The Fogline Guide to Noise Pop 2026

The 33rd annual Noise Pop Festival returns to San Francisco from February 19 through March 1, bringing 100+ acts to 20+ venues across the city. It started in 1993 as a simple "$5 for 5 bands” show at the Kennel Club (now The Independent) and has since transformed into an 11-day takeover of the city’s best independent venues.

I’ve spent the last week digging through the lineup. Some names I recognized immediately, but for others, I spent time sifting through YouTube links and reading bios to find the gems. Here is my personal "must-see" itinerary for the festival. Of course, this is my plan, but the best part of a music festival is always the show you stumble into by accident.

I personally plan to start this year’s festival in Hayes Valley, starting with New Jazz Underground at SF JAZZ (the early show at 7 p.m.).

New Jazz Underground is a Juilliard-trained NYC trio that fuses jazz with hip-hop, house, afro-beat, and afro-Cuban rhythms. They built a following through viral videos performing in cramped New York living rooms, but they are best known for translating modern hip-hop catalogs into jazz. Their 2025 album Dying of Thirst reworks Kendrick Lamar, including a mashup of "Meet The Grahams" with Drake's "Passionfruit". Their 2023 EP, The MF DOOM SUiTE, takes the rapper's classic beats and reimagines them as raw, acoustic jazz.

From there, I’ll walk a few minutes around the corner to Rickshaw Stop for The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (8:45 p.m.). I first caught them at SXSW 2011 back when I was living in Austin, right when they were breaking out. Fifteen years later, I’m older, living in SF, and they are back for a rare reunion tour playing their signature brand of indie pop.

Friday night I’m heading to the Mission for a bill that perfectly captures why a festival like this is worth exploring. I discovered Tropa Magica while sifting through the lineup on YouTube. They mix cumbia and Peruvian guitar with garage rock and grunge.

They are joined by Flaco El Jandro, whose 2025 EP Salaztlan was named one of the 30 best Latin albums of the year by Vogue Mexico. These aren’t household names, but that’s the point. A full night of Latin rock at a tiny Mission bar like Kilowatt is exactly the kind of variation you can't get anywhere else on the lineup.

My pick for Saturday is a Mission District double-header. I’m starting at Gray Area for DeVotchKa, a multi-instrumental group best known for scoring Little Miss Sunshine. They play a unique mix of indie rock and Eastern European folk.

After that, I’m heading down Mission Street to Kilowatt for Death Valley Girls, who play high-energy garage rock.

I’m ending the weekend with Wisp at Great American Music Hall. She is a 20-year-old artist from San Francisco who gained attention on TikTok with her viral hit "Your Face." She plays heavy, distorted shoegaze with loud guitars and quiet vocals. It’s a chance to see a local Gen Z artist reviving that classic 90s sound for a new generation.

I’m starting the week with The Joy Formidable at Swedish American Hall. They are a Welsh trio known for anthemic rock songs like "Whirring." This tour is a special "Evening With" format spanning their 15-year career. The show is already sold out, so this is a prime spot to use a badge if you have one.

My pick for Tuesday is rum.gold at Rickshaw Stop. I hadn't heard of him until I started digging through the lineup, but he’s exactly the kind of discovery I look for at this festival. He’s a D.C.-based R&B artist with an incredible, soulful voice and a very intimate, melodic style. After a few nights of loud rock shows, I think catching a smooth, vocal set in a room like the Rickshaw will be the perfect change of pace.

I’m heading to Bottom of the Hill for Hot Flash Heat Wave. These guys started as a garage band in Davis before moving to SF and becoming a central part of the local indie scene. They play catchy guitar pop. With Bottom of the Hill set to close at the end of the year, I’m cherishing every last show I get to see there. It’s one of the best rooms in the city, and catching a local band on that stage while we still can feels essential.

Thursday is another double-header with a massive shift in energy. I’m starting at the KQED headquarters for Shannon Shaw. She’s the voice behind Shannon & The Clams. Seeing her in the KQED space should be a unique, high-fidelity experience.

From there, I’m headed to Public Works for cupcakKe. I’ve seen her before at both The Great Northern and Outside Lands, so I know exactly what to expect: a rap show with raunchy, explicit lyrics. It’s going to be loud, crowded, and probably one of the wildest shows of the week.

I’m calling an audible for Friday. While the "official" move is Tortoise at Great American Music Hall, I’m probably heading to Rickshaw Stop for Mission Delirium. This isn't technically a festival show, but it’s a local brass band party that I know is up my alley. I first saw them at Mezzanine (RIP) back in 2019 opening for New Orleans’ Rebirth Brass Band, and more recently at Fillmore Jazz Festival.

Mission Delirium is a San Francisco collective with at least a dozen members. They blend Balkan brass, heavy percussion, and marching band energy. What I love is that they don’t just stay on the stage. They usually bring the horns and drums right into the crowd, turning the place into a full on parade.

Saturday night I’m crossing the Bay on BART to Berkeley for Beats Antique at the UC Theatre. It’s always a tough choice to leave the city when there are other great shows happening in SF that I’ll have to miss, but their live performance is worth the trek.

Beats Antique blends electronic beats with global sounds and massive stage production. Co-founder Zoe Jakes is a legendary performer and belly dancer who weaves tribal fusion dance into the entire set. I’m looking forward to hearing favorites like "Beauty Beats," which perfectly captures their sound.

I can’t think of a better way to end the festival than with the Sun Ra Arkestra at The Chapel. This group has been around since the 1950s, carrying on the legacy of their founder, Sun Ra. Expect cosmic costumes and free jazz.

Believe it or not, I once caught them on a whim at New Morning in Paris, and it was probably the best jazz show I’ve ever seen. At 70+ years into their journey, they are living legends of Afro-futurism. This show feels like the perfect end to a Noise Pop marathon. See you there.