Alexander Laurence's Blog, page 150
February 19, 2025
Yann Tiersen Shares New Track "Arne" || New Album 'Rathlin from a Distance |The Liquid Hour' Out 4/4 On Mute
YANN TIERSEN SHARES NEW TRACK “ARNE”
NEW ALBUM RATHLIN FROM A DISTANCE | THE LIQUID HOUR OUT 4/4 ON MUTE
credit: Aurélie Scouarnec
Today Yann Tiersen has shared “Arne”, the third single from his highly anticipated new album, Rathlin from a Distance |The Liquid Hour, out on vinyl, CD and digitally on April 4, 2025 via Mute. An album divided into two distinct, interconnected parts, each with its own unique sonic characteristics, Rathlin from a Distance | The Liquid Hour is available for pre-order/pre-save HERE.
Sitting in the middle of The Liquid Hour’s five immersive, electronic explorations, “Arne” sees Tiersen’s expansive and hypnotic soundscape interwoven with QUINQUIS’ ethereal vocals. The new single is named in honor of Norwegian philosopher Arne Næss, the inspirational figure within the environmental movement and founder of the philosophy of Deep Ecology.
Described by Tiersen as “a collection of anthems to revolution”, it was The Liquid Hour that Tiersen was working on when he understood that systems had to be dismantled. Tiersen explains, “it's trying to find the ways to wipe out capitalism and all the dark forces that are destroying the world. I want this to be in the headphones of someone as they take action.”
“Arne” follows the release of “Rathlin from a Distance”, a meditation on identity that highlights Tiersen’s exceptional piano playing, and “Ninnog at Sea”, an electronic anthem blending Tiersen’s seafaring reflections into a dynamic track that pulses with rage, hope, and the call to dismantle and rebuild for a radiant collective future.
Listen to “Arne” HERE.
Yann Tiersen will perform live at the Barbican in London on April 19, 2025. Tickets are on sale now HERE.
Rathlin from a Distance features eight instrumental piano pieces, each named after a location Tiersen visited during his 2023 sailing tour. From the Atlantic’s Fastnet Lighthouse to the Faroe Islands, Shetland, and the tranquil waters of the Caledonian Canal in Scotland, these tracks reflect a journey of self-discovery and self. Tiersen’s piano work creates an almost hypnotic atmosphere, each stop on the journey marking a deeper level of consciousness. The music evokes a sense of space, introspection, and quiet contemplation.
While Rathlin from a Distance is meditative, The Liquid Hour, which Tiersen was working on when he decided things needed to be torn down, is a bold and urgent musical statement, which opens with an epic, sweeping track that channels Tiersen’s desire for social and political change. The inspiration for this section of the album was rooted in Tiersen’s experiences at sea, particularly a moment when he gazed upon the lights of Belfast, alone at the helm of his sailboat in the middle of the night, after nearly two months at sea. This moment of serenity led to deep reflections on the city’s troubled history and its connection to broader political struggles. The expansive sonic palette of The Liquid Hour blends atmospheric ambient music, hypnotic grooves, and striking electronic instrumentation, with the haunting vocals of Émilie Quinquis adding a powerful dimension to the album’s message.
Tiersen’s innovative use of vintage and electronic instruments, including the Ondioline, a rare 1930s electronic instrument loaned to him by Gotye’s Forgotten Futures organization, adds a rich texture to the recordings. He also employed four different drum machines to create tribal rhythms and pulsing beats that push the boundaries of electronic music. The Liquid Hour is an exploration of both personal and collective power, a call to action set against the backdrop of global crises.
Tiersen has long embraced sustainability in his touring practices, opting to travel by sailboat and campervan in order to embrace slow touring and minimise his environmental impact, re-writing the script for what it means to be a touring musician in the modern age. This approach embodies the album’s broader themes of reflection, environmental awareness, and the search for deeper meaning in a world defined by crisis and change. “At sea, you get to see the world as it is,” says Tiersen. “The sea is the ultimate reality. There are no borders, and you can go everywhere. It really hits home the bullshit of borders.”
The Liquid Hour culminates with a powerful closing track named after Dolores Ibárruri, the Spanish anti-fascist, known for her legendary "¡No Pasarán!" speech, a defiant call for action against capitalism, post-colonialism, and the ongoing ecocide. As Tiersen puts it, “It’s not about anger. It’s about finding a way to change.”
Rathlin from a Distance | The Liquid Hour is an album that spans the full spectrum of human emotion, from introspective reflection to powerful calls for change. With a unique blend of acoustic and electronic elements, it marks a bold new chapter in Yann Tiersen’s musical evolution.
Rathlin from a Distance | The Liquid Hour will be available on vinyl, CD and digitally on April, 4 via Mute. Pre-order HERE.The sheet music for the album is available now, published by Hal Leonard.
Track listing:
Rathlin from a Distance: 1. Ninnog2. Fastnet
3. Rathlin from a Distance
4. Tórshavn
5. Norðragøta
6. Papa Stour
7. Bigton
8. Caledonian Canal
The Liquid Hour:
1. Stourm
2. Ninnog at Sea
3. Arne
4. The Liquid Hour
5. Dolores
Rathlin from a Distance was produced by Yann Tiersen, and was recorded on tape at the Eskal studio by Matias Duarte.
The Liquid Hour was produced by Yann Tiersen, mixed by Randall Dunn at Circular Ruin, Brooklyn and was recorded both digitally and on tape by Yann Tiersen, Matias Duarte and Thomas Lefebvre at the Eskal studio.
CONNECT WITH YANN TIERSEN:
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | BLUESKY | INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | WEB
CONNECT WITH MUTE:
FACEBOOK | BLUESKY | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | TIK TOK | WEB
Cymande documentary now available for rent worldwide
GETTING IT BACK: THE STORY OF CYMANDE
NOW AVAILABLE
FOR RENTAL WORLDWIDE (EX-UK)
FOR A LIMITED TIME FROM MERCURY STUDIOS
“This documentary is an education and a good-news story about the remarkable 70s British funk band Cymande who should be as big as Earth Wind & Fire, but aren’t. Or at least not yet.”
– The Guardian
“Tim Mackenzie-Smith’s joyous doc offers some Searching
For Sugarman-style reappraisal. The Cymaissance starts here”
– Total Film
RENASCENCE
OUT NOW – LISTEN HERE
“As Cymande urges listeners to heed the lessons of “yesterday,” the music embodies them.”
– The New York Times
“Now, with Renascence, Cymande reaches further into the vibrant spiritual and musical tapestry they started weaving all those years ago.”
