Boston Calling Prices Alienate Teens

Music festivals are one of the main attractions for indie and alternative music obsessed teenagers, with whole entire clothing brand styles dedicated to festivals like Coachella (California). Music festivals pull in huge crowds and huge revenue. Boston, slowly growing its indie music scene, has its own festival as well: Boston Calling. Boston Calling, for the past few years, has attracted many teenagers looking to see their favorite indie artists live, but this year many are not attending because of the high ticket prices. With the average teenager making under $300 or making no money at all, Boston Calling's $150 ticket package may be a deal for out of touch adults, but not to their main attendees: teenagers. The lowest price for their tickets is $85 for their Saturday pass - Saturday usually features the most acts. For reference, the highly popular Afropunk festival was only $80 to attend both days of the festival and had legends like Lauryn Hill perform at the event. Prospective festival goer and student, Michelle Pinto '17, says "I wanna go, but it's too expensive." Michelle reflects what many Boston teens are feeling as the September festival of Boston Calling nears, only a few weeks away.

Sienna Kwami '17