You never know who’s about to wow you at a Sofar. We’ve seen hundreds of incredible artists in our community step into intimate rooms and share their gifts with listeners, and sometimes that’s the last chance to see them close up before they’re headlining festivals. Here are a handful of artists we’ve gotten the chance to share a room with.
1. Tank And The Bangas – Oh, Heart | Sofar New Orleans
Tiny Desk Contest winners, Grammy nominees– but before that, the band serenaded us in their hometown with twinkling, harmony laden tunes.
2. Jamila Woods – Way Up | Sofar NYC
The Chicago singer and poet just played The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, but we were fortunate enough to catch her perform a stripped down version of “Way Up” in a small brick-walled room in NYC.
3. Shakey Graves – Word Of Mouth | Sofar Austin
Maybe you were passing through Times Square last spring and noticed the face of Alejandro Rose-Garcia, aka Shakey Graves, among the billboards. But long before that in 2012, the singer perched on his drum in front of a fireplace in Austin and wove us a folk, bluesy tale.
4. Khruangbin – August Twelve | Sofar Bristol
Pre-days of selling out tours across the U.S. and touring around the world, the Houston natives were packing into a small room to wow us with their eclectic instrumental jams.
5. Kadhja Bonet – Fairweather Friend | Sofar Los Angeles
Speaking of Khraungbin, guess who recently opened for them at a sold-out Red Rocks evening? Fortunately we got to catch the California artist in LA up close, and even snap along to her performance.
6. Bedouine – Mind’s Eye | Sofar Los Angeles
Azniv Korkejian, aka Bedouine, has done a solid amount of touring throughout this wide world, sharing stages with folks like My Morning Jacket, Father John Misty, and even landing on Late Night with Seth Meyers. So, it’s extra special we got to catch her in her adopted hometown playing this intimate, sparse tune.
7. Joseph – High Society | Sofar Seattle
They hadn’t gone electric and full-band yet, and hadn’t shared a stage with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill– but the sister trio was just as strong in this stripped down, harmony woven performance.
photo credit: Tank And The Bangas, photo by Big Al, The Camera Man
