To be completely transparent, the show I attended at St. Augustine’s Arts & Events Center on the 17th of January 2025 in Brighton was my first Sofar Sounds show, and I didn’t really know what I was walking into or where I was walking to in general.
If you aren’t familiar with Sofar Sounds, they hold live music events throughout the UK and across the world, but the specific venue address is kept a secret until 36 hours before the performance starts, and the artist line-up is also kept a secret until 30 minutes beforehand.
The backdrop for this show was a gorgeous former Anglican church built in the late 1800s with stained glass windows and tall ceilings, resulting in stunning acoustics. It was the perfect place to enjoy the music from the artists who were performing on the night.
The first act was AVIJÉ, a talented Iranian singer who uses her heritage to inspire her music, resulting in soulful notes and beautiful Persian melodies. With Reece Oliver supporting on guitar, she shared original songs, ‘Marching Through London’ and ‘A New Beginning,’ along with a classic blues cover of ‘Misty’.
Next up was Theo Warrington, a self-taught violinist whose music blends pop and electronic; however, this night we were treated to an entirely acoustic set. Supported by his guitarist, Phil, who he met at university, Warrington performed original songs, ‘Lion Heart’, ‘Fortitude’ and ‘For Him’, along with a heartwrenching cover of ‘Hallelujah’.
Bringing the night to a close was Akin Soul, only just entering his 20s; the blues singer already has Glastonbury under his belt and has toured with his band, ‘Akin Soul & the Soul Tribe’. His set was full of funk and blues. A personal favourite moment of the night was when he managed to coax the audience into a call-and-response segment during his final song, which was a heartwarming end to a wonderful night.
If you want to find out more about Sofar Sounds shows that have taken place across Brighton in the past, check out our recent review of the show, which took place on the 13th of December, 2024.
