A last-minute shakeup will affect the lineup of the Boston Calling Music Festival happening this Memorial Day weekend in Allston, with Friday night headliner act Yeah Yeah Yeahs being replaced by Dropkick Murphys due to illness.
The indie rock band’s lead vocalist, Karen O, announced via Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ social media on Thursday afternoon that she “got nailed with a gnarly bug last week that got in there deep.”
Karen O added she has started a course of antibiotics to treat the illness and has been instructed to “rest it out,” meaning Yeah Yeah Yeahs will not be able to perform this Friday evening as intended.
“We have been so looking forward to playing for you again and are super bummed and sorry for the disappointing news,” Karen O said, adding the band hopes to see its fans again in “good health and spirits.”
Now instead of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Massachusetts’ own Dropkick Murphys will take the indie rock band’s allotted time ahead of Foo Fighters’ performance at the Harvard Athletic Complex, the Celtic punk band announced via its social media on Thursday.
Dropkick Murphys’ Ken Casey interacts with the audience while performing at the Big E Arena on opening night Sept. 16, 2022. (Hoang ‘Leon’ Nguyen / The Republican)
Dropkick Murphys, known for hits like “I’m Shipping Up To Boston,” will perform from 5:55 p.m. to 6:55 p.m. on Friday, May 26, according to the band.
The Boston Calling Music Festival also announced the change in lineup on its social media, updating fans that one of the other headliner acts of the evening, the rock band The National, will now play at 7:05 p.m. as part of the adjustment.
Foo Fighters, the act with the top billing for Friday evening, will close out the evening’s performances, Boston Calling added.
Other acts slated for Friday evening include Niall Horan, Chelsea Cutler, Teddy Swims, TALK, Celisse, The Beaches, Zolita, GA-20, Alisa Amador, Razor Braids, Little Fuss, Blue Light Bandits, Summer Cult and Brandie Blaze, according to Boston Calling.