– NPR Music
READ NEW YORK TIMES FEATURE HERE
February 19, 2025 – Today, legendary British band Cymande have announced that Tim Mackenzie-Smith’s critically-acclaimed and award-winning documentary on Cymande: Getting It Back: The Story Of Cymande, will be available for rentals via Mercury Studios beginning today for a limited time. This marks the first time the film will be available as a rental anywhere in the world (ex-UK). https://mercury-studios.lnk.to/CymandeGettingItBack
Cymande, a group of Black British musicians who all came to the U.K. from the Caribbean as children, released three brilliant albums in quick succession in the early 1970s and were embraced in the USA. But in the U.K., they faced a music business beset by prejudice against homegrown Black talent and were largely ignored. They originally split in 1975, but their music lived on, as successive generations of artists and fans found and embraced their songs. Hip Hop, House, Drum and Bass, R&B, Rare Groove, and crate-digging communities all saw something in the songs of Cymande that inspired them.
Through insightful interviews with band members and influential figures including Mark Ronson, Laura Lee and Mark Speer (Khruangbin), DJ Maseo (De La Soul), Jazzie B (Soul II Soul), Cut Chemist, Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Louie Vega, and Kool DJ Red Alert, this stranger than fiction documentary explores the band's profound impact and enduring legacy.
Cymande has continued to strengthen their legacy and impact with the release of a brand-new album titled Renascence last month and worldwide touring during 2025 and beyond. The band is currently in the middle of their first proper U.S. tour in over ten years.
CYMANDE TOUR DATES
US TOUR DATES
FEB 19 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theatre
FEB 21 - Denver, CO – Bluebird
FEB 22 - Seattle, WA – Crocodile
FEB 23 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
FEB 26 - San Francisco, CA - August Hall*
FEB 28 - Los Angeles, CA - The Bellwether
EUROPEAN TOUR DATES
MAY 25 – Cross The Tracks Festival – London
AUG 7 – Gothenburg, SE – Way Out West Festival
OCT 7 - Copenhagen, DK - Vega
OCT 8 - Berlin, DE - Huxley’s Neue Welt
OCT 10 - The Hague, NL - Paard
OCT 11 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso
OCT 13 - Brussels, BE - Cirque Royal
OCT 14 - Paris, FR - La Cigale
OCT 16 - Manchester, UK - Albert Hall
OCT 17 - London, UK O2 Academy Brixton
The Saints '73-'78 Announce Debut US Shows feat. Original Members Ed Kuepper & Ivor Hay, with Mark Arm, Mick Harvey & Peter Oxley
Download "The Saints came down from Brisbane (to Melbourne) with a sound that they had worked out entirely on their own, which really sat before the punk thing happened in Britain. They got there first. There was one prevailing emotion that came from those live shows and that was complete contempt, about everything, and that was really unbelievably exciting. They had it all down. We were just flailing around." - Nick Cave Following a hugely successful debut Australian tour in 2024, The Saints ’73-’78 will make their US debut this November. Featuring founding Saints members, guitarist Ed Kuepper and drummer Ivor Hay, alongside honorary Saints; singer Mark Arm of Seattle rockers Mudhoney, former The Birthday Party / Bad Seeds guitarist Mick Harvey and bassist Peter Oxley of Australia’s legendary Sunnyboys, The Saints ’73 -’78 carry on where the original band left off in 1978, performing the material from their three incendiary albums (I’m) Stranded (1977), Eternally Yours (1978), and Prehistoric Sounds (1978). The November tour will be the first time the material from the original band and their three albums, plus respective EPs and singles, will have ever been performed in the USA. “The Saints first three albums rank among the best records ever made. They have been a part of my life since stumbling upon them in the early 80s. Their influence looms large in Mudhoney world. I am stoked, stunned, and humbled that I get to join in on this Rock ‘n’ Roll Reality Camp with Ed, Ivor, Peter and Mick!” - Mark Arm The tour also comes off the back of a recent
4-LP box set
of 1977’s ground breaking debut (I’m) Stranded, which features the original album remastered for vinyl for the first time in over 40 years, the previously unreleased 1976 mix of the album, a 5-song live performance from April 1977 at Sydney’s Paddington Town Hall, a full live show from the London’s Hope and Anchor in November 1977, plus all recordings from the 1977 Top 40-charting This Perfect Day and 1-2-3-4 EP sessions. “... 10 tracks of fast and angry rock music that - unlike the Ramones and their copyists - used tension and release to heighten the effect of the mid-tempo Story Of Love and the shredding feedback jam Nights In Venice. An essential document this, from one of the era’s fiercest and greatest groups” - Jon Savage (MOJO) All off it still sounds nearly as rowdy, feral and cheerfully full of itself as it must have at the time: between Bailey’s eloquent swagger and Kuepper’s furious gravity lay a total confidence in how utterly astonishing The Saints were.'’ - Andrew Mueller (Uncut) For the Australian tour, The Saints ’73-’78 fleshed themselves out to an eight-piece lineup, which included a 3-piece brass section bringing to life all those previously unheard Prehistoric Sounds tracks, the classic Know Your Product and more. The same lineup will tour the UK and the USA. "This wasn’t a tribute to the Saints … it was something else. It was eight guys on stage reaching for magic, devoted to the moment and delivering one of the greatest final furlongs I’ve seen in four decades of watching live music.” Sean Sennett (Time Off) "The towering impressions left by the night's proceedings? That Kuepper is a motherfucker of a guitar player, his sound just as molten and unrelenting as back in the day”. - UNCUT “So… this was no tribute band… no hackneyed cabaret act. This was a band on fire. From the first few bars of opening song, This Perfect Day, through to the last drops of the chaotic frenzy that is Nights In Venice, The Saints pummelled our senses with 20 songs of jaw-dropping intensity” - Backseat Mafia In their original guise, The Saints existed from 1973-1978. Self-releasing the legendary (I’m) Stranded single in September 1976, and in the process pre-dating releases - and the yet-to be-named ‘punk’ scene - from the Sex Pistols, the Damned, the Buzzocks and the Clash. Following the release of their debut album, also titled (I’m) Stranded, in February 1977, The Saints would move first to Sydney and then in May, to the UK, playing their first show at the London Roundhouse with the Ramones. Over the next twelve months, the band would release their only UK-charting record; the exquisite 7” This Perfect Day, record and release the 1-2-3-4 EP and record two further albums, the critically acclaimed Eternally Yours, and Prehistoric Sounds (both 1978), before calling it quits. Following their demise, guitarist Ed Kuepper, having provided the bulk of the material and the sonic pallet that was The Saints, resisted the urge to perform under the banner of The Saints, instead returned to Australia to begin his new group, the equalling as incendiary Laughing Clowns, who would prove a significant influence on the post-punk scene and in particular (yet again) on Nick Cave and The Birthday Party. Eventually, Kuepper would turn to his own name as a recording artist, producing over 15 solo albums and earning himself numerous ARIA awards at home, as well as Hall of Fame entries for both his solo work and with The Saints. He would also record movie soundtracks, revert to his rock mode via albums with The Aints and The Aints!, enjoy a spell as guitarist with Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, co-create the experimental jazz outfit Asteroid Ekosystem and is shortly to release the album After the Flood, a collaboration with the brilliant Jim White, drummer for Dirty Three, The Hard Quartet and The Double.Saints singer and lyricist Chris Bailey would carry on with the name The Saints over the next 40 years, moving more into the folk and r’n’b of his youth and finding some chart success in Australia during the mid-eighties. ‘The Boss’ Bruce Springsteen even covering the Bailey-penned track (Just Like) Fire Would for his 2014 live album, High Hopes.
