Sofar Sounds is a London-based company, formed in 2009, which intends to bring the magic back into live music. It was set up after a group of friends went to a concert where they became frustrated by the number of distractions and wanted a space in which gigs could be held in a more intimate and minimal atmosphere. Artistes and location are kept a secret until 24 hours prior to the event but there was an exception for the latest as it was an event for charity. It is now in 60 countries worldwide. They have boasted acts such as Ed Sheeran, Hot Chip and Moby.

Sofar Sounds recently celebrated (at Twist N Turns, New Alipore) its one-year anniversary in Calcutta, and have managed to put on 10 gigs thus far, including the latest, a fund-raising event for refugees in partnership with Amnesty International. These gigs have been showcased in a variety of venues — from an empty factory and a rooftop to a dance studio, and the audience have ranged from 30-80 people.

The founders of Sofar Sounds in Calcutta — Rebecca, Debojyoti, Arunava, Ritwik, Siddharth and Arka — invited t2 to chat with them about their experience. We were also invited to their latest gig where Fossils, The Saturday Night Blues Band and The Arko Mukhaerjee Collective were in attendance. For them the biggest learning curve has been getting to grips with the technology and the difficulties in operating a start-up in Calcutta. They run without any funds from Sofar, relying on social media, word of mouth and volunteers, but they feel they are improving with each event and are amazed by just how quickly it has grown. “It is all about the community,” they said.

At the event we caught up with a number of audience members, the acts themselves and others who are involved with Sofar Sounds. Kabir, who was there to see his favourite band Fossils, had been to multiple Sofar Sounds events and said the main attraction was the intimacy: “Less distractions, less crowds, less yelling. Just sit and enjoy the music.”

Denny Chan, who is part of the Hong Kong Sofar Sounds team, shone a light on how Sofar Sounds operates as a global community, and yet is a distinctly local phenomenon, as foreign travelers familiar with the concept know they will have a friendly and accessible option for nightlife in most major cities. Denny just happened to be in Calcutta for a night and naturally looked up Sofar Sounds events and the rest is history. 

Sofar Sounds has something for everyone. We caught up with Fossils, who are used to playing gigs for 5,000 people-plus, Rupam Islam, the lead singer, said: “It is a very unique concept. We enjoyed playing together.” And the events are by no means limited to Bangla rock; the organisers take pride in hosting acts from a variety of genres. “We are open to all kinds of fusion bands, beatboxers, orchestras, folk singers, poets,” said Arunava. At one gig they got to witness a 50-year-old experiencing beatboxing for the first time. “These are the moments that we do this for,” mused Rebecca Johns, the city leader of Sofar Sounds here.

Elliot Keck and Isabelle Verhees
(The authors were interns with t2)
Pictures: Sanat Kumar Sinha

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