Rat****** 2 Returns

If you can't beat the rats in Somerville, might as well party with them.

Local DIYers Yardwork Productions are bringing Rat****** 2 to a parking lot in Somerville near you, this Saturday and Sunday, August 23 and 24 from 1 p.m. onward at 321 Washington Street, featuring a lineup of regional bands, multimedia programming, and tabling.

Rat****** 2 Lineup

Ahead of the festival, SOME sat down with YP's Emma Caviness to get some behind the scenes insights and peaks into what to expect.

How did Yardwork Productions come to be?

"Corey and I have been organizing shows for the past 4 years together. Corey has a ton of experience in DIY—throwing guerrilla shows across campus at UMass.

I have experience putting together intimate open mics in my college dorm. We both had an appetite for this festival and we share a studio space, which has been central to our creative cooperation. It's now Rat HQ. It's our spot to meet up and do big brain dumps.

Yardwork Productions originated in my backyard and we called that venue Emma’s Yard. Calling it Emma's Yard was a way of letting people know where it was without sharing the address. But it also symbolized a groundedness and alluded to the hard work associated with being in the backyard."

And it's come a ways since throwing smaller shows in your yard?

"Today marks a week since we became an LLC! We didn’t want to file for any of this stuff—or even formalize our work together—until we absolutely had to. We needed event insurance and we didn't want to be held personally liable [for this year's fest]."

How does this fest compare with Rat City Arts Festival?

"We seek no proprietary ownership of the name and especially not rats. It’s sort of ironic that we were worried about laying claim to the term “rat”...

We went to Rat City Arts Festival—they invited us! We’ve done what we can to cross-promote cause we’re all just a bunch of rats. It’s been really fun to joke about having diplomatic relations across the river and to really assert the claim that there’s room for all of us in rat culture. I would argue there’s room for everyone in music festival culture but that’s a separate conversation..."

Aside from the fest being bigger than ever and in a new location, what's felt different this year?

"Yeah, we had to uproot from my backyard and move to an outdoor location with no infrastructure. We originally had the grand hope of hosting the festival in Lincoln park — and we talked with a lot of folks about it and eventually heard that it wasn’t possible. So we found another space, but we've really had to get entirely self-sufficient. We're building a stage and everything.

Today, I went to the site to pick up our 1,250 beers in my dad’s Volkswagen camper van and had the guys load all the racks of the van and neighbors were so amused. The drivers dropping off the alcohol were like 'we’ve never done this before this is insane.'" 

How are you keeping that backyard energy with this new location and bigger program?

"My mom is still making a lot of the art. Corey’s dad is helping build the stage. My brother can't help make the hot dogs this year cause of a surgery — but other than that, all the same players are there. 

Corey and I have had to spend a lot more time doing paperwork in a way that we didn’t need to last year, but I think what’s sort of thrilling about it is that our event remains urgent. We’re still patching things together as they come and facing challenges on the fly and that urgency feels integral to what DIY means. Even as we grow, we're doing so much of it ourselves.

I would also say — the neighborhood has showed up for us in new and ever-loving special ways. Specifically, the Union Square Neighborhood Council. They have an amazing network and institutional knowledge. They are their own kind of institution. They’re such an awesome representation of the neighborhood that interfaces with the institutions that rein over us. They’ve connected us with so many resources, been in our corner cheering us on, and they’ll be tabling for us at the fest!"

How would you recommend attendees prepare for the festival?

"It’s going to be outside, so bring sunscreen and wear appropriate clothing for the weather. There will be a beer garden and concessions. We’ll also have a food truck and if folks want to bring their own, please do. Bring a water bottle cause we’ll have water. And look cute. Prepare to get to know some neighbors.

Please bring cash cause we’re going to have tip jars for volunteers, our sound crew, our bartenders, our merch team. The people who made Rat****** 2 happen are all volunteers. And we do everything we can to make them feel like the stars they are. And we’re really excited to feed them, outfit them, and would love to send them home with cash and not overworked. Buy your ticket in advance. We want to avoid paying extra fees and save you the time waiting in line— just buy in advance!"

What are you hoping attendees come away with?

"Corey hopes people come away feeling like they can put on an event or concert that they want to see in their neighborhood. You don’t need gear, money, or the know-how. All you need is the willingness to put yourself out there and ask for help. 

We have this thing about how partying in the neighborhood leads to solidarity with your neighbors and I'd love for people to come away with that energy; it's a deeper driving force for all we do. I think that makes Rat****** 2 into a love operation. 

I also hope people feel a little bit dazzled. I think we have an incredible lineup. And I hope that they feel like they want to listen to these bands on their playlists. 

Lastly, I hope they get a sense that we value joy as much as we value rage. Beause we’re not shying away from our political orientation in the world — as Snapped Ankles says — "furious times, furious dancing." If we have the privilege to feel joy, we better act like it, but that doesn’t mean escaping from the reality of what’s going on. We’re uncompromising on this matter and it feels exciting to be stubborn in this way."

You can buy your tickets on the Yardwork Productions website.