Drummer Ivor Hay, whose contribution to those first three albums was so unique and identifiable, would dip in and out of the post-Kuepper lineups of The Saints, performing on those mid-eighties hits, and also forming his own post-punk outfit, Wildlife Documentaries, before dropping out of music altogether for the domestic sector and, among other things, wrote the first Instruction Manual for the Fairlight CMI!
On 9/11/2001, Saints founding members Bailey, Kuepper and Hay reformed for their induction into the Australian Music Hall of Fame playing the song (I’m) Stranded for the first time in over 30 years, but other things on that day overshadowed their achievement. Moving on to 2007, and The Saints would then reunite for real performing at the State Government-backed Pig City concert, headlining to 7000 euphoric Saints fans, which lead to the release of a live album of the same name. Then in 2009, at the behest of Mr. Cave and Mick Harvey, The Saints reformed again, this time for the Australian leg of the All Tomorrow’s Parties Festivals, playing shows in Melbourne, Mt. Buller, Hobart, Brisbane, and on an island in Sydney Harbour. These would be the last shows the original three would perform together. In 2023, with the announcement of The Saints (I’m) Stranded box set and following the 2022 death of Chris Bailey, the decision was made to assemble a band who could most represent the songs performed on those first three incendiary albums. In Mudhoney’s Mark Arm, they found a singer, different in tone to Bailey, but someone who could deliver with intensity and a real passion for the material. As one of the rare few to have seen the band perform on home soil in 1977, Mick Harvey (ex-Bad Seeds) was a natural choice to help replicate the extras parts played on the albums, be it guitar or keyboard. Bassist Peter Oxley of Sydney’s legendary Sunnyboys has been a long-time foil of Kuepper's across various solo and band entities and remains a firm disciple of 1977-78-era Saints bassist, Algy Ward. Rounding out The Saints ’73-’78 is a three-piece brass section featuring both tenor and baritone sax, trumpet and French horn and includes masters of their craft; Eamon Dilworth and Julien Wilson. And joining The Saints ’73-’78 on all dates across the USA and UK are fast-rising Australia duo, Chimers. Recipients of numerous end-of-year ‘best of 2024’ album nods for their sophomore effort, Through Today. 10 tracks of laser-focused intensity that has seen them receive friends and favour from Henry Rollins to Built to Spill, Mudhoney to Mick Harvey! Indeed; Gerard Cosloy of Matador Records notoriety signed them to his 12XU label having witnessed them just the once. Crikey! “Illawarra-based two-piece Chimers tore up the second stage, bringing the sound and ferocity of a five-piece distilled into a guitar and drums duo. Tracks like their debut single off their 2021 album Surrounds showcase an ability to fabricate a wall of sound with just two bandmates.” - The Music
What you didn’t know about The Saints: ** (I’m) Stranded was written by Ed Kuepper & Chris Bailey in 1974 ** Between October and November 1976 UK magazine Sounds declared (I’m) Stranded Single of the Week on three separate occasions ** By the time of album recording in October 1976 The Saints had played just five open-to-the-public shows. Anything else had been a party ** In June 1977 a nascent Tubeway Army supported The Saints at London’s legendary Roxy venue. ** 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of Saints guitarist Ed Kuepper as a live performer. Praise for The Saints: “Of all the places for one of the best bands to come from, it’s Brisbane, Australia. And they were doing it way before anybody else. They were playing live in like, ‘73. They were just an amazing band. Sort of like the Australian version of the Ramones but they didn’t look the part. I remember at the time thinking, those guys need to go to the barber. But that’s how shallow a lot of people were about bands at the time and they didn’t get the recognition they deserved. And I feel it was because of the way they looked. Never was a more punky record made but for some reason, well, for the reasons I’ve just said, they were criminally overlooked. I’d love to have seen them live, but never did.” - Jim Reid (The Jesus & Mary Chain) (I’m) Stranded is one of the hottest walking, incendiary, original rock albums ever recorded. This record is still as relevant to me now as it was back then." - Henry Rollins "Rock music in the 70s was changed by three bands - the Sex Pistols, the Ramones and the Saints." - Sir Bob Geldof
“
A strong case could be made that thanks to this record -- and its follow up Eternally Yours - that nobody did it as well as the Saints. I'm Stranded isn't only essential punk history, it's one of the best rock & roll albums period.” AllMusic "If there is any punk rock better/hotter, it’s a short list." The Big Takeover “(I’m) Stranded remains the place to start when approaching the work of this important band. And this new box set represents the best way to embark upon that endeavor.” Goldmine “It’s a refreshing blast of freon in today’s image-conscious, careerist era. The Saints recorded one of the best punk albums of all time a mere six months after the genre’s supposed origin. It’s about time the world knows it.” Spectrum Culture “Magnificent.” SPIN Live Shows:October 31 - Auckland, NZ - PowerstationNovember 1 - Wellington, NZ - MeowNui US:November 5 - Los Angeles, CA - Teragram BallroomNovember 6 & 7 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
November 8 - Portland, OR - Revolution Hall
November 9 - Seattle, WA - Neptune Theatre
November 11 - Chicago, IL - Cabaret Metro
November 13 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert TheatreNovember 14 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of WilliamsburgNovember 15 - Philadelphia, PA - Union TransferNovember 16 - Washington, D.C. - Union Stage UK:November 21 - Bristol - TrinityNovember 22 - Leeds - Project HouseNovember 23 - Glasgow - GarageNovember 24 - Manchester - Academy 2November 26 - London - Electric Ballroom EUROPE:November 28 - Stockholm - Debasser StrandNovember 29 - Malmo - Plan B.November 30 - Berlin - Astra Tickets Live reviews of The Saints ’73-‘78:X-PressBackseat MafiaThe Big Takeover Interviews:The Sharp NoteKreative KontrolThe GuardianThe MusicXPressThe Hustle
Smerz debut new single and music video for “A thousand lies”
SMERZ
NEW SINGLE AND MUSIC VIDEO OUT NOW
“A thousand lies”
(Wednesday 19th February) - Norwegian duo Smerz return with a new single and video for “A thousand lies,” their first release on Copenhagen’s Escho label (Astrid Sonne, Molina, Fine, Elias Rønnenfelt) since their debut Okey.
