{"id":3104,"date":"2024-03-10T06:00:13","date_gmt":"2024-03-10T06:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/?p=3104"},"modified":"2024-05-23T17:53:10","modified_gmt":"2024-05-23T17:53:10","slug":"sofars-most-historic-venues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/articles\/sofars-most-historic-venues","title":{"rendered":"Past Meets Present: Sofar\u2019s Most Historic Venues"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can have great music, and you can have great audience members. But would a Sofar show even <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">be<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a Sofar show without out-of-this-world venues?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ve been lucky enough to curate performances in highly unique, highly memorable, and highly historic venues throughout the years across the globe. We\u2019ve already shared our most <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/articles\/beloved-spaces-2023\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">beloved spaces<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as well as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/articles\/favorite-cafes-for-live-music\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cafes that have hosted us <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">around the world, but now we\u2019re in the mood to share a list made for the history books.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some of our most historic venues with rich pasts that keep our hearts singing.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boston<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3>Arlington Street Church<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Constructed in 1861, this church is a Boston icon. It played a significant role in the abolitionist movement during the 19th century and has continued its commitment to activism on issues such as civil rights, LGBTQ rights, and environmental justice. In 2004, it was the site of the first same-sex marriage in the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adding to its beauty are the 16 large-scale Tiffany stained-glass windows, dating as far back as 1899.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3111\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3111\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3111 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/boston-july-21-2017-arlington-600nw-772803331.webp?crop=faces%2Centropy&fm=pjpg&ixlib=php-3.3.1\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"407\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/boston-july-21-2017-arlington-600nw-772803331.webp?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=204&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=300&wpsize=medium 300w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/boston-july-21-2017-arlington-600nw-772803331.webp?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=695&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1024&wpsize=large 1024w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/boston-july-21-2017-arlington-600nw-772803331.webp?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=1042&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1536&wpsize=1536x1536 1536w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/boston-july-21-2017-arlington-600nw-772803331.webp?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=1389&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=2048&wpsize=2048x2048 2048w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/boston-july-21-2017-arlington-600nw-772803331.webp?crop=faces%2Centropy&fm=pjpg&ixlib=php-3.3.1 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3111\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Arlington St Church, taken from Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boston Harbor Distillery\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This distillery is historic for its long-standing association with entrepreneurship and innovation. Built in 1859, with posts and beams of Douglas Fir, it is one of the last mill buildings in the Boston area.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also hosted inventor Silas Putnam, who invented the hot-forged horse nail, as well as George Lawley & Son Shipyard, builders of America\u2019s Cup winning yachts and minesweepers during WWII.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boston Harbor Distillery has hosted four Sofars, with performers including Copilot, Kieran Rhodes, and Ohly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3114\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3114\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3114 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-DSC07839.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fm=pjpg&ixlib=php-3.3.1\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-DSC07839.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=169&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=300&wpsize=medium 300w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-DSC07839.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=576&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1024&wpsize=large 1024w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-DSC07839.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=432&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=768&wpsize=medium_large 768w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-DSC07839.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=864&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1536&wpsize=1536x1536 1536w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-DSC07839.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=1152&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=2048&wpsize=2048x2048 2048w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-DSC07839.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fm=pjpg&ixlib=php-3.3.1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3114\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Boston Harbor Distillery, photographed by Brandon Johnson @allthingsharmony<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chicago<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Rookery\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Considered to be both one of the most historically significant buildings in Chicago (as well as an architectural masterpiece), The Rookery has stood in the Windy City\u2019s Financial District since its completion in 1888. It was designed by renowned architects \u200b\u200bDaniel Burnham and John Root, who eventually moved into the building.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Its most famous feature is the skylit lobby, redesigned by legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1905.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now it plays host to businesses, private events, and the occasional Sofar. Well, we\u2019ve hosted 30 Sofars here, so not <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">that <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">occasional.