The annual Noise Pop Festival has announced its initial lineup for the 2025 iteration, and it's looking like a throwback extravaganza for the Bay Area. Slated to start on February 20 and run through March 2, the festival will feature indie crooner Soccer Mommy and the Midwest emo ensemble American Football, marking the 25th anniversary of its debut album. An event that began as a one-night affair has ballooned into eleven days of music, film, and art. Noise Pop has secured a reputation for a diverse mix of music and culture. SFGate reports that the festival will take over various San Francisco venues, from the Great American Music Hall to the intimate Gray Area.
Among the heavy hitters announced, triphop up-and-comers After will perform at Bottom of the Hill on February 25, while Cymande, a 1970s British funk group known for tracks like "Bra" and "The Message" are set to bring the groove to August Hall. This eclectic mix is part of Noise Pop's knack for blending the past, present, and future into a tapestry of auditory experiences, a tradition that's been vibing since 1993. According to CBS News San Francisco, tickets for individual concerts go on sale on Friday at 10 a.m. PST, with festival badges already available for the eager beavers.
San Francisco's own Geographer, a synth-pop organizer of sound, celebrates the 15th anniversary of the EP "Animal Shapes," headlining a show at August Hall, adding a local splash to the vibrant musical palette that Noise Pop is known for. Other notable acts include the psychedelic Mercury Rev and the cross-Atlantic partnership of UK's singer-songwriter Nick Lowe and Los Straightjackets, an American band who could tell stories with their instrumental prowess alone.