Something In The Way Fest is back for its second edition this weekend — and if the festival continues compiling this level of top-tier rock, it might just become one of Massachusetts’ favorite music festivals.
With artists like Soccer Mommy, Slowdive, American Football, and Mannequin Pussy (pictured above) on the bill, how could it not? Scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday (February 1 and 2) at Roadrunner in Brighton, Something In The Way Fest is a two-day rundown of rock’s modern movers and shakers, spearheaded by The Bowery Presents and Boston’s own Run For Cover Records.
Something In The Way Fest launched in 2016 as a one-day event at Webster Hall in New York. Nine years later — and one year past both Bowery’s and Run For Cover’s 20th anniversaries — the festival is doubling its footprint closer to home.
But don’t mistake Something In The Way as an advertisement for either organizer; the event’s 2025 lineup offers a gold mine of indie rock talent that both culls from Run For Cover’s roster and adds adjacent-sounding acts. The grunge-pop of Great Grandpa (who played Vanyaland’s SXSW party in 2016) is matched by the hooky grit of Soccer Mommy on Saturday, for instance, while Boston’s own melodic hardcore group Fiddlehead find a match with the harshness of Militarie Gun on Sunday.
Additional performers from the current Run For Cover family include Anxious, Enumclaw, Sadurn, Mini Trees, and Portrayal of Guilt. Check out the daily lineups and schedule below, and snag last minute tickets here.
SOMETHING IN THE WAY :: Saturday, February 1 and Sunday, February 2 at Roadrunner, 89 Guest St. in Brighton, MA :: 1 p.m., all ages :: Event info and tickets