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3113\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3113\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3113 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-DSC_1593.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fm=pjpg&ixlib=php-3.3.1\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-DSC_1593.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=169&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=300&wpsize=medium 300w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-DSC_1593.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=576&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1024&wpsize=large 1024w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-DSC_1593.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=432&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=768&wpsize=medium_large 768w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-DSC_1593.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=864&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1536&wpsize=1536x1536 1536w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-DSC_1593.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=1152&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=2048&wpsize=2048x2048 2048w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-DSC_1593.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fm=pjpg&ixlib=php-3.3.1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3113\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Rookery, photographed by Sam Fink @lumosco<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Garfield Park Conservatory\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It doesn\u2019t get more luscious than this venue, one of the largest conservatories in the United States. Garfield Park Conservatory is two acres of public greenhouse and ten acres of outdoor gardens, often referred to as \u201clandscape art under glass\u201d. The Conservatory space was established in the 1880s, while the main greenhouse structure was built in 1908.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The space hosted its first Sofar in 2021, which featured D. Lylez.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3120\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3120\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3120 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-Garfield-Conservatory-Sofar-Chicago-9.20.17-Photo-by-Torie-Palacios.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fm=pjpg&ixlib=php-3.3.1\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-Garfield-Conservatory-Sofar-Chicago-9.20.17-Photo-by-Torie-Palacios.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=169&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=300&wpsize=medium 300w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-Garfield-Conservatory-Sofar-Chicago-9.20.17-Photo-by-Torie-Palacios.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=576&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1024&wpsize=large 1024w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-Garfield-Conservatory-Sofar-Chicago-9.20.17-Photo-by-Torie-Palacios.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=432&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=768&wpsize=medium_large 768w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-Garfield-Conservatory-Sofar-Chicago-9.20.17-Photo-by-Torie-Palacios.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=864&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1536&wpsize=1536x1536 1536w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-Garfield-Conservatory-Sofar-Chicago-9.20.17-Photo-by-Torie-Palacios.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=1152&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=2048&wpsize=2048x2048 2048w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-Garfield-Conservatory-Sofar-Chicago-9.20.17-Photo-by-Torie-Palacios.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fm=pjpg&ixlib=php-3.3.1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3120\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Garfield Conservatory, photographed by Torie Palacios<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NYC<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hall des Lumi\u00e8res\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many don\u2019t know this, but New York\u2019s immersive art museum, Hall des Lumi\u00e8res used to be the Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank \u2013 a bank set up by Irish immigrants escaping the Great Famine of the 1850s. The bank served the community for decades, before closing in 1929, a victim of the Great Depression. The building then took on many different roles: it was the headquarters of the New York City Parking Violations Bureau, then became an aid center in 2002 after 9\/11.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was acquired in 2020 by Culturespaces, the curator behind Paris\u2019s critically acclaimed \u201cAtelier Des Lumi\u00e8res\u201d. Now it hosts some of the world\u2019s greatest masterpieces, reimagined as large-scale experiences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oh, and a certain show-stopping Sofar from last year which featured Honey Collective.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3115\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3115\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3115 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-Sofar_Sounds_Hall_de_Lumieres_Manhattan_11_29_2023_Kevin_Dominguez_02.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fm=pjpg&ixlib=php-3.3.1\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-Sofar_Sounds_Hall_de_Lumieres_Manhattan_11_29_2023_Kevin_Dominguez_02.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=169&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=300&wpsize=medium 300w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-Sofar_Sounds_Hall_de_Lumieres_Manhattan_11_29_2023_Kevin_Dominguez_02.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=576&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1024&wpsize=large 1024w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-Sofar_Sounds_Hall_de_Lumieres_Manhattan_11_29_2023_Kevin_Dominguez_02.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=432&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=768&wpsize=medium_large 768w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-Sofar_Sounds_Hall_de_Lumieres_Manhattan_11_29_2023_Kevin_Dominguez_02.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=864&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1536&wpsize=1536x1536 1536w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-Sofar_Sounds_Hall_de_Lumieres_Manhattan_11_29_2023_Kevin_Dominguez_02.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=1152&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=2048&wpsize=2048x2048 2048w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-Sofar_Sounds_Hall_de_Lumieres_Manhattan_11_29_2023_Kevin_Dominguez_02.