“A thousand lies" roams between reverberant piano riffs and looping electronic patterns, with Smerz’ unmistakable voices weaving through the composition like a conversation unfolding in real-time. Decoding and encoding the complexities of companionship, the song draws listeners into a world where reality and memory blur, creating a wholly new destination.
Written, performed, and produced by Smerz, the single is accompanied by a video filmed on a New Year's road trip with their longtime friends and collaborators Benjamin Barron and Bror August Vestbø, capturing the intangible atmosphere leading into a new year.
Smerz is Catharina Stoltenberg and Henriette Motzfeldt. From the early impact of 2016’s Okey EP and 2018’s Have Fun EP to the hypnotic world of 2021’s Believer, the duo’s music exhibits continuous curiosity and an instinctive approach all while navigating sonic landscapes from alternative pop and trance music to classical composition, sampled beats and beyond. Their imaginative artistry led The FACE to declare, “Smerz have created a lane all their own.”
Since releasing Believer, Smerz has continued their longstanding NTS Radio residency — a playground for their expansive influences, where they showcase friends and music they admire, blending everything from Schubert’s Die schöne Müllerin to footwork pioneer RP Boo.
Other projects include producing for NewJeans’ Get Up EP (2023); debuting and releasing a 32-minute choir piece, Tidligere den dagen, at the MUNCH Museum in Oslo; constructing ALLINA (2024), a musical narrative centered on a fictitious pop star; and releasing the stand along singles “Shining Star” and “Girls just wanna have fun” on their own label, Shopping Records. Through their creative explorations—spanning music production, songwriting, performance, theatre, and composition—Smerz continues to shape new worlds.
"A thousand lies" single artwork
Connect with Smerz
Instagram | Website | NTS Show
Connect with Shopping Records:
JENSEN MCRAE ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM + TOUR; NEW SINGLE + VIDEO OUT NOW
JENSEN MCRAE ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM
I DON’T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME!
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE
“PRAYING FOR YOUR DOWNFALL”
EMBARKING ON NORTH AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN TOUR IN SPRING/SUMMER 2025
I DON’T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME! OUT
APRIL 25 ON DEAD OCEANS
LISTEN HERE | WATCH HERE | PRE- ORDER HERE
Photo Credit: Bao Ngo
Folk’s modern muse Jensen McRae has revealed the release date for her highly anticipated sophomore album, I Don’t Know How But They Found Me!, set to drop on April 25 via Dead Oceans. Alongside the announcement, she’s dropped her newest single and video, “Praying For Your Downfall,” a masterclass in candor that blends snark and charm as McRae reflects on letting go of the impulse for revenge against someone who broke her heart. It’s not about wishing them well—it’s about no longer caring enough to wish them ill. Listen HERE & watch HERE.
Set against the backdrop of heartbreak, self-discovery, and the complexities of love, I Don’t Know How But They Found Me! is a bold evolution for the young artist. The eleven-track album, recorded in North Carolina with Brad Cook (Waxahatchee, Bon Iver) and featuring contributions from Nathan Stocker (Hippo Campus), Matthew McCaughan (Bon Iver), and her brother Holden McRae, is a vibrant collection of songs anchored by razor-sharp lyrics and timeless pop melodies.
McRae’s voice is as versatile as her songwriting—wispy and textured at times, clear and bright at others. It’s a voice that embodies both the heartbreak of being left and the strength of doing the leaving. The album’s title, inspired by a line from Back to the Future, reflects McRae’s resilience: “I could’ve easily collapsed beneath the weight of what happened to me, but I didn’t. I was bulletproof the whole time.”
Following the release of her latest album, Jensen McRae will embark on an extensive North American and European/UK tour in Spring 2025, bringing her signature blend of raw lyricism and soulful melodies to stages across the globe. The North American leg kicks off on May 3 in Philadelphia, PA, with stops in major cities like New York, Toronto, Chicago, and Los Angeles. In June, McRae will take her evocative storytelling overseas for a string of shows across Europe, with dates in Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Glasgow, Manchester, and Bristol. General public tickets go on sale Friday, February 28, at 10 AM local time at jensenmcrae.com.
At just 27, Jensen McRae has already toured with Noah Kahan, MUNA, Amos Lee, and Corinne Bailey Rae, graced a Times Square billboard, and served as the cover of Spotify’s Today’s Singer-Songwriters playlist. A graduate of USC’s Thornton School of Music and a GRAMMY Camp alum, McRae is carving out space for young Black women in the folk genre with unflinching honesty and raw lyricism.
She released her debut album, Are You Happy Now?, in 2022, featuring viral singles like “Immune” and “Wolves,” has earned widespread acclaim from The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Vulture, UPROXX, NY Post, Billboard, and Stereogum. She’s been spotlighted in PAPER, DORK and Wonderland Magazine, with the latter declaring, “The future is just beginning for Jensen McRae.” Of her most recent work with "Massachusetts," NYLON praised her candid storytelling: “Listening to Jensen McRae almost feels too personal, as if every lyric was not just a line in a song, but an unraveling of her innermost thoughts.”
Inspired by the likes of Joni Mitchell and Tracy Chapman, McRae’s voice—both literal and lyrical—resonates deeply, personifying the human experience with rare vulnerability and grace. With a sound that blends introspection and artistry, she’s an artist who’s here to stay.
