Noise Pop Reopens Two SF Rooms

Swedish American Hall will reopen after a year of interior rehab in time to headquarter the city’s annual Noise Pop festival Feb. 20 to March 1.

The venue will be programmed by Noise Pop Industries going forward. Noise Pop, headed by Jordan Kurland, also stages the annual Treasure Island and Music Festival.

The 300-seat hall was built in 1907 to host events for the Swedish Society of San Francisco.

“It’s such a great opportunity that plays well with what we do,” Kurland told the San Francisco Chronicle. “The place lends itself to shows that are special and unique.”

Cafe Du Nord, a former Prohibition-era speakeasy that lies below street level in the same building as Swedish American Hall, also had a facelift and menu upgrade. Both shuttered in 2014 to make improvements to better fit the 200 new residences going in next to their Market Street building, according to the Chronicle, in the process gaining an elevator and improved soundproofing.

Both venues have histories in San Francisco’s rock landscape. Kurland said future bookings would be more stripped-down, acoustic affairs to comply with new noise restrictions.

“We’re excited we can keep music in this building,” Kurland told the paper. “It was always such a big part of San Francisco music community – we’re happy to be keep the tradition going.”