There’s really nothing like live music in a backyard. People lounging on soft blankets or kicking back in patio chairs, watching as the artists’ songs soak into the sky turning dark and starry above. It’s a kind of magic we all deeply missed. Fortunately, we’re getting back to it. Curious where you might find such an enchanted Sofar? Well, one spot is in the sweet southern city of Louisville, Kentucky, or more specifically, the home of Chloe Grubbs and Brian Harpring.
Brian and Chloe, our Sofar hosts in Louisville, Kentucky
Chloe and Brian hosted their first Sofar last summer. “We’d never hosted before, and neither of us had been to a Sofar yet, it was something we’d both followed for a long time,” Brian said. The two are artists themselves, Brian a guitarist by night, and Chloe a wedding photographer by day, shooting under the name era 26. It just so happened that the two purchased a new home right around the time Sofars began to reopen. They got in touch with Jayme, Sofar’s Louisville curator, to see about potentially hosting a few people in the living room.
When Jayme stopped by to check out the space, she noticed their beautiful backyard, a wide grassy space for Chloe and Brian’s dogs to run around under big trees, equipped with a communal fire pit to hang by. The space was too inviting to pass up. So, she convinced Chloe and Brian to alter their plans, and the concert evolved into an outdoor one with 100 people, following clear safety protocols.
“We were nervous,” Brian said. “But it felt like the community that supports Sofar is in the same mindset [as us]. I felt safe about it.”
Despite any nerves, the night of the show Brian and Chloe welcomed the Sofar community into their backyard, equipped with portable bathrooms and a space against a white wall for artists to set up. It didn’t take long for the magic to kick in. “It was incredible, everyone was so nice,” Brian said. “As soon as they found out we were hosting they [said], ‘thank you so much, so nice of you,’ and I was like, ‘thank you, this is awesome!’” Brian said.
“It was a [house] welcoming party, almost,” Chloe laughed. “It was seamless, there were no problems the whole night.”
Sofar in the backyard. Photo by Chloe Grubbs
The night was a celebratory one, with a sea of people casually lounging in the backyard, listening closely to the artists. The vibe was friendly, people being respectful of one another’s spaces, but still communal. Founder Rafe Offer came to the show with his daughters, and when he realized he hadn’t brought anything to sit on, someone quickly offered him a blanket.
“No one person left anything—no trash, nothing,” Chloe said. “Not that we would’ve cared, we would’ve cleaned it up, but everyone was so respectful and just there for the music. The sense of community it brought to our backyard—it was really cool.”
Since that eve, Chloe and Brian have been to nearly ever Sofar in Louisville. “We still see some of the people who came to our house as strangers, now we see at other shows—it’s so cool,” Chloe said. And for those who missed the magical night, we’ve got high hopes there’s another sweet summer’s eve at Chloe and Brian’s on the warm horizon. “The only thing else we have to say is that we’d love to host again,” Chloe said.
Photo by Chloe Grubbs
Interested in hosting a Sofar? Check out more details here.
Photo credit: Sofar in Chloe and Brian’s backyard in Louisville, Kentucky. Photo by Chloe Grubbs.
