SFEMF celebrates 25 years of groundbreaking electronic music Sept. 24-26. Presented in co-production with The Lab and with support from the Italian Cultural Institute and InterMusic SF, the festival features three nights of live electronic performances by an exceptional roster of internationally acclaimed and emerging artists.
Spanning a remarkable breadth of contemporary practice, this year's program explores electronic sound as science-fiction fantasy, sonic ecosystems, technologically realized fugues, acousmatic dramaturgy, patient listening, sonic theater, and deeply liberating ritual.
Friday's program begins with Albert Yeh, who presents four voice fugues performed using MIDI and modular synthesizers, demonstrating timeless musical processes realized through contemporary technology. Stefano Pilia follows with solo performances from his recent works Spiralis Aurea and Lacinia, adapted for electric guitar and electronics to create an acousmatic dramaturgy suspended between logos and chaos. The Gleaners—
Laetitia Sonami and Matt Robidoux—continue the evening, combining Sonami's pioneering electronic instruments with Robidoux's distinctive "corn synth" practice to create immersive performances that blur the boundaries between composition, installation, and sonic theater. Friday concludes with Paul DeMarinis, whose experiments with sound objects and electronics transform performance into a ritualistic theatrical experience.
Doors 7:30 pm, Show 8:00 pm
Tickets $23, festival pass $60
Ticket link: https://dice.fm/bundles/san-francisco-electronic-music-festival-2026-589l
More info: https://www.sfemf.org/
Cost: $23-$60