CMJ and SXSW Rival Noise Pop Takes Place Feb. 21-26

One of my favorite seasons of the year is almost upon us. As Winter segues into Spring, another season begins as well: Festival Season. Coachella usually marks the start of the season, but another upcoming festival, Noise Pop, is taking a stab at the supremacy of festivals like South By Southwest and CMJ. These are not traditional camping festivals, instead opting to be held in urban environments, and across many different venues. Instead of highlighting massive headliners, and the previous years “up and comers,” these festivals are all about finding this years “up and comers.” Noise Pop is held in San Francisco and is put on by the same company, also called Noise Pop, that holds Treasure Island Music Festival in the Bay. It will take place February 21-26 Like all festivals, Noise Pop does have some major headliners, namely The Flaming Lips performing The Soft Bulletin, Die Antwoord, Porter Robinson and Sleigh Bells.

The above bands will undoubtedly put on a great show, but the smaller bands are the lifeblood of the festival. It’s incredibly difficult to predict who will make it big in the lead-up to festivals like Noise Pop, but here are a few random guesses. Check out the rest of the lineup after the jump.

Tropical Popsicle – San Diego four-piece band that has yet to settle on any specific niche, much less any genre. I don’t know what to call it, but I like it.

Born Gold – Don’t really know anything about Born Gold. He/she claims to be from US minor outlying islands and creates synth-pop with an emphasis on the synths.

The Flaming Lips (performing The Soft Bulletin)

Sleigh Bells

Bob Mould (performing Sugar’s Copper Blue)
Two Gallants
The Fresh & Onlys
Release the Sunbird
Overwhelming Colorfast
Slouching Stars
Peppercorn
Big Sleep
Maus Haus
Exray’s
Shannon and the Clams
Sister Crayon
Class Actress
Painted Palms (DJ set)

Dirty Ghosts

The Soft Pack
Wye Oak
Big Freedia
The Dodos
Tyler Lyle
20 Minute Loop
Brilliant Colors
Yalls
Carlos Forster

Archers of Loaf

Bleached

Born Gold
Budos Band
Built to Spill
Christie Front Drive
Craig Finn
Cursive
Die Antwoord
Disappears
Grimes
oOoOO
Imperial Teen
Laura Veirs & the Tumble Bees
Laura Veirs & the Hall of Flames
Mount Moriah
Porter Robinson
Surfer Blood
Taxes
Ume
Veronica Falls
Virgin Islands