Sofar Sounds Harare returned for its second concert which was hosted at the First Floor Gallery in the city last Saturday.

The shows, which are hosted in different spaces around Harare, are part of a new music concept that debuted in the country in December last year at Vanilla Moon in Mount Pleasant.

Sofar Sounds is part of a global network of music curators and musicians putting on live music concerts in out-of-the-ordinary venues. It is coordinated by multi-platform creatives Khumbulani Muleya and Rutendo Mutsamwira.

The original London instalment of Sofar Sounds (Songs from a Room) was a house concert hosted by founder Rafe Offer 15 years ago, to which he invited a few friends. The concept expanded rapidly and today it is present in more than 450 cities throughout the world. Its shows are run by independent music curators in the cities where they reside.

The community-based shows are by invite only and to attend guests apply via www.sofarsounds.com in order to reserve tickets. A show lasts three hours and has a line-up of up to three artists of different genres each performing 20-minute slots.

Sofar concerts are distinct in that they are hosted in unique and secret locations that provide an intimate setting where attendants are immersed in a music experience free of the usual distractions normally associated with live music shows. The venue is kept a secret until a day before the show, and the performers are not introduced to the audience until they are on stage, something that adds a sense of mystery and thrill to the occasion.

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Muleya said they were happy to have hosted a successful second concert which actually sold out way in advance.

“The concept is still new in Zimbabwe, and the idea is to spread the Sofar model across the country as there are many musicians looking for a way to grow their local and global audiences, as well as fans seeking a genuine connection with music,” Muleya said adding that the brand is getting recognised.

Actor, guitarist, singer and session musician Kudzie Kayz, who sings and plays Afro-jazz music fused in an original mix of indigenous African sounds and contemporary urban styles, was part of the performers at the First Floor Gallery, including country folk-rock musician, Zowa, and singer songwriter Cinginkosi Ncube, whose genre is afro-soul.

The afro-acoustic group, Gwevedzi, performed at Sofar Sounds’ inaugural concert last year. They resultantly were shortlisted for a Sofar Sounds music residency in London. The concert also included Nasibo and Glen View-based Tru Bantu Tribe.

Globally, more than 100 artists who performed at Sofar shows have been nominated for a Grammy, with 24 Sofar alumni nominated for a Grammy in 2022 alone.

On the same day, there were other concerts that took place all over the world in locations such as Lahore (Pakistan), Bangalore (India), Bloemfontein (SA), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Brussels (Belgium), Drobak (Norway), Ancona (Italy), Dubrovnik (Croatia), Valencia (Spain), Bucks County and Reno (US). — Staff Writer.