You may be wondering why I’ve been wanting to go to a Sofar Sounds show in Brighton for so long. As a massive music lover, I knew this opportunity would be great for discovering new music. I can’t go a day without listening to music, and I love exploring my “Discover Weekly” every Monday.
When I see any artists I like performing in Brighton or London, I immediately book tickets because I believe experiencing the music you love live is one of the best feelings ever. At this point, I would consider going to gigs as one of my hobbies, which I try to participate in once a month or every few months.
I listen to a lot of different music genres, and in my opinion, this is what makes Sofar Sounds in Brighton an amazing experience. I love the concept of the shows, offering you the opportunity to discover new music from different places. In Brighton, shows take place 3-4 times a month across different venues in the city.
So what is sofar sounds?
Sofar Sounds is a music event company that was started in 2009. They offer concerts all over the world, and what makes the experience truly unique is that you can choose the area in which you want to attend a show, but the venue itself is revealed 36 hours before the show through an email.
Shows can take place in food establishments, parks, or even churches and beyond; you never know what to expect! When curating shows, the team is inclusive and ensures gender and race equality when picking performers. The acts that perform at the show (usually 3) are revealed on the day of the show, or you can attend without looking at the email or their social media to make the event an even bigger surprise.
At present, shows can be attended in over 400 cities, so if you fall in love with the concept (and trust me, you will!) you might even be able to attend a show during your next staycation or holiday abroad.
The Venue: Pizza Pilgrims
The event I attended was in the South Lanes, at Pizza Pilgrims, to be specific, which is a three-floor pizzeria situated on Ship Street. Before attending this event, I wasn’t even aware that Pizza Pilgrim has an underground area where people can play football during the day! What’s more, the football pitch can be booked for birthdays, work parties, or any other events you’d like.
Upon arriving 15 minutes prior to the show starting (if you’re late, they might not let you in, so make sure to come early or you’ll likely have to wait for the next break to start), I was greeted by a person waiting in the outside area in front of the venue. They asked for my name and checked the guest list before telling me where to go.
After making my way down the stairs, I was greeted by members of the team who had a drink area set up and menus lying around, allowing guests to order drinks or food from Pizza Pilgrims. I grabbed myself a Diet Coke and went into the main room next door to find about 30 people sitting on blankets, beanbags, and the floor. I took a seat towards the back and had a look at the board by the stage, which had the artist lineup.
Behind me was a table set up with some merch from the artists, including CDs and some other items. The space was quite small, and the venue had toilets both downstairs and upstairs. Although there was a busy restaurant environment above us, we could barely hear any noise coming from upstairs other than the occasional clatter, although this didn’t cause much disturbance to the show.
The experience: Sofar Sounds Brighton
The event lasted around 2 hours, with each act performing for 30 minutes with a break between each performance to allow people to nip to the toilet or get some food or drinks. Some people (me included) ordered pizza before the event began, and this resulted in the food arriving after the show had started; however, the staff were able to get the pizza to the right person without disrupting the show.
The event host took to the stage to give us some background information on the artists before introducing the first act. The three artists who performed at the South Lanes show that I attended on the 29th of August included Megan Black, Gramski, and Soul Jets. Each act performed music in their unique style, making this event a true celebration of creativity and talent.
Megan Black was the first to perform. She is a Scottish songwriter who plays blues rock music with a twist of queer feminist pop. Her performance was alongside one of the band members who played guitar while she sang, although she did mention that she usually plays with a band, but unfortunately, they were unable to make it down to Brighton for this particular performance. I really liked that she engaged with the audience between songs, telling us the story behind her music and asking us to engage with her final song by singing along and raising our hands. Her lyrics resonated with me, and her voice was a pleasure to listen to.
Facebook: Megan Black
Spotify: Megan Black
Gramski was on stage second, performing freestyle rap based on input from the audience. He had a chat with us before he began his performance and asked people to shout out different words based on the questions he was asking. He then created a freestyle rap of a story about two people meeting and going on a date. The performance was impressive, to say the least, and I was in awe of his talent and ability to think on the spot.
Facebook: Gramski
The Stone Jets were last (but of course not least!) and blessed us with some Soul music. I found their music to be really uplifting, and they created a sense of hopefulness in the room with their rhythm and lyrics. Their songs were very catchy, and in my opinion, they made a great duo, and you could really feel the love they have for their music. I even found myself listening to their music once I got home, so that says something.
Facebook: Stone Jets
Spotify: Stone Jets
Overall thoughts
I think Sofar Sounds shows are a great experience for a date, hangout with friends, or a family evening out. If you want to go solo though, fear not; it can be a great space for making friends if you feel like approaching some people to have a chat before the show or during the breaks.
The experience promises not only great music but also a sense of community and discovery. Kudos to the Brighton Sofar Sounds team for curating another unforgettable evening of music in Brighton.
It is important to note that not all venues are accessible, but some shows are at accessible venues. Age restrictions may also apply depending on the venue. The tickets to an event are £16, making it an affordable experience, priced around the same price as if you were to attend a concert.
Fun fact About Sofar Sounds!
Some world-famous artists have performed at past Sofar Sounds shows in different parts of the world before they rose to fame. Some big names you may recognise include Billie Eilish, Jack Harlow, Noah Cyrus, Bastille, and even Hozier. For all you know, one of the acts you see at a Sofar Sounds show you choose to attend might just be the next big thing!
After attending the show in the South Lanes, I know I’ll definitely be back in the future to discover some new music.
To find out more and purchase tickets: https://www.sofarsounds.com/cities/brighton
