GBH's Molly McCaul was on the ground, covering all three days of Boston Calling. They bring you notes from the field, along with highlights across social media, of the return of the monster music festival after a two-year pandemic hiatus.

Friday, May 27th

As gates opened at 1:00 PM on Friday, the crowd began to get a lay of the land before the music started at 2:00. With four stages set across the sprawling Harvard Athletic Complex, there was certainly a lot to take in.

That evening, after sets from the likes of Paris Jackson, The Struts, Cheap Trick, and Haim, concert attendees waiting to see Avril Lavigne were notified that Saturday’s headliners, The Strokes, would have to back out due to a positive COVID test in the band. Emotions were strong as Nine Inch Nails were announced as their replacement.

Here’s how Friday played out on Social Media:

Saturday, May 28th

Trepidation abounded on Saturday, with looming storms and the altered lineup. That didn't stop artists like Charlotte Sands, Julie Rhodes, and Dutch Tulips from delivering phenomenal performances. A shelter-in-place announcement due to impending weather sent fans to Harvard Stadium or nearby establishments in Harvard Square to wait out the rain, and an internal COVID case meant King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard had to back out at the last-minute.

Nevertheless, the skies eventually parted, and concertgoers trickled back onto the festival grounds under a massive rainbow for an evening of music from Black Pumas, Run the Jewels, and of course, Nine Inch Nails.

See how the news broke and reactions from Saturday:

Sunday, May 29th

With game 7 looming for the Celtics and Metallica slated to headline, Sunday was bound to be eventful from the start. The skies had finally cleared, leaving Boston Calling attendees with perfect weather for a day of live music.

The crowd on Sunday was noticeably larger, with the Red and Green Stages filling up early in the afternoon. Well before Glass Animals took the stage at 6:05, attendees were packed shoulder-to-shoulder from the barrier to the bar; it came as no surprise, considering the big names at all stages, from Japanese Breakfast to Goose to Weezer.

Check out the highlights from social media on Sunday: