Sofar Sounds (an acronym for Songs from a Room) is a music events company. The Company calls itself a global community where guests and artists come together to experience music in an intimate and respectful setting at a secret concert. Typically, three artists perform at each Sofar gig with no “opener” and no “headliner”. Performers apply to be considered via a form on the website. Musicians of all genres as well as spoken word poets, comedians, and even dancers are welcome to apply. Local Sofar Sounds lead ambassadors/bookers and their review committees and music scouts curate the evenings.
The line-up for a concert is not disclosed until the event starts; the location (often a private living room with an average size of 70 people) is announced 24 hours before the show. Guests arrive on time for the first act and are encouraged to stay for the entire show. Events are normally BYOB, and the emphasis is placed on the crowd being respectful – switching off their phones and listening. Sofar Sounds also claims that highlighting headline acts encourages people to turn up late and not respect the other performers, so that is why all artists are being treated equal. Artists are often filmed, with the edited video uploaded to the Sofar Sounds YouTube channel and shared on the website.
