Noise Pop Music Festival: Official Festival Recap

Capturing San Francisco’s Independent Music Spirit

Noise Pop is the San Francisco Bay Area's premier independent music and arts festival, spanning a week across 25+ venues throughout the city with 160+ bands and 80+ events. For the 28th annual festival in 2020 (February 24 - March 1), I was brought on to create the official festival recap video and capture live performance photography throughout the week.

The challenge was capturing the sprawling, eclectic energy of a festival that doesn't take place in a single venue but transforms the entire city into festival grounds. From intimate clubs like Bottom of the Hill and Café Du Nord to iconic spaces like The Fillmore and Great American Music Hall, I documented performances by artists including Raphael Saadiq, Maya Jane Coles, Best Coast, Helado Negro, Lower Dens, and dozens of emerging local acts. The festival's commitment to championing independent culture—from electronic to jazz to rock—required a visual approach that honored the diversity of the lineup while capturing the connective thread: authentic, unfiltered performances in rooms where you can feel the music.

I moved between venues throughout the week, shooting video and photo stills of performances, crowd energy, and the intimate moments between sets. I also seamlessly integrated vendors and their product placements organically into the visual narrative, showcasing the full festival experience without disrupting the authentic documentation of the event.

Role: Direction, Cinematography, Photography, Editing, Production

Credits:
DP: Erin Turney
Edit/Color: Erin Turney, Sam Huff