SoFar Sounds creates intimate music experience

Multi-dimensional artist Taylor Mallory performs as part of SoFar Sounds musical experience. Photo by Jim Vondruska. SOFAR PHOTO
Multi-dimensional artist Taylor Mallory performs as part of SoFar Sounds musical experience. Photo by Jim Vondruska. SOFAR PHOTO

 SoFar Sounds creates intimate music experience

By Tia Carol Jones

SoFar Sounds offers music lovers an opportunity to experience live music in intimate settings, but there’s a catch. The concertgoers don’t know the venue until 36 hours before the show and they don’t know the lineup of artists until they are at the show.

SoFar began in 2009 in London when the founder Rafe Offer hosted a concert for Dave Alexander in his flat. Since then, it has expanded to 308 cities around the world, including France, Madrid, Cairo and New York City. Venues for the shows vary from residential to commercial, indoor to outdoor, with the capacity as small as 20 to more than 100 people. Some venues also are Bring Your Own Bottle.

SoFar Sounds has been part of the Chicago music scene since 2012. There was a need for a place where musicians could perform for people who wanted to listen to them, who wanted to respect them. Put down their phones and enjoy a night of music, a night where they can listen to artists and hear what they have to say.

“This truly brings in people who show up and respect musicians who want to find new music,” said Tori Hughes, the SoFar Sounds’ host operations manager in Chicago.

Also, adding to the intimacy of the shows is that shows are not being performed on stages, which often leads to guests sitting on a blanket on the floor. It helps foster a connection between the artists and the guests. Guests also are encouraged not to talk or text during the artists’ sets. It creates a level of mutual respect because there is no pedestal that anyone is put on.

Matt Muse, Shawnee Dez and Marina City are just some of the local artists who have performed shows for SoFar. It has been a platform for new artists to showcase their work. It also has been dedicated to making sure it is all about the artists. The artists chosen to perform apply to SoFar, or it receives suggestions for artists. The artists team of SoFar listens to the application to make sure the artists are the right fit.

“We want to make sure that quality artists are being presented to the people who are coming to discover new artists,” Hughes said.

SoFar is doing a partnership with All Out in April and hosting shows with them. There are shows scheduled for the Chicago Athletic Association and The Rookery.

SoFar is focusing on expanding back to pre-COVID-19 size, while still making sure the experiences leading up to that expansion are valuable and special for the guests.

During COVID-19, SoFar pivoted to launch its Listening Room, where artists perform many days of the week in a live, virtual setting. There also were private virtual concerts, where companies could use SoFar to hosts concerts virtually and connect users from other cities and countries to enjoy the music. SoFar has also launched a private discovery show. It is another type of show for companies to offer. Three thousand artists whose shows were cancelled because of COVID-19, but were also paid for their shows.

The venues for the shows are mostly requests from the venues. SoFar is always looking for new venue spaces. If people are interested, they can go to the website, click on hosts, select Chicago as their main city.

Want to see a SoFar show, use the code THECITIZEN-D0A4F for 15% off tickets. Offer valid until Monday, Sept. 12, 2022.
For more information about SoFar Sounds, visit

 www.sofarsounds.com.
For people interested in hosting a SoFar show, visit https://www.sofarsounds.com/about/hosts.

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