Before we dive in, we’re excited to introduce Sofar Voices, where we spotlight different members of the Sofar community — or the Sofam, as we like to call it. In each edition, you’ll get to know fans, artists, crew, curators… you name it. If they’re involved in creating the Sofar magic, they’ve got a story to tell and we’re here to share it. Enjoy!
To kick off our first Sofar Voices, we went to what you might consider Sofar fan royalty. Guido Mackenbach is a Sofar superfan from The Netherlands with an impressive 134 Sofar shows (at time of print!) under his belt. Guido discovered Sofar through a friend’s performance post in 2017 and has since become an avid supporter, experiencing shows across nine Dutch cities as well as Nashville and London. Get to know him below as he shares his journey with Sofar, from his first concert to his favorite artists.
Hey Guido! It’s great to catch up with you. Can you give us a quick intro for our readers?
Well, my name is Guido Mackenbach, 58 years old/young, Dutch born and raised. I live nowadays in Best, near Eindhoven, in the Netherlands and work in the IT department of one of the largest insurance companies in the Netherlands.
Let’s take it back to the beginning: How did you first hear about Sofar Sounds?
Gitta de Ridder, an artist I know from a yearly Dutch traveling music festival named Popronde, posted that she was playing a secret gig in Utrecht. So I asked her what it was and if I could attend as well… turned out to be a Sofar Sounds Utrecht show. I immediately applied to attend that show but I didn’t get in… So I ended up at Sofar Sounds Breda, on April 22, 2017.
Ah, back when you had to apply to get in! Was Gitta performing there, too?
No, she wasn’t! I did finally see Gitta de Ridder perform though… at my 132nd show!
Wow, amazing! So how many shows have you been to exactly…?
As at this moment, I have attended 134 shows, and more coming up… I’ve been to shows in 9 Dutch cities, and also in Nashville and London, seeing over 330 different artists from all over the world.
That is wildly impressive, Guido. What makes Sofar so special to you?
I love not knowing where it will be exactly, until one day in advance. Then only finding out what 3 artists will play, once you get there. This ensures that the people in the audience are open-minded to any kind of music, willing to respect the artists and, very importantly to me, willing to be silent during their performances. Back in the day, I also loved having to apply and not knowing if I got in or not — it added to the experience.
If you had to pick, which is your most memorable Sofar concert?
To me, all Sofar shows are great! But if I may choose two truly memorable shows, then it would be my 123rd and my 125th show, in London this year, both in the living room where it all started for Sofar Sounds 15 years ago, at the house of Rafe Offer. With every Sofar show I see good artists put up great performances, but Rafe hosted superb artists. Arsha Kaviani, Blair Davie, Victoria Canal, and Reeps One (as a surprise act) on my 123rd show, and Hamzaa, Wasia Project (as a surprise act), Bradley Taylor, and James Numbere for my lustrum 125th show!
With all these artists you’ve seen, is there one up-and-coming one that stands out?
Another hard question, as I enjoy all the performances, even of artists that are totally out of my preferences, as they still put up a good show with great vibes… but Dutch-born, Australia-based Romy B. blew me away from her first song and had me captivated from then on. She’s destined to go big, in my humble opinion.
Love it! What a great endorsement. Is there anything else you would like to share?
Sofar is a great opportunity to see, meet, and greet artists from all over the world, who you may only see once in a lifetime. There should be a warning for newcomers… “Highly addictive!!!”
Beautiful! Thank you for the kind words and taking the time to chat, Guido! We can’t wait to see you hit your next Sofar milestones. 💛
