Boston Calling’s lineup recently dropped, and it’s got everyone talking. Luke Combs, Fall Out Boy, and Dave Matthews Band will take center stage this Memorial Day weekend, alongside Vampire Weekend, Avril Lavigne, and a stacked mix of indie and local acts. But behind the scenes of New England’s biggest festival is Peter Boyd, talent buyer for Crash Line Productions, whose journey to booking one of the country’s most anticipated lineups wasn’t exactly linear.
I caught up with Boyd at the Music You’re Missing studio to talk about his path from college radio to Boston Calling, the industry grind, and the moments that make all the stress worth it.
From College Radio to NASCAR to Festival Stages
Boyd’s story isn’t one of overnight success. “I was a college radio dork,” he says, reminiscing about his first show at Salem State. He bounced around, hosting radio gigs at Wheaton College and University of Chicago’s legendary WHPK, home to some of hip-hop’s earliest radio waves. But post-9/11, the music industry was in flux, and Boyd found himself delivering mail while figuring out his next move.
That move turned out to be the alcohol industry, where he worked on marketing campaigns for Jack Daniel’s and Jim Beam. That’s when a call changed everything. “Jack Daniel’s was like, ‘Hey, we bought a race car. Want to run the NASCAR tour for us?’” Boyd laughs. “I was like, ‘Dude, I’m from Massachusetts. I don’t know shit about NASCAR.’” Turns out, neither did his boss, so they figured it out together, spending a year on the road running bar events and on-site activations.
But music was never far behind. A bartending gig at Church—a now-defunct Boston rock club—led to booking shows, managing bands, and reconnecting with the festival scene. Through a mix of networking, timing, and sheer persistence, he joined the Boston Calling team in 2021 as the festival returned post-pandemic.
Booking a Festival: The Art, The Science, and The Chaos
Boston Calling isn’t just about securing big names—it’s about predicting what artists will explode months before the lineup drops. Take last year’s breakout moment: Chapell Roan.
“That’s all anyone wants to talk to me about,” Boyd says. “I wrote her name down in my notebook in August. Checked out My Kink Is Karma, then Pink Pony Club, and was like, ‘Oh my god, another one.’ We put her on the main stage, and when I showed up at 8 AM, people were already waiting in pink outfits.”
By the time Chapell hit the stage, the crowd was deafening. “It was like what Noah Kahan did the year before, but two hours earlier in the day,” he says. “It was a moment.”
The Local Love Factor
Boston Calling stands out for its dedication to New England talent. While some festivals throw in a couple of local acts as an afterthought, Boyd and his team created the Orange Stage to be a true showcase.
“If I was in a band, just seeing my name on the poster next to headliners would be huge,” he says. “And it’s not just a throwaway slot. We counter-program it to catch foot traffic between the bigger stages.” The setup works—local artists like CakeSwagg and Justin Clancy have packed the stage, proving that homegrown acts can pull crowds just like the headliners.
Advice for Aspiring Artists (And Industry Hopefuls)
For artists trying to break in, Boyd emphasizes one thing: persistence. “Don’t give up,” he says. “The people pouring your drinks in Nashville today? That’s Margo Price in five years. The guy making your burrito? He’s the next Jason Isbell.”
And for those looking to get into the industry, he stresses community. “Go to shows, meet people, offer to help. I was just a dude taking photos at local gigs, and next thing I knew, bands were asking me to manage them. You never know who you’ll meet, and this industry is way smaller than you think.”
Looking Ahead to Boston Calling 2025
With the festival’s new rotating main stage and a focus on improved crowd flow, Boston Calling continues to evolve. “We learned a lot from last year,” Boyd says. “We want to make sure every artist and every fan has the best possible experience.”
So as Boston preps for another Memorial Day weekend takeover, one thing’s clear—whether it’s spotlighting the next breakout star or giving a local band their biggest stage yet, Peter Boyd and his team are making sure Boston Calling keeps delivering the moments that matter. Buy tickets to this year's festival here.
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