Avril Lavigne’s set at Boston Calling 2025 felt less like a nostalgia booking and more like a full-on reminder of just how deeply her songs are baked into multiple generations of alternative and pop-punk fans. On a festival lineup packed with newer acts and legacy names, Avril managed to thread the needle perfectly—honoring the songs that made her famous while proving she’s still a commanding, relevant live performer. The crowd skewed wide in age, from people who grew up with Let Go burned into their CD players to younger fans discovering her through TikTok clips and pop-punk’s ongoing revival. From the opening moments, it was obvious this wasn’t going to be a passive sing-along set. This was an artist very aware of her catalog’s power and how to deploy it.
She came out firing with “Girlfriend,” and it was the smartest possible way to start. Loud, bratty, and instantly recognizable, it flipped the switch on the crowd within seconds. The chorus exploded across the field, and Avril looked genuinely energized feeding off that reaction. She followed it with “What the Hell,” keeping the tempo up and the vibe playful, leaning into the sarcastic swagger that’s always been one of her strengths. Her voice sounded strong and clear, cutting cleanly through the festival mix without losing any grit.
“Complicated” was the first real emotional checkpoint of the night. As soon as those opening notes hit, phones went up everywhere, and the singalong was massive. This is one of those songs that doesn’t just belong to Avril anymore—it belongs to everyone who’s ever screamed it in a car, at a party, or alone in their room. She let the crowd take the lead on the chorus, smiling and stepping back just enough to let the moment breathe. It was a reminder of how timeless that song really is.
“Here’s to Never Growing Up” and “Rock n Roll” kept the celebratory mood rolling, both songs landing perfectly in a festival setting. Avril moved comfortably across the stage, interacting with fans in the front rows and keeping things loose without feeling sloppy. There’s a confidence she has now that feels earned—less about proving herself and more about enjoying the ride. She knows exactly who she is onstage, and that self-awareness plays well in a setting like Boston Calling.
“My Happy Ending” was another highlight, striking a balance between bitterness and catharsis that still hits hard live. The crowd sang every word, and Avril leaned into the drama of it without overplaying it. “He Wasn’t” followed, injecting a shot of pop-punk sarcasm and keeping the energy high. These mid-set choices showed how deep her catalog really is—this wasn’t just a greatest-hits sprint, but a thoughtfully paced set.
One of the more unexpected moments came with “Young & Dumb,” which fit surprisingly well among the older material. It didn’t feel like a momentum killer or a forced new-song moment. Instead, it felt like a natural extension of the themes she’s always written about—youth, frustration, defiance—just filtered through a slightly more reflective lens. The crowd response was solid, especially from fans closer to the stage who clearly knew it well.
The biggest curveball of the night was “Fake as Hell,” performed with All Time Low. The collaboration made perfect sense in the context of the festival and the genre overlap, and it landed as one of the most fun moments of the set. The chemistry onstage was genuine, not awkward or forced, and the crowd loved seeing two pop-punk worlds collide in real time. It was one of those festival-only moments that felt special precisely because it couldn’t happen anywhere else.
“Bite Me” brought things back to full throttle, with Avril sounding particularly sharp and aggressive. The song’s bite translated well live, and it proved she can still deliver that edge without it feeling like cosplay. From there, it was straight into “Sk8er Boi,” and at that point the set crossed into full-blown chaos—in the best way. The entire field seemed to erupt, with people jumping, shouting, and reliving the early 2000s all at once. Avril let the crowd handle huge chunks of the vocals, clearly enjoying how loud it had gotten.
“Head Above Water” shifted the mood again, offering a moment of vulnerability and reflection. Live, the song felt heavier and more personal than it sometimes does on record. Avril’s vocal performance here was one of the strongest of the night, showing control and emotional weight without drifting into melodrama. It was a quiet reminder of how much she’s been through and how that experience has deepened her performances.
She closed with “I’m With You,” and it was the perfect ending. The song has always felt like a late-night confession, and under the fading Boston sky, it landed beautifully. Thousands of voices joined in, turning it into a communal moment rather than just a performance. Avril let the final chorus stretch out, soaking in the crowd’s energy before waving and exiting the stage.
Overall, Avril Lavigne’s Boston Calling 2025 set was a masterclass in how to play a festival without feeling rushed or watered down. She honored her legacy without being trapped by it, delivered strong vocals throughout, and connected with the audience in a way that felt authentic rather than rehearsed. This wasn’t just a nostalgia trip—it was a reminder that her songs still matter, still hit, and still bring people together. For many in attendance, it was one of the most satisfying and emotionally charged sets of the weekend.
Setlist
Girlfriend
What the Hell
Complicated
Here’s to Never Growing Up
Rock n Roll
My Happy Ending
He Wasn’t
Young & Dumb
Fake as Hell (with All Time Low)
Bite Me
Sk8er Boi
Head Above Water
I’m With You
Final Grade: A