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fm=pjpg&ixlib=php-3.3.1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3115\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hall de Lumi\u00e8res, photographed by Kevin Dominguez<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">City Winery at Grand Central Terminal\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of New York City\u2019s most iconic buildings is Grand Central. It\u2019s appeared in countless movies, from <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">North by Northwest <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and its breathtaking ceiling has wowed many a tourist over the decades. City Winery, which calls Grand Central home, has hosted eleven Sofars.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Opened in 1913, Grand Central is a legendary building in New York\u2019s already legendary lineup. It\u2019s so iconic, in fact, that the mainstage of Saturday Night Live is modeled on the Terminal\u2019s interior and Main Concourse clock.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Portugal<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">S\u00e3o Bento Railway Station<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Monument in Portugal, the S\u00e3o Bento Railway Station is located in Portugal\u2019s second largest city, Porto. The station took over a decade to build, and since its opening in 1916, has stood as an historic and architectural marvel. The interior of the building is famous for its large panels of twenty thousand <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">azulejo<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: tin-glazed ceramic tiles that depict moments in the nation\u2019s history and rural scenes throughout the different regions of the country. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fortaleza da Luz<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This fortress was built in 1670 and sits atop a cliff on Portugal\u2019s southern coast. It\u2019s been used for various purposes since its construction, and sat in disrepair for about a century before being bought by a dignitary in the 1980s. After some rebuilding and restoration, it\u2019s now an historic site: complete with a restaurant and a space for Sofar shows.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3112 size-medium_large\" src=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sofar-Lagos-Portugal-1.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=768&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=768&wpsize=medium_large\" alt=\"\" width=\"768\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sofar-Lagos-Portugal-1.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=300&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=300&wpsize=medium 300w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sofar-Lagos-Portugal-1.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=1024&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1024&wpsize=large 1024w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sofar-Lagos-Portugal-1.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&h=150&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=150&wpsize=thumbnail 150w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sofar-Lagos-Portugal-1.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=768&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=768&wpsize=medium_large 768w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sofar-Lagos-Portugal-1.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&h=400&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=400&wpsize=square 400w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sofar-Lagos-Portugal-1.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=1536&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1536&wpsize=1536x1536 1536w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sofar-Lagos-Portugal-1.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=2048&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=2048&wpsize=2048x2048 2048w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sofar-Lagos-Portugal-1.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fm=pjpg&ixlib=php-3.3.1 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">United Kingdom<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Westminster Abbey<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Probably the oldest venue on this list, Westminster Abbey has hosted dozens of coronations, royal weddings, and funerals over the centuries, and now Sofar has joined the ranks. We hosted our first show here in 2022, and it featured Hamzaa, Josh Barry, and Trudy and the Romance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The building is nearly 1000 years old and also serves as the resting place for over three thousand prominent figures in history: from Sir Isaac Newton and Sir Charles Darwin, to Queen Elizabeth I and Laurence Olivier. It\u2019s such a who’s who of famous greats, that writer William Morris called it a “National Valhalla”.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3118\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3118\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3118 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-Hamzaa_Tiqets_WestminsterAbbey_London_JaneJimenezPhotography_07132022_42.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fm=pjpg&ixlib=php-3.3.1\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-Hamzaa_Tiqets_WestminsterAbbey_London_JaneJimenezPhotography_07132022_42.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=169&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=300&wpsize=medium 300w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-Hamzaa_Tiqets_WestminsterAbbey_London_JaneJimenezPhotography_07132022_42.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=576&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1024&wpsize=large 1024w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-Hamzaa_Tiqets_WestminsterAbbey_London_JaneJimenezPhotography_07132022_42.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=432&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=768&wpsize=medium_large 768w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-Hamzaa_Tiqets_WestminsterAbbey_London_JaneJimenezPhotography_07132022_42.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=864&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1536&wpsize=1536x1536 1536w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-Hamzaa_Tiqets_WestminsterAbbey_London_JaneJimenezPhotography_07132022_42.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=1152&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=2048&wpsize=2048x2048 2048w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-Hamzaa_Tiqets_WestminsterAbbey_London_JaneJimenezPhotography_07132022_42.