First Sofar Sounds gig in Dimapur on July 15
Sofar Sounds, one of the biggest global, grassroots network of artists, is coming to Dimapur, Nagaland. The first edition of Sofar Sounds Dimapur is scheduled for July 15. Sofar Sounds (an acronym for Songs from a Room) is a music events startup company, based in Shoreditch, founded in 2009. Since its inception, the venture has managed to build a global music community, where guests and artists come together to experience music in an intimate and respectful setting at a secret concert. The events started in London in March 2009, and since then this grassroots movement in London has eventually grown into a global community. In early 2017, Sofar Sounds said that they are putting on about 500 gigs per month in more than 300 cities worldwide. Sofar Sounds curates secret, intimate gigs in unique spaces, from living rooms and churches to hoodie shops and fancy furniture showrooms, aiming to create performance spaces that are respectful to artists, where the audience “lives in the moment and listens closely to the music.” Notable performers at Sofar Sounds gigs have been James Bay, Hozier, Bastille, Actor Robert Pattinson etc. Ambassadors and partners for Sofar Sounds are Virgin Group, Air Bnb and Uber. HOW IS A SOFAR GIG DIFFERENT FROM A NORMAL GIG? At Sofar Sounds, the music always comes first. People sit, listen, and never talk through the set. WHAT HAPPENS AT A SOFAR SHOW? A Sofar show will typically feature three acts with no “opener” and no “headliner”. Every lineup is carefully curated to give the audience a diverse show, and each performer is given equal attention. Guests arrive on time for the first act and stay for the entire show. During the music, there is full attention: no talking or texting. You get up close and personal with the artists! There’s no backstage here, so chat with them and get to know them. HOW DO I ATTEND A SHOW? Guests interested in attending a show must apply for an invite on the Sofar Sounds website. The location of the concert and the two/three artists performing are revealed the day of the event and are sent to applicants approved for attendance. Hopeful attendees get approved based on the capacity of the venue in relation to when they registered to attend. Ticket cost: “Pay what you want.” HOW CAN I HOST A SOFAR? It’s easy! You can apply as host on the official sofar Sounds Website. They’ll just need to know which city and neighbourhood you live in, and how many people your space can fit. If your application to host is successful, you’ll hear back from your local team within a few weeks. HOW DO I GET TO PERFORM AT A SOFAR? Attend a show first to get an idea of what performing involves. Once you’ve done that, you can send your music on the Sofar Sounds website. It will then go directly to the team of the city in which you want to play. They’ll listen and see if it’s right for them.