Tracklist:
1. The Rearranger
2. I Can Change Him
3. Savannah
4. Daffodils
5. Let Me Be Wrong
6. Novelty
7. I Don’t Do Drugs
8. Tuesday
9. Mother Wound
10. Praying For Your Downfall
11. Massachusetts
IDKHBTFM! TOUR DATES
NORTH AMERICA
May 03 - Philadelphia, PA | World Cafe Live
May 04 - Washington, DC | The Atlantis
May 07 - New York, NY | Bowery Ballroom
May 10 - Boston, MA | The Sinclair
May 12 - Montreal, QC | Fairmount Theatre
May 13 - Toronto, ON | The Axis Club
May 15 - Chicago, IL | Lincoln Hall
May 16 - Minneapolis, MN | Varsity Theater
May 18 - Denver, CO | Bluebird Theater
May 19 - Salt Lake City, UT | Soundwell
May 21 - Vancouver, BC | Hollywood Theatre
May 22 - Seattle, WA | Neumos
May 23 - Portland, OR | Hawthorne Theatre
May 25 - Napa, CA | BottleRock
May 28 - Los Angeles, CA | El Rey Theatre
EU/UK
June 10 - Berlin, Germany | Privatclub
June 12 - Amsterdam, Netherlands | Bitterzoet
June 14 - Brussels, Belgium | Botanique
June 16 - Paris, France | Le Hasard Ludique
June 18 - Dublin, Ireland | The Workman’s Cellar
June 20 - Glasgow, UK | SWG3 Poetry Club
June 21 - Manchester, UK | Deaf Institute
June 22 - Bristol, UK | The Exchange
Stream “Praying For Your Downfall”
https://Jensen-McRae.lnk.to/Praying-For-Your-Downfall
Watch the official “Praying For Your Downfall” Music Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SPhwnfpgsM
Pre-Save I Don’t Know How But They Found Me!
https://Jensen-McRae.lnk.to/I-Dont-Know-How-But-They-Found-Me
FOLLOW JENSEN MCRAE
Dream, Ivory share new single "Lost Angeles"
DREAM, IVORY
SHARE NEW SINGLE “LOST ANGELES”
PERFORMING IN LONDON AND PARIS THIS WEEK
Dream, Ivory Press Photo by Lilia Peters
Los Angeles-based duo Dream, Ivory share their first single of 2025, the driving, catchy “Lost Angeles.” Brothers and bandleaders Christian and Louie Baello share that “2024 was a turbulent year for us as brothers and as a band." Christian adds, "We had to deal with a lot of change personally - and as a recovering alcoholic, the first part of the year was dealt with sinking lower into rock bottom while the second part of the year was escaping that low point.”
The brothers started Dream, Ivory in 2016, almost as an accident. “We were [originally] making rap songs,” Louie shares, “Christian started making beats because I wanted to be a rapper.” Part of that dynamic remains: Louie handles vocal duties while Christian produces, a skill that’s seen him collaborate with artists like Rico Nasty, and even Dennis Rodman. Though their project has remained true to its DIY roots (originally the two released cover songs straight to YouTube), they’ve organically developed a passionate fanbase, accumulating upwards of 6 million monthly listeners on Spotify and receiving an RIAA Gold certification for their song “welcome and goodbye.”
Since the release of their 2022 album About A Boy, they’ve shared a stripped down version of the record entitled About A Boy (Naked), and a steady collection of singles, including the Jay Som collaboration “Milk,” which was praised by Stereogum, Consequence, Paste, Nylon and more. Watch the video for “Lost Angeles” below, and stay tuned for more from the band.
WATCH OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR “LOST ANGELES”
This weekend, Dream, Ivory will perform at select shows across Europe, including London’s MOTH Club on Feb 20th and Le Hasard Ludique in Paris on Feb 22nd. Tickets HERE.
Tour Dates
Feb 20th - London, UK, @ MOTH Club
Feb 22nd - Paris, FR, @ Le Hasard Ludique
“Milk feat. Jay Som” Single Art
SUPERGRASS 30th Anniversary Tour Celebrating Classic Debut Album I Should Coco
SUPERGRASS
30th Anniversary Tour Celebrating Classic Debut Album
I Should Coco
GENERAL ON SALE FEBRUARY 21
TICKETS HERE
Supergrass has announced North American tour dates celebrating the 30th anniversary of the band’s classic 1995 debut album, I Should Coco. Tickets available at https://www.supergrass.com/
Come September, Supergrass will play a select series of I Should Coco 30th anniversary dates, beginning September 2 in Mexico City and winding down September 12 in Boston—with stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and New York.
Fans will get the chance to see I Should Coco performed in its entirety, plus a nightly encore featuring hits spanning the band’s three-decade career. Speaking further on the shows, Supergrass’ Mick Quinn said: “15th May 2025 marks 30 years since ‘I Should Coco’. Supergrass are thrilled to announce their return to perform the début album live, in its entirety, for the first time. Dynamic pricing not included.”Pre-sale is available Wednesday, February 19 at 10am local time, with general on-sale from Friday, February 21 at 10am local time.
In 1995 Supergrass’s Mercury-nominated debut album I Should Coco hit the UK charts at #3, rose to #1 in the week following that year’s Glastonbury festival, eventually shifting more than 500,000 copies in the UK and a million worldwide. The album’s multiple singles include perennial favorites “Alright” and “Caught by the Fuzz”, sustaining huge cultural influence 30 years on from release. It was “Alright”, the band’s fourth single, and pop masterpiece, that catapulted them to global success. I Should Coco now stands at over 1 million sales worldwide, and impressively, is the biggest-selling Parlophone Records debut album since The Beatles’ Please Please Me.Consisting of Gaz Coombes, Mick Quinn, Danny Goffey and Rob Coombes; Supergrass are one of the most enduring and influential bands to emerge from the UK during the 1990s. Formed in Oxford in 1993, their accomplishments include several million record sales, 6 UK top 10 albums and 10 UK top 20 singles. With Brit and Ivor Novello awards to their name, huge praise has also been given from the likes of Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and NME, with the latter giving I Should Coco a near-perfect 9/10.
SUPERGRASS I SHOULD COCO
30th ANNIVERSARY NORTH AMERICAN TOUR:
September 2 – Mexico City, MX – Teatro Metropolitan
September 5 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium
September 6 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
September 9 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theater
September 11 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17
September 12 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
I SHOULD COCO ORIGINAL TRACKLIST:
I’d Like to KnowCaught By the FuzzMansize RoosterAlrightLose ItLennyStrange OnesSitting Up StraightShe’s so LooseWe’re Not Supposed ToTimeSofa (Of My Lethargy)Time To GoMORE ABOUT SUPERGRASS:
The first group formed by Supergrass members was a Shoegaze-inspired outfit called ‘The Jennifers’, who built a name for themselves in the Oxford indie scene in 1991. After a hiatus, they changed direction, and re-formed in 1993, ultimately arriving at the name ‘Supergrass’. Their first single, “Caught By the Fuzz”, achieved the rare feat of being both NME and Melody Maker’s ‘Single Of The Week’ at the same time. The band’s debut album, I Should Coco followed in May 1995, cementing their success, and topping the UK album charts in the week following Glastonbury.
