How Sofar Sounds is shaping the Denver music scene

DENVER — Lauren Frihauf grew up 45 minutes away from the nearest Walmart, in a small town between Wiggins and Byers. She was also homeschooled, which she described as an isolating experience. Enter music.

“Music kept me company in a lot of ways during my childhood,” Frihauf said. “I was making up songs and singing around my house for as long as I can remember.” 

Now 22, Frihauf is a full-time musician in Denver who performs frequently with Sofar Sounds, a music organization that hosts pop-up style concerts across the globe. While Frihauf plays all sorts of gigs to pay the bills, she says that Sofar is her main outlet for performing her own music. 

“Sofar is an amazing way to try out new material and meet other performers,” Frihauf said. 

Founded in 2009 by a small group of musicians in the U.K., Sofar Sounds began as groups gathering in a friends’ flat to listen to good music.The organization has now turned into an international community that has produced more than 45,000 shows in over 400 cities. Denver made up 115 of those shows in 2025 alone. 

“Denver has quickly become an up-and-coming music scene,” said Jamie Reynolds, a producer with Sofar Denver. “Sofar’s true impact lies in giving local artists a chance to shine in small, intimate spaces.”

Reynolds believes Sofar gives audiences an opportunity to discover new artists and explore unique venues, while also encouraging the community aspect of live music. People are encouraged to turn their phones off before shows, meet artists after the show, and make a night of the experience. 

“At a recent show, I saw a 96-year-old grandma dancing in the front row, and a group of friends sharing a charcuterie board with a couple on a first date,” Reynolds said. “These are the moments that are often overlooked, yet they are what continue to inspire me.”

Each show takes place at a secret location (attendees don’t get the address until 24 hours before). The venue could be anything from someone’s living room to an office building. There are more than 700 local artists who regularly perform with Sofar Denver since its inception in 2014. Frihauf says that Sofar, which takes care of things like booking a venue and promotion, makes it possible for local artists to connect with audiences they wouldn’t be able to otherwise.

“I’ve had friends who live in other cities book shows here through Sofar, so it allows artists to focus on performing,” Frihauf said.

Sofar artists are in good company, given the fact that the organization boasts many notable alumni — including, but not limited to, Billie Eilish, Hozier, Olivia Dean, Chappell Roan and Leon Bridges. All of these artists performed a Sofar prior to their first singles or albums. 

Frihauf is recording with her band, and her first full length album is available on streaming. Frihauf is also a part of other people’s projects, including a collaboration with other local artists — some of which she met through Sofar. As a musician, Frihauf says navigating the local music scene in Denver is a constant source of inspiration.

“There seems to be something for everyone in Denver,” Frihauf said. “It’s a super diverse group of performers and a lot of really talented people are coming up in this scene.”

“I definitely still get nervous, that part hasn’t gone away and probably never will,” Frihauf said about live performances. “But once I’m on stage I black out and go to a different zone entirely.”