Something in the Way Fest 2026: Live updates from Roadrunner

Concert Reviews

The two-day festival is bringing indie and alternative rock bands from across the country to Boston’s Roadrunner venue.

By Darin Zullo

January 31, 2026 | 3:56 PM

2 minutes to read

An all-star lineup of indie and alt-rock bands from across the country is making its way to Roadrunner Boston Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 for the two-day Something in the Way festival.

Hosted by Run for Cover Records and The Bowery Presents, the weekend is jam-packed with two dozen bands performing back-to-back. With so little time to cover so much musical ground, the Brighton venue had a two-stage setup so there was no delay between sets.

Live from Roadrunner, below are all the festival updates and reviews you’ll need. Check back often for more updates, photos and videos!

Her New Knife: ‘ICE is a criminal gang’

Philadelphia-based alternative shoegaze band Her New Knife kicked things off. The band formed in 2020 by lead vocalist Edgar Atencio, guitarist Ben Kachler, bassist Carolina Schooley, and drummer Elijah Ford while the four of them were students at Florida State University.

Starting at 1:30 p.m., Her New Knife knew that the biggest crowds wouldn’t form until later that night. Atencio made sure to thank the dedicated fans who showed up early to see them play.

“We are Her New Knife,” he said. “Thank you for being here so early, it’s really nice to see you.”

With hushed, sinister vocals and heavily distorted guitars, Her New Knife had the formidable job of setting the tone for the rest of the day. By the end of their half-hour set, they proved that they were up to the task.

Before they left the stage, they made their feelings clear about the current state of national politics, condemning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“ICE is a criminal gang,” Atencio said. “Go vote or buy guns. Thank you.”

Boston-based indie rock act Gollylagging followed that act with their own dose of droning guitars, proving that they could bring just as much energy from the secondary stage.

Graham Hunt keeps the political outcries going

Taking it back to the main stage, Graham Hunt made an impact as the first solo act of the day. Despite having a more straightforward indie rock sound than Her New Knife or Gollylagging, the Midwestern musician and his backing band seared through a set of tightly-written tracks.

By the time Hunt made the stage, Roadrunner was already starting to fill up. He made sure to note this dedicated turnout in between songs.

“It’s crazy that so many people are here at 2:45,” Hunt said.

Perhaps inspired by Her New Knife’s outspokenness, Hunt handed out his own dose of commentary on international politics and the Trump administration’s current immigration efforts.

“I’m super excited to be here in Boston,” Hunt said. “That said, [expletive] ICE and free Palestine.”