Five highly acclaimed, successful studio albums followed: In It For The Money, Supergrass, Life On Other Planets, Road To Rouen and Diamond Hoo Ha, as well as the top 5 best of Supergrass Is 10. Other hits include: “Mansize Rooster”, “Lenny”, “Going Out”, “Richard III”, “Sun Hits The Sky”, “Pumping On Your Stereo”, “Moving”, “Grace” and “St. Petersburg.” Having split up in 2010, Supergrass temporarily reformed in 2019 for a successful, sold-out, media and fan-acclaimed world tour. Now, the group is returning in 2025 to perform, for the first time in full, I Should Coco, the album that started it all for them.
FIND SUPERGRASS ONLINE
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Philly band Fib announce debut album via Julia's War, "Mutuals" out now
PHILADELPHIA BAND FIB
ANNOUNCE DEBUT ALBUM HEAVY LIFTING
VIA JULIA’S WAR RECORDINGS
HOOKY NEW SINGLE “MUTUALS”
MARKS FIRST RELEASE IN FOUR YEARS - LISTEN
HEAVY LIFTING ARRIVES APRIL 25, 2025
Photo Credit: Pax Martyn
Philadelphia-based tastemaker label Julia’s War is excited to announce, Heavy Lifting, the debut album from indie rock group Fib, arriving April 25, 2025. Their first release since their self-titled 2021 tape, today’s announcement is heralded by “Mutuals,” a textured and rhythmic track with jubilant and incessant riffs. Lyrically, vocalist Gage Nelson explores unrequited feelings, grief-infused regrets and hidden emotions.
“‘Mutuals’ signifies the turning point of our songwriting,” say Fib. “In writing this track, we were trying to put the past to shame and take a step forward in our creativity as a band. ‘Mutuals’ sets the tone of the record with high-arching melodies, fast transitions, and intricate guitars. It truly encapsulates our goal as a band; to write songs that are beautiful, catchy, and complex.”
LISTEN TO “MUTUALS”
PRE-ORDER HEAVY LIFTING
Fib debuted in 2021 with a tape of their debut songs, featuring the fan-favorite track, “Bedside.” Heavy Lifting sees the band take their sound to the next level, trading lo-fi recordings for refined riffs while synthesizing post-punk sounds into poppy hooks. Fib is vocalist and guitarist Gage Nelson, guitarist Damien Nicholson, bassist Logan Adam and drummer Charlie Libby Watt, who wrote, recorded and produced Heavy Lifting together.
FIB
HEAVY LIFTING
JULIA’S WAR RECORDINGS
Release Date: April 25, 2025
1. Mutuals
2. Say
3. Dotted Line
4. You Ruined Everything
5. Right out the Window
6. PS
7. Pictures
8. Real Heat
9. Outro
ABOUT FIB:
Since 2020, and from coast to coast, indie-rockers Fib have been rewiring brains with their singular, jangly sound and furiously tight live performances. Gage Nelson, Damien Nicholson, Logan Adam and Charlie Libby Watt connected in Portland through their love of punk, friendship, and their shared exceptional musical abilities. After releasing their debut self-titled tape in 2021 and touring the US, the band picked up and moved across the country after falling in love with Philadelphia. The city quickly warmed to Fib’s controlled mania- the band putting on the tightest show imaginable, and then, at the end of the set, destroying their instruments in total chaos mode. They matched Philadelphia’s freak- fitting like a fingerless glove. Now, connecting with Philly label Julia’s War, the group is releasing their debut full-length record Heavy Lifting; a musical odyssey exploring arty pop, punk and progressive rock- while simultaneously breaking free from genre and giving the listener a vividly surreal auditory experience.
With Heavy Lifting, Fib shed their early, scrappy, lofi limitations, and embraced a new, expansive and warm recording capture. This bigger sound allows the group to put their technical skill, harmonious vocals, and hyper-infectious songwriting on full display. Songs like “Mutuals” and “Say” are frenetic and bouncy- shifting through virtuosic arrangements held together with intermittent, powerful hooks. With tunes like “Dotted Line” and “PS”, the band settles deeper into the grooves and songwriting allowing the listener to zone in and bob their head a bit more. While the nine tracks that comprise Heavy Lifting are equally unique and invigorating showcasing the members’ intricate guitar tangles and polyrhythms, the album is holistically composed- a greater sum than its parts. The release would easily sit well for fans of new bands like Palm, TAGABOW, and Water From Your Eyes, but would just as easily be a welcome addition for record heads who love bands like This Heat, Television, and Psychic TV. While this might all be hard to believe, and their name is Fib- it’s no lie. Fib’s Heavy Lifting is a vibrant, moving and endless sonic rainbow. Pick it up and step into their wild and ecstatic void.
ABOUT JULIA’S WAR RECORDINGS:
Julia’s War Recordings is a community-based record label out of Philadelphia Pennsylvania, but serving the greater world as a whole. Founded by Douglas Dulgarian of They Are Gutting A Body of Water in 2021, we aim to provide physical media for bands that rock, for people pushing the boundaries of music and creation in the modern-day.
CONNECT WITH FIB:
CONNECT WITH JULIA’S WAR RECORDINGS:
UNTO OTHERS Announce Co-Headline Tour Dates with Tribulation
Unto Others Announce Co-Headline Tour Dates with Tribulation
See them on the road this May in select markets
(CHI, KC, DEN, SEA, PDX, SF, LA + more)
Unto Others' Never, Neverland LP out now on Century Media
Photo by: Kim Coffel. | Hi-res here.
Portland, Oregon's Unto Others released their triumphant new LP Never, Neverland in September 2024. The band closed out the year on the road in support of it, and now they've announced a co-headline tour with Tribulation this May. The tour will hit Chicago, Kansas City, Denver, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Phoenix, and pre-sale starts February 20 at 10am local time with all tickets on sale February 21 at 10am local time.
Unto Others' Gabriel Franco comments: “This has been a long time coming, ever since our first EU tour with Tribulation in 2019 we have wanted to get a tour rolling in the USA. Stoked it’s finally happening. See you on the road.”
