Sofar venues lean cool all the time, but in terms of dramatic impressions, few backdrops beat the beautiful spaces of museums for live music. They’re places where music, art, and culture collide, with glorious results. The notes soar a little higher and the lyrics sound a little sweeter in a space dedicated to the preservation of art.
Each of these five museums that have hosted Sofar performances is unique, but all share the vision of uniting music lovers and new music in inspiring places. From an art museum in Lebanon to a Vancouver space that goes deep on the stories of place, here are five of Sofar’s coolest museums for live music.
1. Sursock Museum Resto in Beirut, Lebanon
Soak up the sounds … and the gorgeous view of Beirut’s Sursock Museum from its live-music-ready courtyard restaurant. The Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock Museum focuses on modern and contemporary art, mostly from Lebanese artists but also from creators around the world. It’s dedicated to the experimentation of art and ideas, making it a perfect place to discover new music. And knowing the museum’s history–and that it started life in 1957 as a museum without walls with the exhibition “The First Imaginary Museum in the World”–makes it all the cooler. Definitely one of our favorite museums for live music.
2. The Kreeger Museum in Washington, D.C.
Inspiration is everywhere at the Kreeger Museum in Washington, D.C. The museum’s mission–to share art, architecture, and music–is a perfect fit for the creativity of Sofar shows. The 1960s travertine-clad modernist building and its five wooded acres dotted with sculpture gardens, and terraces are a refreshing shift from the density of D.C. And the chance to enjoy music in proximity to masterpieces by Monet, Picasso, and other heavyweights of the 19th and 20th centuries, well, that’s a memorable night right there.
3. Museum of Vancouver in Vancouver, B.C.
The Museum of Vancouver is a collection that tells the stories of Vancouver in the past, present, and future. And as a museum of local stories, it’s the perfect spot to listen to music that also tells stories—of places, people, love, and adventure. Meant to be a gathering place that promotes connection and shines a beautiful light on Vancouver’s diversity, it’s a pretty special backdrop for the community and music of a Sofar show. Visit the museum before the show and you’ll come away with a deeper sense of place that you just might hear reflected in the songs of local artists.
4. The Culture Museum in Denver, CO
A Sofar show and Denver’s Culture Museum are a perfect match. The Culture Museum is an interactive space bursting with stories that capture memories and shared history in what it calls “an ecstatic celebration of black culture” in the U.S. The kicker: a visit to the museum is never without music. So not only does this selfie-ready space embrace the importance of music in everyday life, it’s also one of the top amazing museums for live music. And with its immersive spaces that feel both personal and universal, it’s worth a visit before the show (just remember to make advance reservations).
5. 21c Museum Hotel in Nashville, TN
It’s a museum? Yes. It’s a hotel? Also yes. The 21c Museum Hotel in Nashville is, essentially, a museum you can sleep in, making it the art lover’s answer to the movie “Night at the Museum”. With more than 10,500 square feet of exhibition space and great rotating exhibitions that are always free to the public, 21c Museum Hotel has art deep in its bones. And its cultural programming focus makes it ideal for Sofar shows. Bonus: its downtown location is close to everything, so you’ll be in the heart of the action before and after the show.
Words by Christine Sarkis
