REVIEW: A summer night with Sofar Sounds
When I told a colleague I was going to a secret gig on a Thursday night, she asked if I thought it might be the Arctic Monkeys. Given the cost of a ticket (£16) I said I thought that was relatively unlikely.
Sofar Sounds promises intimate shows in unexpected venues, with patrons buying a ticket without knowing any details about the event. They have indeed hosted some big names, including Billie Eilish, Wolf Alice and Chappell Roan, but they are more concerned with spotlighting local talent than surprising audiences with celebrity appearances. The secrecy isn’t a gimmick, but a way to get audiences into venues and present them with acts they may otherwise never encounter.
A couple of days before the event, I was sent a location: Hideaway cocktail bar on Eyre Street, halfway between Decathlon and The Rutland Arms (take what you will from my choice of landmarks). I'd never visited before, but it's a pretty space, full of mismatched furniture, strewn with fairy lights and staffed by some very friendly people.
Our MC for the night was Joe Lawson, Sheffield Sofar’s new co-producer, who told a little about the other Sofar events going on around the world that evening (New York, Stockholm, London, etc) and advised us that Sofar gigs were all about the music and the moment, so conversation and mobile phone use were discouraged during performances. Without getting too Abe Simpson about it, I tend to end up watching a lot of gigs through someone else’s phone screen, so it was refreshing to sit in an entirely silent and screenless room as the audience waited for the first act.
First up was Sun Drift, aka Zac Barfoot, playing a laid-back, hazy acoustic set with elements of indie, folk and dream pop. He pairs soft guitar melodies with earthy, earnest vocals, reminiscent of modern folk icons Johnny Flynn and Joshua Burnside. That’s not to say he doesn’t have his own sound, which he very much does, bolstered by intricate guitar lines and a hauntingly beautiful voice.
Photo: Benji Wilson
Next came Monique Grimwade, stage name Monqi, an alternative indie singer-songwriter armed with an electric guitar and an impressive vocal range. She alternated between the high, breathy notes of Laura Marling and the introspective storytelling of early Kate Nash, landing on something that felt entirely fresh. Her endearing stage presence (“I’ve got a new song coming out tonight, but I’m not playing it because I don’t want to”) and real talent in terms of both singing and strings cemented her as someone to look out for on the Sheffield scene.
Photo: Benji Wilson
Last was a stripped-back set from two members of Mayfield, a new five-piece indie band who may-or-may-not be named after the alpacas on the edge of the Peak District. Harry Corps on vocals/keys and Tobias Holden have been friends for twenty years, and their close friendship played out in perfectly balanced harmonies and a comfortable on-stage presence which lent itself to the intimate, ‘front room feeling’ of the gig.
Photo: Benji Wilson
So, it’s unlikely to be the Arctic Monkeys, but that may well be a good thing. Sofar Sounds promises three local acts, thoughtfully curated, giving up-and-coming artists a few minutes in the spotlight and audiences a chance to uncover something new.
Words: Lauren Archer
Photos: Benji Wilson
