Sofar Sounds is crafting melodies and creating moments in our beautiful regional city.
In a world where the rhythm of live music often gets lost in the hustle and bustle, there’s a global movement determined to bring back the enchantment. Sofar Sounds, renowned for orchestrating secret and intimate concerts, is not just a series of events; it’s a musical revolution that spans the globe.
For over a decade, Sofar Sounds has been curating unique live music experiences in the most unexpected of spaces. From its humble beginnings in a living room in London in 2009, Sofar has grown into a phenomenon, stitching together the fabric of music and community in over 400 cities across 78 countries. The magic unfolds in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, and now, the spotlight turns towards Geelong and the Surf Coast, as Sofar Sounds aims to reconnect artists and audiences in our regional haven.
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Arriving with its first regional concert back in July, Sofar has since been honing in on its tradition of filling rooms with attentive audiences seeking to discover new music, delivering intimate concert experiences like never before.
At the helm of this musical odyssey in Geelong is local singer-songwriter Rach Brennan, the Show Experience Lead for Sofar Sounds. With a passion for creating spaces where music matters, Rach brings a fresh perspective to the Geelong music scene.
“The decision to expand Sofar Sounds to Geelong was driven by the city’s vibrant cultural scene and our desire to bring our unique music experiences to more regions in Australia,” Rach explains.
“Geelong, with its eclectic mix of urban and artistic flair, seemed like a perfect fit for the Sofar model of intimate and surprising gigs. This expansion is a part of our broader plan to make live music more accessible and extraordinary, spreading across various cities in Australia.
“Our goal is to bring together musicians and music lovers, presenting secret lineups that are specially curated for the intended audience and space,” she adds. “Our events are centred around music and connection. Think: community, music discovery, unique venues and spaces, cosy blankets and (of course) fairy lights!”
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Sofar’s arrival is not just a concert; it’s an invitation to indulge in two or three short sets from incredible performers spanning all musical genres, with the occasional splash of spoken word, comedy, or dance. Each lineup is meticulously curated by Sofar’s artist booking team, ensuring a diverse and varied experience, but the real thrill of it all begins once tickets are secured.
“While you’ll know the neighbourhood of the gig, you won’t find out the exact location until 36 hours before the event,” she reveals. “You might find yourself in a brewery, a tattoo parlour, someone’s backyard, or your favourite local café.”
The Sofar crew, composed of local artists and musicians, adds a personal touch to the experience. Rach emphasises the importance of inclusive and accessible venues, creating an environment where everyone feels welcome.
“I think Sofar creates a safe space for artists to be vulnerable,” she shares. “Having an attentive audience allows the artist to share their music either stripped back or as originally intended, which is a truly captivating experience.”
“It’s funny – our artists often comment that they are SO much more nervous to play a Sofar show to an observant audience! It’s a total rush of emotions for everyone involved! The intimate setting also means that audience members are more likely to interact with each other and the artists and are also introduced to gorgeous spaces around our region. Choosing venues that are inclusive and accessible for our guests is also so important.”
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Having already delivered several shows across the region, in Geelong, Ocean Grove and Torquay, Rach details the meticulous process of curating diverse lineups, showcasing both emerging and established acts across different styles. The Geelong music scene, overflowing with talent, presents a delightful challenge of choosing from a pool of exceptional artists.
“Geelong is overflowing with talented and diverse musicians, the hardest part is only putting on two gigs a month. We look to create lineups that showcase both emerging and established acts that are different in style but complimentary of each other. “
“We are passionate about creating distinct line-ups, putting together bills that are rich in representation and feature multiple generations of music makers, reflective of our music scene.”
Amid this musical journey, Sofar will witness a new initiative with Jam Nights in Geelong, a platform for local artists to improvise and collaborate. The first Jam Night will take place in Geelong at a secret location on 23 December, featuring the incredible artist Shmone and their band, who will perform before encouraging other artists to join them on stage to improvise and jam together.
“It’s going to be such a great way to finish the year, a real celebration and collaboration of local artists and a show that audiences don’t want to miss,” she teases.
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“Our community focussed events, like our ‘Jam Night’ are an exciting new endeavour we are looking to continue in different formats as we grow. There are lots of meetings being had with collaborations and partnerships set for 2024 – can’t wait to share what we’ve been up to!”
Sofar Sounds is not just about live experiences; it’s a holistic ecosystem. Rach unveils the digital content and artist services that extend beyond the stage. Online performances, interviews, and exclusive content provide additional platforms for exposure and development, bridging the gap between live events.
“Beyond live shows, Sofar provides a range of digital content and artist services that contribute significantly to our ecosystem. We also run a residency in London – providing an opportunity for emerging Australian artists to live and play shows for a month in one of our biggest cities,” Rach explains. “For artists, these services offer additional platforms for exposure and development, while audiences get to enjoy and discover music beyond the live events themselves.”
With secret gigs set to continue unfolding across Geelong, Rach and the Sofar crew are on a mission to make this more than just a concert. It’s a movement, a celebration of music, community, and discovery.
“We are excited to be putting on Sofar shows in Geelong, across the Bellarine and down the Surf Coast,” Rach affirms. “We take into consideration touring artists, local events and even the weather aha! Over the last five months we have aimed to spread the Sofar love, offering shows in Geelong, Torquay and Ocean Grove – with plans to bring Sofar to new towns and neighbourhoods in 2024.”
Find out more about Sofar Sounds here.
