On Tuesday, Noise Pop announced the first wave of the lineup for its 30th anniversary festival. Taking place over seven nights (Feb. 20-26, 2023), it combines the best of contemporary Bay Area independent music with plenty of reunions and curveballs.
Headlined by veritable indie rock gods Yo La Tengo, San Jose’s own Duster and the cult-favorite electro duo Boy Harsher, this year’s Phase 1 announcement builds on Noise Pop’s decades long commitment to independent concert promotion and alt-rock curation.
The whole thing opens on Feb. 20 with a multi-act show at Great American Music Hall that showcases Chisel, Everyone Asked About You and 20 Minute Loop. Two days later, on Feb. 22, Yo La Tengo perform at the Fillmore in support of their 17th album, This Stupid World. Seattle’s late-aughts sensation STRFKR and punk veteran Bob Mould (known for his solo work as well as Hüsker Dü). Covet, Fidlar, Tourist and SF native Christian Kuria are among other acts in this initial announcement, with more than 100 to be scheduled in all.
The 30th anniversary comes only a few months after Noise Pop’s 20th Street Block Party returned, this time to Valencia Street. Notably, this year’s Noise Pop festival graphic was designed by Shepard Fairey, who also designed the iconic “HOPE” poster for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign (as well as several murals around San Francisco).
Unlike outdoor festivals at a single venue, like Outside Lands or the newer Portola Festival, Noise Pop takes shape over numerous venues across the entire Bay Area, spanning film screenings, happy hours, multimedia shows and good old concerts. Festival badges ($125-$399) are already on sale, with tickets to individual shows available as of this Friday, Nov. 18 at 10 a.m.
Feb. 20-26, 2023 | $125-$399
Various venues