With hundreds of new bands popping up every year, how is anyone supposed to keep track of who’s hot and who’s not anymore? Just dial yourself into Popscene and you will definitely be off to a good start. Now in its thirteenth year of operation, Popscene has not only redefined, but truly shaped the underground music scene in San Francisco.

From its very first show featuring an evening with the Dandy Warhols, to the Killers, Arctic Monkeys, Bloc Party and Amy Winehouse, Popscene has brought San Francisco numerous debut performances of some of music’s most accomplished artists. Since the average ticket price for all Popscene shows is only eight to ten dollars, discovering the next hot band won’t break your bank either.

Aaron Axelsen, music director of the bay areas’ Live 105 radio station and host of the Sunday night new music program, Soundcheck, is also one of the founders of Popscene. MetroWize had the chance to sit down with Axelsen to find out what Popscene is all about.

"Popscene has become a trusted brand which is ubiquitous with emerging and next big thing caliber acts. Popscene is run by insatiable music lovers and offers an outlet for like-minded music enthusiasts to gather each week for an indie rock/britpop dj party and a chance to catch some exciting new talent first, like a Vampire Weekend, Bloc Party, Klaxons or The Ting Tings" explains Axelsen.

Popscene focuses on bringing in live international acts, generally fitting into the “British Indie” genre. In addition to its regularly scheduled shows every Thursday at 330 Ritch in the SOMA district, Popscene puts on many special events throughout the year at various venues such as Mezzanine.

Be aware that tickets for weekly events at 330 Ritch are not pre-sold, so be sure to get there early if you know it’s a popular band because dedicated Popscene fans are most likely to be lined up early to get into the show.

Popscene has grown from its four founding members to a crew of eight regulars, supported by a twenty person street team representing the cause. With the help of websites such as MySpace, the online community, and Filter magazine, the word about Popscene has spread like wildfire to those who live to discover new music.

In the 90’s, indie music promoters such as Popscene hardly existed. Fast-forward fifteen years and a new indie rock revolution is taking place and similar “scenes” are popping up across America, and around the globe.

Due to Popscene’s success, the indie music promoter has emerged as the go-to source for discovering new underground music in San Francisco. Much like companies such as Live-Nation, AEG and Another Planet Entertainment, Popscene has made a name for itself and evolved into a highly successful music promoter in its own right.

For more information check out the Popscene website