Booker and organizer Alex Pickert has been busy since last year’s popular NICE, a fest was held in the parking-lot-turned-temporary-music-venue Boynton Yards. Under his direction, the second iteration of the festival has blossomed from last year’s one-day affair into a packed 53-band lineup that spans four days and two venues in Somerville. “I definitely didn’t set out to make it this big, but I have a problem and went totally overboard with booking,” Pickert jokes. That’s just because he was so eager to replicate last year’s success. “I knew I wanted to do it again as soon as doors opened last year.” From Thursday through Sunday, the schedule will have festival-goers switching back and forth between The Rockwell and the Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theatre — two independent venues in Davis Square. To protect bands and patrons from COVID, the venues will be requiring masks and checking for proof of vaccination. Click the link in our bio to read the full story. 📸: Shervin Lainez