{"id":3742,"date":"2024-11-20T18:53:02","date_gmt":"2024-11-20T18:53:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/?p=3742"},"modified":"2024-11-25T14:45:27","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T14:45:27","slug":"sofar-voices-guido","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/articles\/sofar-voices-guido","title":{"rendered":"Sofar Voices | Meet Guido: A Sofar superfan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Before we dive in, we\u2019re excited to introduce Sofar Voices, where we spotlight different members of the Sofar community \u2014 or the Sofam, as we like to call it. In each edition, you\u2019ll get to know fans, artists, crew, curators\u2026 you name it. If they\u2019re involved in creating the Sofar magic, they\u2019ve got a story to tell and we\u2019re here to share it. Enjoy!<\/em><\/p>\n<p>To kick off our first Sofar Voices, we went to what you might consider Sofar fan royalty. Guido Mackenbach is a Sofar superfan from The Netherlands with an impressive 134 Sofar shows (at time of print!) under his belt. Guido discovered Sofar through a friend\u2019s performance post in 2017 and has since become an avid supporter, experiencing shows across nine Dutch cities as well as Nashville and London. Get to know him below as he shares his journey with Sofar, from his first concert to his favorite artists.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hey Guido! It\u2019s great to catch up with you. Can you give us a quick intro for our readers?<\/strong><br \/>\nWell, my name is Guido Mackenbach, 58 years old\/young, Dutch born and raised. I live nowadays in Best, near Eindhoven, in the Netherlands and work in the IT department of one of the largest insurance companies in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3745 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Guido-solo-photo.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=683&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1024&wpsize=large\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Guido-solo-photo.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\/Guido-solo-photo.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=683&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1024&wpsize=large 1024w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Guido-solo-photo.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\/Guido-solo-photo.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=1024&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1536&wpsize=1536x1536 1536w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Guido-solo-photo.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fm=pjpg&ixlib=php-3.3.1 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Let\u2019s take it back to the beginning: How did you first hear about Sofar Sounds?<\/strong><br \/>\nGitta de Ridder, an artist I know from a yearly Dutch traveling music festival named Popronde, posted that she was playing a secret gig in Utrecht. So I asked her what it was and if I could attend as well\u2026 turned out to be a Sofar Sounds Utrecht show. I immediately applied to attend that show but I didn\u2019t get in\u2026 So I ended up at Sofar Sounds Breda, on April 22, 2017.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ah, back when you had to apply to get in! Was Gitta performing there, too?<\/strong><br \/>\nNo, she wasn\u2019t! I did finally see Gitta de Ridder perform though\u2026 at my 132nd show!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Wow, amazing! So how many shows have you been to exactly\u2026?<\/strong><br \/>\nAs at this moment, I have attended 134 shows, and more coming up\u2026 I\u2019ve been to shows in 9 Dutch cities, and also in Nashville and London, seeing over 330 different artists from all over the world.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3746\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3746\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3746 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Rafe-and-Guido.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=1024&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1024&wpsize=large\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/Rafe-and-Guido.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\/Rafe-and-Guido.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\/Rafe-and-Guido.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\/Rafe-and-Guido.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\/Rafe-and-Guido.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\/Rafe-and-Guido.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\/Rafe-and-Guido.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\/Rafe-and-Guido.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fm=pjpg&ixlib=php-3.3.1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3746\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Guido with Sofar’s founder, Rafe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>That is wildly impressive, Guido. What makes Sofar so special to you?<\/strong><br \/>\nI love not knowing where it will be exactly, until one day in advance. Then only finding out what 3 artists will play, once you get there. This ensures that the people in the audience are open-minded to any kind of music, willing to respect the artists and, very importantly to me, willing to be silent during their performances. Back in the day, I also loved having to apply and not knowing if I got in or not \u2014 it added to the experience.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you had to pick, which is your most memorable Sofar concert?<\/strong><br \/>\nTo me, all Sofar shows are great! But if I may choose two truly memorable shows, then it would be my 123rd and my 125th show, in London this year, both in the living room where it all started for Sofar Sounds 15 years ago, at the house of Rafe Offer. With every Sofar show I see good artists put up great performances, but Rafe hosted superb artists. <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/artist\/6X2QoSBLc6zeYdIQrtLNed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Arsha Kaviani<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/artist\/3sDemA5FWaxfqPJFP2SK8x\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Blair Davie<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/artist\/2nE9x2JhbyjBVCaSnUGX3G\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Victoria Canal<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/artist\/7mw3fkFlwF0WZQMzVpiLOC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reeps One<\/a> (as a surprise act) on my 123rd show, and <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/artist\/3TXjnAw0sg1VVdnR9fGdBs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hamzaa<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/artist\/7poQNrOwZoUcoqihg4Xex0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wasia Project<\/a> (as a surprise act), <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/artist\/4EZnId4qGMZmXGjWmt8ckR\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bradley Taylor<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/artist\/5J2gmQqWzqVcRzQXtNIAoC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">James Numbere<\/a> for my lustrum 125th show!<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Arsha Kaviani | Sofar London\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hAadpptCslM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>With all these artists you\u2019ve seen, is there one up-and-coming one that stands out?<\/strong><br \/>\nAnother hard question, as I enjoy all the performances, even of artists that are totally out of my preferences, as they still put up a good show with great vibes\u2026 but Dutch-born, Australia-based <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/qIlNQjlqihw?si=8Dm4tZLw5w3FYAoq\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Romy B<\/a>. blew me away from her first song and had me captivated from then on. She\u2019s destined to go big, in my humble opinion.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Love it! What a great endorsement. Is there anything else you would like to share?<\/strong><br \/>\nSofar is a great opportunity to see, meet, and greet artists from all over the world, who you may only see once in a lifetime. There should be a warning for newcomers\u2026 \u201cHighly addictive!!!\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Beautiful! Thank you for the kind words and taking the time to chat, Guido! We can\u2019t wait to see you hit your next Sofar milestones.<\/strong> \ud83d\udc9b<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Before we dive in, we\u2019re excited to introduce Sofar Voices, where we spotlight different members of the Sofar community \u2014 or the Sofam, as we like to call it. In each edition, you\u2019ll get to know fans, artists, crew, curators\u2026 you name it. If they\u2019re involved in creating the Sofar magic, they\u2019ve got a story […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":3744,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3742","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3742","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\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3742"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3742\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3744"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3742"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3742"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3742"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}