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fm=pjpg&ixlib=php-3.3.1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3118\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Westminster Abbey, photographed by Jane Jimenez (@bporthos)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">St John’s at Smith Square<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">St John\u2019s has seen it all. Originally a church, this building has survived fires, storms, and the Blitz of the Second World War. It has since been restored as a concert hall.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fun fact: the building is often referred to as ‘Queen Anne’s Footstool’ because apparently when asked what she wanted the building to look like, Queen Anne kicked over a footstool and said \u201cI want it to look like that.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Funner fact: We\u2019ve hosted eleven Sofars here, featuring artists like Jensen McCrae and Latir.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3121\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3121\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3121 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-JensenMcRae_London_PetraEujaneGent_21.01.2023_13.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fm=pjpg&ixlib=php-3.3.1\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-JensenMcRae_London_PetraEujaneGent_21.01.2023_13.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=169&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=300&wpsize=medium 300w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-JensenMcRae_London_PetraEujaneGent_21.01.2023_13.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=576&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1024&wpsize=large 1024w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-JensenMcRae_London_PetraEujaneGent_21.01.2023_13.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=432&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=768&wpsize=medium_large 768w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-JensenMcRae_London_PetraEujaneGent_21.01.2023_13.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=864&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1536&wpsize=1536x1536 1536w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-JensenMcRae_London_PetraEujaneGent_21.01.2023_13.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=1152&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=2048&wpsize=2048x2048 2048w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Web_Ready-JensenMcRae_London_PetraEujaneGent_21.01.2023_13.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fm=pjpg&ixlib=php-3.3.1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3121\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">St. John’s Smith Square, photographed by Petra Gent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bristol Old Vic<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the oldest continuously working theater in the English-speaking world, and we\u2019re honored to have held our first Sofar here in 2023.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The building itself was opened in 1766, but after centuries of wear and tear and financial troubles, the theater was taken over by the same company that owned and operated London\u2019s Old Vic theater.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daniel Day-Lewis called it “the most beautiful theater in England.\u201d We agree, Daniel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zimbabwe<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Gallery of Zimbabwe<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This building witnessed a major shift in Zimbabwe\u2019s history, from colony to independent nation. It was declared a national monument in the 1970s and is now under direction by National Museums and Monuments. Today, the Gallery hosts the best of Zimbabwean art, and Sofars.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3110\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3110\" style=\"width: 768px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3110 size-medium_large\" src=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/1000047449.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=512&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=768&wpsize=medium_large\" alt=\"\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/1000047449.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=200&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=300&wpsize=medium 300w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/1000047449.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=682&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1024&wpsize=large 1024w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/1000047449.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=512&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=768&wpsize=medium_large 768w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/1000047449.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=1023&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1536&wpsize=1536x1536 1536w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/1000047449.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=1364&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=2048&wpsize=2048x2048 2048w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/1000047449.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fm=pjpg&ixlib=php-3.3.1 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3110\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An audience enjoys a Sofar show at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, photographed by kreationphotography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ready to make some history of your own? <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Head to a Sofar show near you<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or check out <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/lists\/historic-landmarks\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">upcoming shows in a historic building<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in your area!<\/span><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You can have great music, and you can have great audience members. But would a Sofar show even be a Sofar show without out-of-this-world venues? We\u2019ve been lucky enough to curate performances in highly unique, highly memorable, and highly historic venues throughout the years across the globe. We\u2019ve already shared our most beloved spaces as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":3107,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[269,516,61,515,62,235,185,517],"class_list":["post-3104","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spaces","tag-sofar-boston","tag-sofar-bristol","tag-sofar-chicago","tag-sofar-lagos","tag-sofar-london","tag-sofar-nyc","tag-sofar-porto","tag-sofar-zimbabwe"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3104","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3104"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3104\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3107"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3104"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3104"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}