First Sofar Sounds Gloucestershire event takes place in Forest of Dean

AN immersive music event took place in the Forest of Dean, welcoming music artists to perform their songs in an intimate setting.

The first- ever Sofar Sounds Gloucestershire event was held at Studio 250 in Cinderford, bringing three artists together for an evening of live music.

The Studio is tucked away in the Forest of Dean and was created with musicians at the heart of what they do. A bright, open feel was apparent as soon as people stepped inside the building. Attendees were greeted by an array of vintage and sports cars, providing a unique atmosphere. A short walk upstairs led to the recording studio, where artists could see the wide range of facilities on offer.

Sofar Sounds was founded in London in 2009 by Rafe Offer, Rocky Start, and Dave Alexander. The concept began when Rafe Offer invited a group of his friends to Dave Alexander’s flat in north London to watch him perform. Since then, Sofar Sounds has expanded to major cities such as Paris, New York City and Los Angeles.

At the first Sofar Sounds, Gloucestershire event, three artists performed without a specific opener or headliner which enabled a similar opportunity for all artists to showcase their music.

The artists included: Joshua Ó Cathasaigh, Sophie Sutton and Crispin all of whom provided a range of musical talent for the audience to tune into.

Scott James, said: “We have just launched Gloucestershire’s very first Sofar Sounds. We had an incredible evening. It is a very intimate setting where you get to know the artists and the way they write their songs. We will be expanding all across Gloucestershire.”

Ellie, the fiddle player for Joshua Ó Cathasaigh, said: “It was really cool and great to be a part of the first ever one and getting to play in a really beautiful, intimate setting with people wanting to appreciate new and upcoming talent.”

One of the attendees at the Sofar Sounds performance, Gracie Powell, said: “It has been really great. It is extremely cool to have something like this in the Forest of Dean and having this creative space.”

Sophie Sutton said: “It went brilliantly, it was such a nice night. I really love the intimacy of Sofar Shows and the in- built audience that you get is a great opportunity as an independent artist to share your music to a new audience.”

Crispin said: “I have had a fantastic evening at Studio 250 with Sofar Sounds. It has been a dream of mine to do a Sofar Sounds gig, so literally a dream come true.

“I sang a lot of original songs, some of them are coming out quite soon.”

A range of artists have previously taken part in Sofar Sounds gigs, including Billie Eilish, James Bay, Emeli Sandé and Tom Odell.

A key feature which makes Sofar Sounds so distinctive is the closeness of the event. The audience is managed through a guest list system, with the exact location of the events not being released into closer to the time.

Keep an eye out on the Sofar Sounds Gloucestershire social media pages for information on future events.