Sofar Sounds is returning to Cape Town, South Africa, as live music venues in the city continue to close. The global concert series will hold a Women’s Month Discovery show this month on the 22nd at a secret coffee shop in Mowbray.
Founded in London in 2009, Sofar Sounds stages intimate performances in unconventional spaces. Locations are kept secret until the day of the show, and audiences do not know the lineup in advance.
The Cape Town chapter is curated by Kendall Williams and joins more than 250 cities in the Sofar community.
Secret format
For the Women’s Month Discovery event, the exact Mowbray location will be revealed 36 hours before the show. The artists will remain unnamed until the day of the performance.
Three local musicians will each play 20 to 25 minute sets, with short breaks between performances.
Discovery before breakthrough
Sofar Sounds has previously hosted artists including:
- Billie Eilish
- Chappell Roan
- Leon Bridges
- Olivia Dean
- YEBBA
- Teddy Swims
- Hozier
The format withholds venue and lineup details until shortly before the show, placing the performance at the centre of the experience. Sofar does not claim every secret-stage performer will become a global star, but the model allows audiences to see artists before they break through in their scenes.
As traditional live music spaces in Cape Town become fewer, Sofar’s use of living rooms, galleries, rooftops, studios and cafes as temporary stages offers a small-scale alternative for live music infrastructure.
