NICE, a fest might have to update its name to “HOLY SHIT, did you see this fest?” in the near future.
The Somerville-based festival will expand yet again for its fourth edition, broadening its footprint beyond Crystal Ballroom and The Rockwell to include an outdoor stage in the nearby Grove Street parking lot. The size of the lineup has swelled as well, with over 80 local artists scheduled to perform between Thursday, July 25 and Sunday, July 28. It almost seems cruel to pick a handful of artists to cite as examples, since no sample size can accurately portray the full breadth of NICE’s representation.
Alongside headliners like Divine Sweater, Haasan Barclay, Pink Navel, Palehound, and Vundabar — not to mention the return of Bay Faction and Grass Is Green — the bill culls talent from subgenres across New England. Garage rock sprinkled with pop-punk, imported from Manchester? Got it — raise hell with HELL BEACH. Boston dream rock swaddled in fuzz? Check, courtesy of TIFFY. A Connecticut nu-metal boy band? Hello, Cheem. We could do this all day. Additional artists and daily lineups will be announced closer to the festival.
The seemingly effortless array of acts is a testament to the efforts of festival organizer Get To The Gig Boston, who launched the event in 2021 via ONCE at Boynton Yards (a rare COVID-era success story if there ever was one).
A map demonstrates NICE’s new three-stage layout, as well as the location of an outdoor market in Statue Park; vendors will be announced in the coming weeks. Check out the map and full lineup below.
***
