Noise Pop Festival set for February

The Noise Pop Festival returns in 2008 from February 26 to March 2. Over six nights, Noise Pop 16 will take over the best-loved venues in San Francisco, to host unforgettable performances by Magnetic Fields, The Mountain Goats, The Gutter Twins and dozens of other important indie rock, electronic, punk and cutting edge musical artists, transforming the city into an almost week-long celebration of the finest that the underground and not-so-underground has to offer, nationally and locally.
2007 marked Noise Pop’s 15th year as San Francisco’s premier celebration of independent music, art, film and culture and 2008 is the festival’s sweet 16 party. Established in San Francisco in 1993, Noise Pop started as a one-night event featuring the best underground rock bands that the Bay Area could dish up. Flash forward to 2007 and the Noise Pop Festival is another beast entirely. With live music as it’s focal point, Noise Pop has developed into full-scale cultural happening, adding gallery art shows, a music-themed film festival, educational panel discussions with musicians and music industry professions, an indie designer trunk sale and a number of planned as well as spontaneous shin-digs.
Stephin Merritt’s Magnetic Fields will headline two shows at the beautiful Herbst Theatre as part of Noise Pop in support of their long-awaited new album, “Distortions.” Lo-fi legends The Mountain Goats will also perform three shows at three different venues during Noise Pop.
Another exciting addition to Noise Pop 2008 is The Gutter Twins, the anticipated collaboration between Afghan Whigs’ Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan. Dulli and Lanegan have been working together periodically since 2000. In July 2007, Pitchforkmedia.com announced that "two of the alt-rock era's greatest frontmen," had signed to Seattle label Sub Pop. The Gutter Twins will perform for Noise Pop in support of their debut album “Saturnalia,” currently set for an early 2008 release.
Omaha NE's Cursive will also play Noise Pop 2008. The band is currently readying the release of "Bad Sects" the second single from the band's acclaimed 2006 album, "Happy Hollow" which includes a user-submitted remix of the song and a string arrangement by Olafur Arnolds.Other artists confirmed for Noise Pop include Kelly Stoltz, Tilly & The Wall, Capgun Coup, Blitzen Trapper, Fleet Foxes, Fu Manchu and Saviours with more being added to a festival roster that will include over 100 bands. More Noise Pop performers will be announced in the weeks to come. As usual for the festival, nationally-known artists will share the stage with the best new bay area talent from opening night on February 26 through March 2 at legendary San Francisco venues such as Great American Music Hall, Bimbo's, Café Du Nord and The Bottom Of The Hill, The Independent, Mezzanine, Rickshaw Stop, 12 Galaxies and others.Events such as South by Southwest and CMJ cater to bands shopping themselves to the music industry. Noise Pop differentiates itself by maintaining a commitment to fans, while remaining industry-friendly is different. The idea is to bridge the gap between fan and artist by producing shows featuring the best of what’s out there in an intimate setting with affordable ticket prices. Noise Pop is the space where tomorrow’s favorite new music mingles with today’s tried and true greats. It’s a true indie music-lover’s celebration.
Some of the finest bands in America – and now some of the biggest - have played Noise Pop including Modest Mouse, the White Stripes, Death Cab for Cutie, Bright Eyes, The Shins, Jimmy Eat World, The Flaming Lips, The Decemberists, The Faint, Guided By Voices, Nada Surf, Hot Hot Heat, Devendra Banhart, Frank Black (The Pixies), Grandaddy, Neko Case, Cibo Matto, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, Stephen Malkmus & Jicks, Bob Mould (Hüsker Dü), The New Pornographers, Polyphonic Spree, Rilo Kiley, Feist, Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), and Spoon..

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