The warming temperatures of July mean that the Rat City Arts Festival must be on the horizon. The fest’s 2026 edition took place on a bright and toasty Saturday on the first day of August. 16 artists, roughly two dozen vendors, and a food truck infested the Charles River Speedway in a free showcase, all in support of raising money and awareness for community initiatives. We were on hand to catch all the action!
The fest opened with the yearly procession, as rat catchers presented offerings to a rat head placed center stage while plague doctors looked on. This year’s ceremonial trash throwing was done by none other than Boston mayor Michelle Wu, in a surprise appearance.
Pudding favorites Intac opened up the music on the primary stage, with their usual antics. The set opened with a voice memo from one member who couldn’t make the show and subsequently derided the festival-goers. Given the early timeslot, most people at the Speedway were there for normal Speedway proceedings and were blindsided by a band running around playing wild rock and roll music. We can assume there were some future investors present.
Ashy Finn was able to tap into that energy looming at the Speedway. Their blend of indie-pop came with a healthy amount of guitar and no lack of fun, and they had people dancing despite the early slot time. Festivalgoers were treated to some very enjoyable indie rock as they got their food and drink from the permanent shops in the Speedway. Kay Wolf broke up the string of indie groups with a set that was more hypnotically R&B, and her vocals carried an otherwise sparse set, with summer-y love songs abound. Wolf said she had one song that she vowed not to play until she found love, and then played it. The crowds were still on the sparser side, but Wolf had one committed dancer the whole set. The Reunion were on next, bringing a set of smooth and pleasant indie music that fit in perfectly with the mid-afternoon heat. Singer Ana Schon downplayed the emcee’s hype of the band being experimental, but her effortless switching between Spanish and English lyrics made for a unique showcase all the same.
Justice Cow followed, and brought a wickedly fun set of experimental indie rock. The band had the exact style that Rat City seems to aim for – indie with a lot of energy that isn’t afraid to get loud, but with tons of twee in the mix as well. The band made some instant fans. Makeout Palace was up next, running a thread of energetic music to keep the crowd going. As the sun set behind them, the band played a mix of indie and punk in a fairly raucous set, with as big of a crowd as the standing section of the Speedway could accommodate. Riley LePere put aside his guitar for saxophone for a few songs, which got a huge reaction from the partying heads.
Cheem closed off the festival, with the most intense set seen on the grounds all day. The band’s unique mixture of pop-rock and nu-metal was a hit with the crowd. The show was a warm-up for the band, who are embarking on a lengthy tour in support of their recent Power Move – Victory Lap, an extended edition of their 2025 album Power Move. They kept things quick, loud and funky by rapping over groovy basslines and blasted out speakers. The set was wild from the start and never let up, making sure the party ran long past the festival.
Festivalgoers looking to escape the heat could also check out the air-conditioned Garage B, where roughly two dozen vendors had set up shop. The wares ranged from handmade pottery to local neighborhood-inspired art to DIY romance novels. A corner of the garage was set up as a “stage,” featuring a second round of musicians all day. Although the audiences were small, a rotating list of artists kept the vibes flowing in the crowded garage. The highlight of the day was rapper Nick Shea, whose high-energy and infectious music infiltrated the casual shoppers (and got a laugh when he sampled the Boylston Station screech in between songs).
The rest of the lineup for Garage B was decidedly more mellow. C. J. Redmouth brought the cozy coffeeshop mood with pleasantly pretty indie-folk, and the aptly-named aka RAT followed up with a bouncy DJ set. Both Aldra and Taylor Hurd brought sparse, engaging solo sets with just vocals and guitar, while Ava Sophia did the same with a set of keys. Perhaps the most intriguing artist in Garage B was Eli Shane, who blended together emotive and theatrical vocals with a full harp, calmly plucked in the bustling but welcoming indoors.
What makes Rat City work so well is the organizers’ devotion to community initiatives. Throughout the grounds were tables set up for local businesses, ones representing local progressive causes, volunteers ensuring accessibility for all, and of course the rat catchers. Midway through the festival, a new class of rat catchers were officially inducted. In the early evening, people hanging around Garage B were treated to an unannounced Rat Battle, a rap battle between the Rat Queen and the Head Catcher. It ended in a draw and a handshake. It’s little things like these attentions to detail and enjoyment that make Rat City one of the most engaging and fun festivals in the area. There are still plenty of ways to have some good, free summer fun.
Check out our photos below:
