostalgia-packed set for anyone who had an emo phase. Alongside hits like “Centuries” and “Uma Thurman,” the band paid homage to Boston by covering Fenway Park’s staple “Sweet Caroline” and an instrumental intro of Dropkick Murphys’ “I’m Shipping Up to Boston.” 

Sunday was sublime for 90s lovers

Sunday brought better weather and a packed audience of alternative, ska and reggae lovers. 

The day felt like a fever dream — from Remi Wolf’s brightly colored set to Sublime’s trippy soundboard. 

Despite 15 minutes of technical issues, Wolf’s quick wit and improvised crowd work made her one of the day’s most memorable performers. Wolf danced and jumped around the stage while singing “Cinderella” and “Disco Man,” bringing such a fun spirit to the crowd. 

Sublime, which recently introduced new frontman Jakob Nowell — son of original member Bradley Nowell, who died in 1996 — followed Wolf with a mix of fan favorites and playful commentary. The band closed with their most iconic song, “Santeria,” which Nowell jokingly called a never-released track.  

Vampire Weekend followed and played a song dedicated to their close friend who is a Harvard University football alum. The band closed out with “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa,” which was a nice tribute to the area and a fitting goodbye. 

As the festival wound down, Dave Matthews Band took the stage. As someone who had never listened to their music before, I’d describe it as “divorced dad rock.” The crowd was full of energetic fans, including some who followed the band since the 90s.  

As we all sat on the lawn, I realized this year’s Boston Calling brought together so many different people, from young kids to older adults — all sharing in the festival experience. 

While previous years saw bigger headliners, the three separate genres that spanned each day of the weekend made the festival much more eclectic and inclusive. I never thought I’d see Luke Combs, Fall Out Boy and Dave Matthews Band perform on the same stage all in one weekend — but I’m so glad I did.