Sofar is a global organization hosting secretive invite-only, pay-what-you-wish concerts in intimate settings such as living rooms and building rooftops. The shows are professionally recorded, filmed and broadcast to viewers all across the world. It was founded in 2010, and it operates in 240 cities including New York, Dallas and London. 

The third Sofar Sounds concert in the Triangle area will take place this Saturday at a secret location in downtown Raleigh’s Warehouse District. The address and lineup will be revealed online the day before the concert. Three bands will perform at the event who are considered local favorites and emerging new artists alongside other music enthusiasts in the area. 

Jason Elliott, one of the first people to want to bring Sofar Sounds to the Triangle area after he attended a concert with his wife in Wilmington last October, described the concert as a diverse mix of artists in an intimate setting. 

“It’s just a really cool concept, especially the intimate setting and the focus on really paying attention to the music,” Elliott said. “It kind of feels like the audience is part of the show. Plus, the mystery part of it adds extra excitement to the experience.”

Toby Kandies, a member of the Sofar team in Raleigh and the host of the second concert, said one of the unique aspects of a Sofar concert is the diverse genres. The first two concerts featured performances from Blake Christiana and Yarn, an Americana, alt-country band. 

Also, Fireside Collective, a bluegrass band from Asheville, and Jack the radio, an indie-rock band from Raleigh, have performed. Kandies said he is working on featuring hip-hop artists from Durham in future events.

Kandies spoke about his experience hosting a concert in his living room, and said that he found the crowd to be exceptionally respectful and quiet. Other than applauding at the end of each song, you could hear a pin drop during the performance. According to Kandies, intimacy is key for Sofar concerts. 

“In my place, there were 50 people that I didn’t know,” Kandies said. “But, I know the kind of crowd that’s going to be there, and everybody is very respectful and nothing was messed up. It’s more of an appreciation to the music, there’s no talking, no beer bottle clinking. If you go to any concert now, anywhere, people will be talking.”

Kandies said the attendance is through an invitation-only system and those interested can apply for tickets through the website. He said music enthusiasts should participate in the experience of Sofar and that there is a lot that makes the experience unique. 

“It’s not like an open mic night where anybody can sign up and show up and play, you’re getting real musicians,” Kandies said. “It’s pretty cool that you’re getting legitimate musicians to come to this small situation when they’re already big and can go to the Lincoln Theatre or the Courthouse and their own thing, but they’re choosing to do this because they think it’s really a cool thing.” 

For people interested in attending the shows, information about new events can be found on the website www.sofarsounds.com. Audiences can choose to donate a suggested $10 or any other amount of money to support the musicians, the video makers and to keep the Sofar concerts going in the future. Artists and hosts can also apply by filling out forms online.