The Rat****** Music Fest will be held on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23 in Union Square.

On Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23, Rat****** Music Fest (formerly Ratchella) will be held once again in Union Square.

Hosted by Yardwork Productions, the fest’s third iteration comes with a cheeky nod to its former name, after last year’s organizers were threatened with a cease and desist from Coachella for use of their trademarked “chella”.

Featuring 14 live bands over one weekend, Rat****** takes place outdoors at 321 Washington Street, rain or shine. The fest is headlined by Lady Lamb from Maine, an indie artist with a cult following who has previously headlined at Arts at the Armory and The Sinclair. Sunday’s headliner is indie pop group Nova One from Providence, who are coming off the release of their album “how to kiss,” released this March and performed at last year’s Newport Folk Fest.

Doors open at 1 PM on both days, with music starting at 2 PM and ending at 9 PM. One-day tickets are $35-$40, and a two-day pass is $60. The “Very Important Rat” two-day pass is $150 and includes extra support to the artists, a signed festival poster, and a t-shirt.

What to expect from co-founder Emma Caviness:

“Rat****** got its grassroots start in a backyard as a DIY music venue and remains rooted in the same DIY principles. The fest celebrates collective care through music, art, and gathering, bringing together 14 local and regional bands, 15+ artists and vendors of all media, 5+ community advocacy organizations, 50+ volunteers, and MANY neighbors. We display art created during community art builds made from recycled materials. We also host sound trainings and produce a multimedia magazine called Rat Tails. Everything we do is grounded in the shared belief that no one is disposable — and that where our joy goes, our rage, and these days more so than ever, our grief, is welcome. We work to build a year-round ecosystem for the world we want to live in.”

RATCHELLA 3 Live Music Lineup:

Saturday: Tiberius, Sidebody, Sweet Petunia, Clifford, Dino Gala, Winkler, Lady Lamb.

Sunday: Ugly Ghost, Surgeon General, Ohio State Fair, Main Era, Warmachine, Laveda, Nova One.

RAT****** 3 supporters include Judge Amps, Somerville Arts Council, Union Square Neighborhood Council, The Loov, Everything Matters Press, and more.

About Yardwork Productions

Yardwork Productions is a woman- and gender-queer-run grassroots arts cooperative that organizes community-centered events in Somerville. We believe that by partying in the neighborhood, we can build solidarity with our neighbors. We value decentralizing power and putting decisions into the hands of the community, creating the world we want to live in.

Rat****** 3 supporters include Judge Amps, Somerville Arts Council, Union Square Neighborhood Council, The Loov, Everything Matters Press, and more.

Tickets and more information visit: https://yardworkproductions.com/shop/