There are a lot of music fests lined up for this summer that look pretty nice. But there’s only one that’s certified NICE, a fest, and there’s good reason why. Living up to its capital-letter billing and up-front promise of being pretty pleasing and agreeable — as the term is defined by Merriam-Webster — NICE, a fest has unveiled its 2022 lineup, and the numbers back up all this pre-approved satisfaction: Nearly 50 bands over three days, July 28 to 30, and across two venues in Somerville’s Crystal Ballroom and The Rockwell.
And Vanyaland is thrilled to be on board as the festival’s media partner. Get all the ticket info here.
This year’s lineup features Speedy Ortiz, Future Teens, CERCE, Colleen Green, House of Harm, Zola Simone, Lady Pills, Raavi, Hallelujah The Hills, Bat House, Mallcops, Maneka, shallow pools, Evolfo, Kitner, Old Soul, TWEN, Layzi, and plenty more. There’s also midnight screenings of both Wayne’s World movies in the Somerville Theatre after the Friday and Saturday night headliners have finished.
“NICE, a fest 2022 is going to be the NICEst local fest you’ve ever been to!” proclaims organizer and Get To The Gig’s Alex Pickert. “Last year’s fest was sure NICE but this year is triple the NICE… literally. For this year’s NICE, a fest lineup, I focused on getting as many local Boston area bands as possible, as well as bands who started as Boston locals who haven’t played the area in quite some time.”
That includes Speedy Ortiz who are now in Philadelphia; CERCE who are spread all over the country; the NYC-based Bat House; and TWEN, the Nashville duo who came up in the Boston DIY punk scene. Pickert says he had trouble limiting the artist and band participation this year, so he just expanded NICE as much as he could to organize a stylistically diverse lineup.
“Admittedly, I went a little nuts and booked a few more bands than I started out to book but figured, hey, this will just be EXTRA NICE this year,” he adds. “I really wanted it to be all over the place genre-wise with emphasis on indie rock but you’ll see some hip-hop, hardcore, pop, and post-punk bands on this lineup as well. I’m really excited to see how it all goes, this is the first year I’ve worked with sponsors on a festival and I’m really excited. “
Other sponsors on board for NICE, a fest this year include Musicspace, Grillo’s Pickles, Topo Chico, Wanna Hear It Records, Cambria Hotel Somerville, Red Bull, Bully Boy Distillers, and Foundry on Elm, Pickerts’ “favorite restaurant in Davis Square.”
It all adds up to a bold and ambitious mid-summer weekend, but Pickert is confident in the lineup, and the fest in general.
“After 10 years of booking shows in Boston from basement shows to venues, NICE, a fest 2022 is the largest endeavor I’ve ever set out on so I can’t wait to see it come to fruition,” he admits. “I am so happy with the lineup and all the amazing acts we have on it this year and I can’t wait to bounce back and forth from both venues all weekend. This is gonna be certified NICE™.”
That’s by definition. Check out the full lineup below.
