{"id":4206,"date":"2025-09-06T08:00:52","date_gmt":"2025-09-06T08:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/?p=4206"},"modified":"2025-09-05T22:12:41","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T22:12:41","slug":"ancient-sofar-venues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/articles\/ancient-sofar-venues","title":{"rendered":"Sofar stages still standing: Ancient Venues"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Not every Sofar show happens in a cozy living room or rooftop garden. Sometimes, the stage is a 7th-century cave, a tenth-century temple, or <em>the<\/em> mountain range that inspired John Denver. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These ancient venues remind us music isn\u2019t just heard, it\u2019s experienced. Who said history had to be boring<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Underground caves in Nottingham, UK<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Talking about digging deeper to find new, exciting venues for a concert, the team at <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sofar Nottingham<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> took it literally and went underground. There is a wide <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visit-nottinghamshire.co.uk\/blog\/read\/2020\/05\/city-of-caves-nottinghams-hidden-underground-world-b6067\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">network of caves<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and tunnels stretching beneath the city of Nottingham. It dates as far back as the 7th century when the early inhabitants discovered that the soft sandstone can be easily carved into underground shelters. And you won\u2019t find a live music concert in a space like this every day. We\u2019re sure the reverb there was excellent.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4212\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4212\" style=\"width: 382px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4212 \" src=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/della_lupa-nottingham-deckchair_barbershop.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=300&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=300&wpsize=medium\" alt=\"\" width=\"382\" height=\"382\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/della_lupa-nottingham-deckchair_barbershop.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\/della_lupa-nottingham-deckchair_barbershop.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\/della_lupa-nottingham-deckchair_barbershop.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\/della_lupa-nottingham-deckchair_barbershop.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\/della_lupa-nottingham-deckchair_barbershop.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\/della_lupa-nottingham-deckchair_barbershop.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\/della_lupa-nottingham-deckchair_barbershop.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\/della_lupa-nottingham-deckchair_barbershop.jpg?crop=faces%2Centropy&fm=pjpg&ixlib=php-3.3.1 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 382px) 100vw, 382px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4212\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">photo courtesy of Sofar Nottingham<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><b>A Temple in Chiba, Japan<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Music is a sacred language, and the spirit of reverence is palpable at this Sofar performance at the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.japan-guide.com\/e\/e6401.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Naritasan Shinshoji Temple<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in Narita City, just outside Tokyo (and super close to Tokyo Narita airport). Treasured objects, hushed rooms, and sonorous sounds make this a nearly transcendent experience in a very special place. And after the show, there\u2019s plenty more to see, with a whole tenth-century temple complex to explore.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4208\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4208\" style=\"width: 461px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-4208\" src=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/ximfnBiP-laa8vKc5-Web_Ready-sofar-tokyo.png?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=png&h=169&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=300&wpsize=medium\" alt=\"\" width=\"461\" height=\"260\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/ximfnBiP-laa8vKc5-Web_Ready-sofar-tokyo.png?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=png&h=169&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=300&wpsize=medium 300w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/ximfnBiP-laa8vKc5-Web_Ready-sofar-tokyo.png?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=png&h=432&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=768&wpsize=medium_large 768w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/ximfnBiP-laa8vKc5-Web_Ready-sofar-tokyo.png?crop=faces%2Centropy&fm=png&ixlib=php-3.3.1 1024w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/ximfnBiP-laa8vKc5-Web_Ready-sofar-tokyo.png?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=png&h=864&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1536&wpsize=1536x1536 1536w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/ximfnBiP-laa8vKc5-Web_Ready-sofar-tokyo.png?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=png&h=1152&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=2048&wpsize=2048x2048 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4208\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">photo courtesy of Sofar Tokyo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Eryri National Park (Snowdonia), Wales, UK<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The hills are alive with the sound of\u2026 Sofar artists. No, really. In May 2024, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/sofarsounds\/reel\/C7ouR6EPd_v\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">over 250 hikers took on epic trails<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014some as long as 7 hours\u2014for a Sofar show like no other, with Snowdonia’s <em>500 million-year-old<\/em> (and breathtaking) peaks as the backdrop. Thanks to Columbia\u2019s #HikeFest, this off-grid gig turned \u201cgetting there\u201d into half the adventure.<\/span><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Zf19xsXrNHU?si=3hTd3zPq-kW3tYek\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Red Horse Inn, Greenville, SC, USA<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Magic is to be had at the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theredhorseinn.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Red Horse Inn<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Nestled in upstate South Carolina, this venue showcases incredible views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which date back to a time <em>before<\/em> trees were even a thing. (John Denver taught us all that, right?) And if that\u2019s not enough to tempt you, the wine bar is home to Finn, a friendly pet pig. While Finn might not be a Sofar artist, he\u2019s sure to steal the show!<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4209\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4209\" style=\"width: 381px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4209\" src=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/image-4559504-copy.png?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=png&h=294&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=300&wpsize=medium\" alt=\"\" width=\"381\" height=\"373\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/image-4559504-copy.png?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=png&h=294&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=300&wpsize=medium 300w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/image-4559504-copy.png?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=png&h=1004&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1024&wpsize=large 1024w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/image-4559504-copy.png?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=png&h=753&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=768&wpsize=medium_large 768w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/image-4559504-copy.png?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=png&h=1505&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=1536&wpsize=1536x1536 1536w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/image-4559504-copy.png?crop=faces%2Centropy&fit=scale&fm=png&h=2007&ixlib=php-3.3.1&w=2048&wpsize=2048x2048 2048w, https:\/\/sofar-sounds-blog.imgix.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/image-4559504-copy.png?crop=faces%2Centropy&fm=png&ixlib=php-3.3.1 1399w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 381px) 100vw, 381px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4209\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">photo courtesy of Sofar Greenville<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p> <\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/\">Curious what other unexpected spaces we\u2019ve turned into stages? Explore upcoming Sofar shows near you!<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Not every Sofar show happens in a cozy living room or rooftop garden. Sometimes, the stage is a 7th-century cave, a tenth-century temple, or the mountain range that inspired John Denver. These ancient venues remind us music isn\u2019t just heard, it\u2019s experienced. Who said history had to be boring? Underground caves in Nottingham, UK Talking […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":4211,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,361],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4206","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-spaces","category-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4206","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=4206"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4206\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4206"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4206"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sofarsounds.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4206"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}