Unto Others + Tribulation on tour:
May 01 Chicago, IL - Reggie’s
May 02 Kansas City, MO - Record Bar
May 03 Denver, CO - Bluebird
May 04 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
May 06 Seattle, WA - El Corazon
May 07 Portland, OR - Star Theater
May 09 San Francisco, CA - DNA Lounge
May 10 Los Angeles, CA - The Regent
May 11 San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick
May 12 Phoenix, AZ - The Rebel Lounge
Never, Neverland marks a new epoch for Unto Others (rounded out by guitarist Sebastian Silva, bassist Brandon Hill and drummer Colin Vranizan). Having emerged in 2017, the band turned heads with the Don't Waste Your Time EP, followed by the beloved 2019 full length Mana and 2021's heavy hitting Strength LP. Now, Unto Others build upon the seductive and beguiling foundation they've hewn out of a bedrock of goth, classic rock, punk, black metal and heavy metal. Simply put: this is the record where Unto Others prove themselves far more than just a one-trick, blackened steed, but instead, a band on the verge of something wickedly terrible and utterly timeless.
"...strong hints of ’80s goth heroes such as Depeche Mode and Echo and the Bunnymen. They continue to establish themselves as modern forerunners of the style." - Consequence
“Such a bold step by a metal band feels disorienting in an age when not enough artists take risks, but Unto Others have embraced the role like few are brave enough to attempt.” - Decibel Magazine
"a serious contender in the Album of the Year discussion" - Knotfest
"...conjures up nostalgic vibes of some of the ‘80s and ‘90s great heavy goth bands while also putting themselves at the forefront of a sound that continues to evolve with each record." - Loudwire
"darkly romantic gothic-metal" - Revolver Magazine
"...a kind of gothic heavy metal that merges two sides of the underground black leather spectrum in what often feels like stadium-ready results." - Treble
Never, Neverland cover art:
Never, Neverland track list:
ButterflyMomma Likes the Door ClosedAngel of the NightSuicide TodaySunshineGlass SlippersFameWhen the Kids Get CaughtFlatlineTime Goes OnCold WorldI Am the LightFarewell...RaigekiHoopsNever, Neverland
February 18, 2025
NOISE POP FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FINAL WAVE OF EVENTS WITH NEW SCHEDULE & ADDITION OF 50+ LOCAL BAY AREA BANDS
NOISE POP FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FINAL WAVE OF EVENTS
WITH NEW SCHEDULE & ADDITION OF 50+ LOCAL BAY AREA BANDS
EXPANDED FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE INCLUDES PRE-PARTY AT CAL ACADEMY,
LOCAL LABEL HAPPY HOUR SHOWCASES AT BENDER’S
KEXP-FM LIVE AT NOISE POP, SF MUSIC WEEK & MORE
Multi-Genre Music Festival Boasts 100+ Concerts & Events
Across A Dozen SF Landmark Venues Beginning February 20 Through March 2, 2025
Individual Concert Tickets & Festival Badges On Sale Now NoisePopFest.com
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (February 18, 2025) – Noise Pop Festival, the Bay Area’s premier independent music and arts festival, has just unveiled an expanded and final schedule of events as the citywide music festival returns for its 32nd anniversary beginning Thursday, February 20 through Sunday, March 2, 2025. Tickets and badges are on sale now at www.NoisePopFest.com.
Expanding upon its long-standing tradition of blending together music, film, art, and authentic Bay Area culture, this year’s edition will feature an even more dynamic and diverse mix of live performances, exclusive pop-up events, rare reunions, and immersive cultural experiences across the San Francisco Bay Area.
LOCAL ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
This extensive slate of community-centric programming is hosted alongside an impressive lineup of 100+ diverse music artists performing at iconic venues citywide. Festival-goers can look forward to watching Soccer Mommy, American Football, and Earl Sweatshirt perform alongside the likes of Danny Brown, DIIV, Lankum, Mercury Rev, Cymande, Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets, Chat Pile, and many more, not to mention the very first West Coast performances from The American Analog Set following the indie-rock pioneers’ 20+ year hiatus.
Joining the dozens of national touring acts on this year’s bill is a lengthy list of more than 50 newly-announced acts representing the Bay Area’s best with the full lineup of local musicians, bands, and DJs included below:
Al Harper / Aluminum / Arts & Crafts / August Lee Stevens / Badvril / Body Double
Byron Mayhew / Cardboard People / Chorus Pedal / Christina’s Trip / Credit Electric / Dani Offline
Deon Brown / DJ LadyRyan / Fake Your Own Death / Fantastic Negrito / Flamin Groovies
Gem777 / Gumby's Junk / Habitaat / HEAT / HIGHWINDS / Horrhaus / ISSBROKIE / Jacob Aranda
James Wavey Band / Loco Tranquilo / Lucky / Mad Menace and The Murder Dogs / Marika Christine
Melodious / Michael Michael Motorcycle / Milk For The Angry / Pocket full of crumbs / Poppy Patica
Prophet Martian / Repeater / Sadie Alan / Same Girls / Seablite / Sharpie Smile / SWISS.
The Fell Swoop / The Futurelics / The Goods / The Moondrops / The Wind-Ups / Theya
Town Bully / Tricky FM / Uncle Chris / Uni Boys
SPECIAL EVENTS AT THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL
2025 Festival programming highlights this year include the return of several beloved traditions, such as admission-free live happy hour shows at Bender’s Bar & Grill and the Cal Academy’s pre-party kickoff featuring DāM-FunK.
Of note, this year’s Happy Hour lineup at Bender’s Bar & Grill features a curated mix of like-minded, independently-owned, and SF-based institutions including record labels, apparel brands, and music collectives, furthering Noise Pop’s investment in the local community.
Noise Pop Festival will also make a triumphant return to Kilowatt with a string of eight epic concerts featuring a two-night takeover from the king of power-pop Paul Collins (February 21-22), as well as Uncle Chris (February 23), The Futurelics (February 26), Horrhaus (February 27), Seablite (February 28) and Period Bomb (March 1).
Plus, for the first time ever, Noise Pop has invited Sketchfest to partner together to co-present a special tribute concert called Red Room Orchestra: A Tribute to David Lynch at the Great American Music Hall which will feature iconic tracks from the filmmaker’s most popular films and TV shows. Ticket proceeds from this one-night-only event to benefit Carel Struycken, known for his role as The Giant in the cult classic TV show “Twin Peaks”, who recently lost his home in the Los Angeles fires.
