Appel acknowledges that Bostonians (and New Englanders in general) have very strong opinions about everything from sports to music, and anything in between, so it comes as no surprise to both Appel and Snow that there is an innate pressure involved in putting together a well-balanced and well-received lineup. When deciding which bands to book, “we know it [the lineup] will immediately get dissected...and we’re ok with that” remarks Appel. With that in mind, this year’s lineup reveals no weak spots, with the likes of Death Cab for Cutie, Modest Mouse, Tegan and Sara, Built to Spill and numerous other well-known acts taking the stage.

The festival isn’t entirely about nationally and internationally renowned bands -- some Boston locals have gotten in on the action as well. Magic Man and TigermanWOAH! have each been granted opening slots on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Magic Man’s brand of upbeat synth-pop will be a great way to kick off the party on Saturday afternoon. Their soaring vocal melodies and huge choruses are perfectly suited for the festival atmosphere. TigermanWOAH!’s blend of folk, blues, rock, whiskey and awesomeness will be a welcome addition to the stage at City Hall Plaza.

The idea for this festival started back when Appel and Snow were both working for the now-defunct WFNX radio station. After the fall of WFNX, Appel and Snow decided to take the idea of a Boston-based music festival and bring it to life through their production company, Crashline Productions. So far, that decision has been a huge success. Last year, the festival attracted roughly 70,000 people between the spring and fall concerts. “We feel really fortunate that the fans have been so loyal for the short amount of time [Boston Calling] has been around,” states Appel.

The excitement kicks off Friday night, May 23 with Cass McCombs, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, and Jack Johnson. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit the Boston Calling website or Ticketmaster. You can also check out Boston Calling’s Facebook page for the most recent show updates.