Sofar Sounds is back in Miami, and this time the secret concert series wants fans to keep listening long after the lights come up. On September 17, two undisclosed artists will play high-energy sets inside one of South Beach's iconic boxing gyms, with the exact address withheld until the day of the show. Tickets run $27, and guests are welcome to bring their own beverage of choice.
The Miami return, first reported by Miami New Times, arrives alongside a new initiative called the Listening Club, a monthly music discussion hosted inside Sofar's SoFam Instagram broadcast channel. The club is led by Mimi Wright, who serves as Sofar's global social media manager, and it's designed to connect music fans across cities and time zones around a shared record. Each month opens with a recently released album from a Sofar artist, and Wright plans to share stories about each featured musician while occasionally bringing them directly into the conversation.
How the Listening Club Works
Rather than a typical fan forum, the Listening Club centers on shared listening sessions, with discussion topics that include favorite tracks, album artwork, first impressions, and the songs that take several listens before they click. The format mirrors the intimacy Sofar has built its live shows around, just translated to a digital space. It's a notable expansion for a brand that made its name insisting fans put down their phones during actual performances.
Sofar's live-show formula hasn't changed for the Miami return: three (or in this case two) acts play short sets in spaces that aren't traditional venues, and lineups stay secret until showtime. The setup is part of a global artist network that now operates in more than 300 markets around the world, spanning everything from South Beach boxing gyms to hotel rooftops.
From London Living Room to Global Network
Sofar Sounds—shorthand for “Songs From A Room”—began in London in March 2009 when founders Rafe Offer, Rocky Start, and Dave Alexander grew tired of noisy crowds drowning out live music, according to Wikipedia. The idea started with eight friends sitting on a living room floor and has since grown into a worldwide series known for hosting artists early in their careers. Billie Eilish, Hozier, Leon Bridges, Teddy Swims, and FINNEAS all played intimate Sofar sets before reaching mainstream success, according to the City of Hallandale Beach.
That reputation as a talent launchpad has helped fuel serious investor interest. Sofar Sounds raised $25 million in Series C funding in May 2019, led by Battery Ventures and Union Square Ventures, bringing its total capital raised above $31 million, per the same Wikipedia entry — funding that followed earlier backing from Virgin Group and Octopus Ventures.
Past Labor Scrutiny and Artist Pay
The company's growth hasn't come without regulatory pushback. In January 2020, Sofar Sounds agreed to a $460,357.50 settlement with the New York State Department of Labor after an investigation found the company had used 654 uncompensated volunteer “ambassadors” between 2016 and 2019, according to the New York State Department of Labor. State officials said Sofar cooperated fully and immediately overhauled its staffing model to use paid event workers going forward.
Artist pay has drawn its own scrutiny. KQED describes base pay of $100 per band for a 25-minute set and an earlier $50-per-concert payment, according to KQED. A December 2019 figure put Sofar's net income after artist payments at $176 per show. The company later expanded digital tools aimed at boosting artist income; musician advocates had criticized its stipends as low.
Sofar's Growing South Florida Footprint
Miami's comeback show fits into a broader South Florida expansion built on civic and hospitality partnerships. On August 24, the City of Hallandale Beach announced a monthly secret concert series with Sofar running from September 2026 through February 2027 near North City Beach Park, featuring Latin fusion, R&B, and indie rock. In April, Sofar teamed with Miami Beach Pride for a one-night showcase at the Hotel Continental featuring a drag performer, a DJ, and a live music act, according to the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Hospitality brands have also worked with the format. Hyatt Centric has partnered with Sofar, according to Hyatt Hotels Corporation, while Arlo Wynwood has hosted a Sofar event. Sofar also briefly expanded into ticketing technology, acquiring the platform Seated in February 2021 before Seated's original founders reacquired the company in June 2025, per Pollstar.
For now, the September 17 South Beach show and the new Listening Club represent Sofar's latest attempt to balance its grassroots, phones-down concert ethos with a commercial footprint that now stretches across hundreds of markets worldwide. Readers can reserve a spot for the September 17 concert through Sofar's usual booking process, with the boxing gym's address to be revealed as showtime nears.
