Wrapping up its 32nd year this weekend, the annual Noise Pop Festival fills nightclubs and music venues across San Francisco with sold-out shows by Soccer Mommy, Nick Lowe and Los Straightjackets and American Football.

A San Francisco institution ever since it began as one night of loud, tuneful local bands back in 1993, the festival has expanded this year to ten days of music, film and art featuring some of the most respected names in independent music. While the focus remains on the cutting edge of indie rock, the eclectic festival also features modern R&B, global grooves and even avant-garde electronic music. Noise Pop will also be returning to unusual venues with multiple events at Grace Cathedral and Mission District art space Gray Area.    

After a busy week of events with concerts by Death Cab for Cutie songwriter Ben Gibbard, hip-hop maverick Earl Sweatshirt, beloved Austin, TX-based indie rockers the American Analog Set and Irish folk quartet Lankum, Noise Pop moves into its home stretch Friday with the final KEXP's live session broadcasting from 25th Street Recordings in Oakland with songwriter Meg Baird (a solo artist who has also played with Philly psych/folk band Espers and local supergroup Heron Oblivion) at 11 a.m. along with the final two free happy hour shows at popular Mission District dive Bender's

Later Friday, pub-rock/power-pop great Nick Lowe continues his collaboration with masked surf combo Los Straightjackets with a sold-out performance at the Great American Music Hall. A veteran British songwriter who got his start as a member of roots-minded band Brinsley Schwarz, Lowe later joined guitarist Dave Edmunds in the influential pub-rock band Rockpile. Noted for his sharp songwriting -- he and others had hits with his tunes "Cruel to Be Kind," "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding," and "So It Goes" -- and his work producing such artists as Elvis Costello and Dr. Feelgood, Lowe has a loyal cult of fans in the Bay Area who flock to his regular performances at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass.

More recently, Lowe has been recording and touring with backing from lauded surf outfit Los Straightjackets. Initially founded in Nashville during the late '80s as the Straitjackets by noted rockabilly guitarist Eddie Angel and former guitarist with NYC neo-surf instrumentalists the Raybeats Danny Amis, the group wouldn't take off until they reformed in 1994 as Los Straitjackets and began performing with their signature lucha libre wrestling masks and matching suits. The partnership with Lowe produced last year's acclaimed album Indoor Safari for Yep Roc Records.

Other shows of note on Friday include a pair of performances by singer Sirintip at the SFJAZZ Center's intimate Joe Henderson Lab, the first of two nights at the Fillmore with rising songwriter Soccer Mommy (aka Sophia Regina Allison) and an anticipated appearance by Buffalo-based psychedelic indie rock band Mercury Rev, who headline a show at the Rickshaw Stop co-presented with long-running SF indie-rock club night Popscene.  

On Saturday, the Great American Music Hall welcomes beloved Illinois emo band American Football who will mark the 25th anniversary of their debut with two sold-out nights. Founded by guitarist, bassist and singer Mike Kinsella (Cap'n Jazz, Joan of Arc, Owen), American Football amassed a rabid following in the space of a few short years in existence starting in 1997 and have been packing concert halls ever since first reuniting in 2014. Saturday'ss attractions also include an appearance at Grey Area by Wajatta -- the partnership of comedian/musician Reggie Watts and electronic producer/DJ John Tejada -- and Los Angeles indie outfit Earlimart playing their album Treble and Tremble at the Bottom of the Hill for the record's 20th anniversary before the festival winds down with American Football and a pair of shows at SFJAZZ from Oakland's sibling drum-and-keyboards duo MeloDious. More details about Noise Pop's full schedule of events, tickets and festival badges can be found at noisepopfest.com.