Local Noise Pop organizers are also partnering with KEXP to bring “Live on KEXP” to Bay Area music-lovers. From February 24-28, KEXP will host a series of in-studio artist sessions featuring acts from this year’s lineup, broadcasting live from the 25th Street Recording Studio in Oakland daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PST, with KEXP’s Cheryl Waters and Larry Mizell, Jr. also set to broadcast their shows live from the city as well. While passes to these sessions are not available for purchase, fans will have a chance to win exclusive backstage access to the in-studio music sessions through a giveaway with more details will be announced soon via @Noisepop and @KEXP.
If that wasn’t enough, Noise Pop is also working with SF Live and the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) to celebrate the past, present, and future of San Francisco’s renowned music scene with a series of educational panels, workshops, studio and venue tours, and more via the inaugural SF Music Week.
The SF Music Week’s Industry Summit on February 28 will feature conversations with industry thought leaders, while the Artist Development Day taking place the following day on March 1 will offer an engaging afternoon designed specifically for independent artists and bands offering discussions, workshops and 1:1 professional consultations with industry leaders.
Each of these events will soon unfold across many of the Bay Area’s most popular music venues such as Great American Music Hall, Bottom of the Hill, The Chapel, Rickshaw Stop, SFJAZZ, August Hall, Gray Area, Bender's Bar and Grill, 1015 Folsom, Kilowatt, Swedish American Hall, and the list goes on with nearly 20 venues participating this year. 2025 will also mark Noise Pop’s return to the Grace Cathedral with extremely intimate concerts from returning festival alum St. Vincent and Benjamin Gibbard; along with a long-awaited return to The Independent.
Highlights from Noise Pop Festival 2025 newly-announced events schedule are listed below, with both tickets and badges on sale now via www.noisepopfest.com:
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19:
Red Room Orchestra: A Tribute to David Lynch, In Partnership with SF SketchFest
Great American Music Hall (859 O'Farrell St, San Francisco, CA 94109)
Doors open at 7:00 p.m.
Featuring Red Room Orchestra and band members like
Tom Ayres (Persephone's Bees)
Allyson Baker (Dirty Ghosts)
Marc Capelle (American Music Club)
Karina Denike (Dance Hall Crashers; NOFX)
Jordan Glenn (Tune-Yards)
Ben Goldberg (Nels Cline)
Petra Haden (Bill Frisell; That Dog)
Scott Larson (Dizzy Gillespie)
Beth Lisick (Porchlight)
Dina Maccabee (Julia Holter)
Larry Mullins (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds; Swans; Stooges)
Kelley Stoltz
Pete Straus (The Dwarves; Robyn Hitchcock)
About: Noise Pop Festival is joining forces with long-time local comedy festival SF Sketchfest to host a one-night-only tribute concert to honor the late David Lynch featuring the Red Room Orchestra and special guests. Presented alongside Vinelands on KEXP-FM and Great American Music Hall, ticket proceeds will be benefit Carel Struycken, known for his role as The Giant in the iconic cult TV show “Twin Peaks”, who recently lost his home in the Los Angeles fires.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20:
Official Festival Pre-Party at NightLife
California Academy of Sciences (55 Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118)
Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
Featuring DāM-FunK
About: In an ongoing partnership of 10+ years, DāM-FunK will headline this year’s official festival pre-party which will include tabling from festival partners Waterloo, KEXP-FM, SFJazz, SF Symphony, and Crossroads Trading.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25:
Bender’s Happy Hours, Presented by Noise Pop, DoTheBay & San Franpsycho
Bender's Bar & Grill (806 S Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110)
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Featuring: Fake Your Own Death, Lucky, Town Bully
About: Join the Noise Pop team for daily happy hours at this iconic SF bar, featuring admission-free entry (21+ only), performances from local bands, and drink menu specials from special sponsors.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26:
Bender’s Happy Hours, Presented by White Crate
Bender's Bar & Grill (806 S Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110)
Show at 5:30pm
Featuring: Jacob Aranda, Credit Electric, Sadie Alan
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27:
Bender’s Happy Hours, Presented by Bright Antenna
Bender's Bar & Grill (806 S Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110)
Doors open at 5:30pm
Featuring: Akira Galaxy, Khatumu, Meg Elsier
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28:
Bender’s Happy Hours, Presented by Text Me Records
Bender's Bar & Grill (806 S Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110)
$0 (free entry, 21+ only)
Doors open at 5:30pm
Featuring: Loco Tranquilo, Badvril, Same Girls
SF Music Week Industry Summit
Swedish American Hall (2174 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114)
Doors open at 9:00 a.m.
Featuring conversations with various industry thought leaders.
More Info: Ghazi, CEO and Founder of San Francisco’s EMPIRE, the US's largest privately held independent record label, distributor, and publisher, will participate in a keynote conversation to kick off the summit. Grammy-nominated producer David Katznelson, award-winning journalist Emma Silvers, and others will moderate panels exploring the San Francisco's music scene.
SATURDAY, MARCH 1:
Bender’s Happy Hours, Presented by Cherub Dream
Bender's Bar & Grill (806 S Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110)
Doors open at 5:30pm
Featuring: Tricky FM, Christina’s Trip, Slake (fka Mary Claire), Softie
SF Music Week Artist Development Day
Music City SF (1355 Bush Street San Francisco, CA)
Doors open at Noon
Featuring conversations with various industry thought leaders.
More Info: An engaging afternoon designed specifically for independent artists and bands tailored to empower independent musicians with the knowledge and tools needed to advance their careers and protect their creative interests.
“Each year, Noise Pop Festival continues to push the envelope and become more creative. Not only in terms of talent buying, but also programming and partnerships, as demonstrated in this year’s events schedule,” said Noise Pop’s CEO Michelle Swing. “As this citywide event is really meant to be a celebration for everyone in the Bay Area to enjoy, I heartedly encourage all music-lovers to come out to at least one of our events this February. See firsthand what makes our event so special while helping spend your dollars locally within the SF arts community.”
Organizers would like to show appreciation for the many sponsors supporting this independently-produced festival including Montucky Cold Snacks, Fords Gin, Slane Whiskey, Diplomatico Rum, Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur, and Z Hotels including Hotel Zelos, Hotel Zetta, Hotel Zeppelin.
As part of Noise Pop Festival’s 30-year-plus tradition of supporting artists, celebrating fans, and creating community, organizers will be donating a portion of proceeds to the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, a nonprofit that assists all types of career musicians and music industry workers who are facing financial challenges amidst physical or mental health issues or disability. Since 2020, the organization has provided over $450,000 to Bay Area residents working in the music industry with more information available at sweetrelief.org.
Stay tuned for more festival announcements by visiting the official festival website at www.noisepopfest.com and following along on social media channels at @NoisePop.
