Noise Pop Festival brings a week of Music, Film, and Parties to San Francisco for 30th Anniversary

 

☆ BY Aleah Antonio

 
 

NOISE POP FESTIVAL IS TAKING OVER — San Francisco for a week-long celebration of music, film, and art for their 30th anniversary. The festival takes place from February 20–26 at different locations all around the city. 

Duster, Boy Harsher, and Yo La Tengo are all set to headline the music portion of the festival with already sold out sets at The Regency Ballroom, 1015 Folsom, and The Fillmore. Audiences can still purchase festival passes to access all events during the festival week or grab individual show tickets. The lineup is well-rounded with over 100 performing artists, many of them Bay Area natives, such as Covet, Spellling, and No Vacation. Instead of a traditional festival set-up with multiple stages in one place, the music festival takes a unique form that splits the bill up into their own shows throughout the week at some of San Francisco’s most beloved music venues.

Aside from the music, Noise Pop Festival includes a film program of music-focused screenings, premieres, and special guests. The Alamo Drafthouse New Mission will host the screenings alongside The Cut Outdoor Cinema throughout the week, leading with a double-feature premiere of headliner Boy Harsher’s short film The Runner, followed by a 40th anniversary screening of German horror film Der Fan. The full lineup offers seven films total, which include features from The Flaming Lips, Björk, and Neutral Milk Hotel.

The week prior to the first day of the music and arts festival, Noise Pop will host an “alternative programming” schedule of art galleries, pre-parties, and bar takeovers. Indie-electronic band Neon Indian will DJ the official Noise Pop 30 pre-party at the California Academy of Sciences; local bands will play at beer garden Zeitgeist for an entire weekend takeover. One of the standouts of the alternative programming unofficially welcomes back San Francisco bar and venue Kilowatt, which has recently been adopted under new ownership and granted a permit allowing them to host live events. Punk band L.A. Witch is set to perform at the Noise Pop Opening Night Party at Kilowatt on Monday, Feb. 20.

Noise Pop 30, presented by San Francisco–based event promoter Noise Pop Industries, will be the biggest iteration of their festival yet. The promoter celebrates 30 years of this festival, dating back to the first ever Noise Pop Festival in 1993. Since then, their lineups have gotten bigger and bolder, past headliners ranging from The Drums, Alex G, Jamila Woods, and Teenage Fanclub, among others.

“With only a few more weeks until Noise Pop Festival gets underway, this is an exciting time for our team as we gear up for the 30th anniversary,” James Lopez, Noise Pop’s senior talent buyer said in a press release. “Noise Pop 30 will offer attendees an eclectic lineup unlike any other found here in America, featuring a number of creative artists who aren’t afraid to push boundaries while they bring together fans from all walks of life. This year’s lineup has a little something for everyone, but stay tuned as we have a ton of local acts still to announce, plus new events like film screenings, art shows, and more on the way.”

Weekend badges along with individual tickets are available via Noise Pop. Phase 3 general admission badges start at $215, with upgrades available for non-restricted access and merchandise packages.