Get to Know Boston Comedian Lamont Price

Lamont Price Photo by Brian Feulner

Boston Calling is switching things up a bit this year by adding a third stage that, for the first time, will feature both comedy and music.

The festival’s new addition will be hosted by Boston-bred comic Lamont Price, a rising star on the local stand-up scene who helped curate the lineup of comedians, which includes other area favorites such as Ken Reid, Sean Sullivan, Orlando Baxter, and Kelly McFarland.

Price admits that it was a pretty difficult process narrowing down his list of choices to just four comics, but he couldn’t be happier to showcase his fellow local stars.

“This being the first year they’re deciding to add comedy, we wanted to make a splash so that they want to do it again and again and keep it going,” Price says. “It was not easy to decide, there’s just so many people that I’m friends with and I’m already dreading the ‘What about me?’ calls.”

He added, “It was a nice problem to have, ultimately.”

Get to know more about Price before he brings the laughs to Boston Calling this spring.

This isn’t his first rodeo.

Price has performed at a number of notable comedy festivals before, including the prestigious Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal as well as hosting this year’s Boston Comedy Festival. Recently named one of Comedy Central’s “Comics to Watch,” Price has also performed at the popular Oddball Comedy and Curiosity Festival.

The comedian says he learned a lot from veteran comic Steven Brody Stevens, who hosted Oddball’s side stage when Price performed at the festival.

“When I got this, I immediately thought back to how he handled it and it was beautiful,” Price says. “Within 10 minutes, he had like 500-700 people at the side stage. It was crazy. It was a work of art to watch him do that.”

He’s performed with a ton of big names.

Having spent the past several years cutting his teeth on the local and national comedy circuits, Price has shared the stage with a ton of big stars, including fellow Massachusetts-bred comics like Dane Cook, Bill Burr, and the late Patrice O’Neal.

He really loves Tom Brady, so he’s definitely from Boston.

Hailing from Dorchester, it’s not a surprise that Price is a huge fan of the Patriots, especially quarterback Tom Brady.

Check out a slightly NSFW clip of Price professing his love for Brady below.

Like the Patriots star, Price hopes he can make his hometown proud during the festival.

“I hope to live up to that honor on game day,” Price says.

He’s not afraid to show off his musical side.

Since he’ll be performing at a music festival, fans should expect Price to show off some of his singing chops at Boston Calling. The comedian plans to break out into a tune or two throughout the weekend of shows.

“One of the tricks up my sleeve is I’d like to have a little musical action,” Price says. “And who knows, I just might sing either a few TV theme songs or ‘The King of Wishful Thinking’ by Go West.”

Another song festival goers will likely hear: Billy Ocean’s “Get Outta of My Dreams, Get into My Car.”

“When I have that microphone, I mean, you can’t tell me what to do with it,” Price says. “I’m going to try to hold a note while I’m up there.”

He’s definitely going to take advantage of the perks of being a host.

When he’s not doing his thing on stage, Price fully intends to break out his fanboy side during Boston Calling.

“I’ll be the dude in the afro and glasses bopping all around that festival,” Price says. “I made this clear with the festival, I need to meet Janelle Monáe. She’s amazing.”

He also hopes that his new gig will help him a bit with the ladies.

“Maybe, just maybe, a couple of chicks who turned me down in the past will see this and know that they messed up,” Price jokes. “Maybe I’ll get a text message or two in my future.”

Boston Calling will take over City Hall Plaza Friday, May 27 through Sunday, May 29. Check out the full music lineup for the spring 2016 festival here.