Zara Larsson Headlines Sofar Sounds Long Island

Sofar Sounds — short for Songs From a Room — began in London over 15 years ago with a simple mission: to create intimate concerts in unexpected spaces. Since then, it has blossomed into a global movement across 400+ cities, celebrating music, community, and creativity. Every Sofar show is an invitation-only experience, with the exact location revealed just two days before — keeping the vibe relaxed, low-key, and always full of surprises.

While my most unconventional Sofar event took place inside a carpet factory, the most memorable one I’ve attended was held at none other than Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island — right across from Hofstra University. It’s a venue I’ve been to many times, but this time, it felt completely transformed. Normally holding up to 16,000 people, the coliseum was repurposed for a tiny, exclusive gathering of fewer than 100 guests. To preserve Sofar’s signature intimacy, the show took place in the VIP Lounge.

Even with such a small crowd, there was a short line of about five people waiting to enter. The mellow energy was immediately inviting, and I loved how easy it was to strike up conversations with other music lovers. It was a refreshing change to feel genuinely connected to people just moments after arriving — no rush, no pretense, just a shared love for music and discovery.

After check-in, we were guided toward the VIP Lounge together. The openness of the empty arena felt surreal — almost like walking through the set of Night at the Museum. As someone who sits somewhere between introvert and extrovert, the quiet made it the perfect setting to open up, relax, and connect with the other guests on my own terms.

But what made this night truly unforgettable? The headliner: Swedish pop star Zara Larsson. Zara first broke onto the scene as the winner of Talang (Sweden’s version of Got Talent), and later became internationally known for hits like “Never Forget You” and “Symphony.” Her performance was sponsored by Epic Records and 106.1 BLI, Long Island’s go-to pop station — the perfect pairing for such a standout artist and show.

One of the best parts of a Sofar show is the genuine intimacy — not just in venue size, but in how approachable the artists are. After the show, Zara took the time to meet every guest. She was down to earth, easy to talk to, and truly the definition of a girl’s girl. My colleague Dani and I even snapped a photo with her — a moment I’ll never forget.

If I had a time machine, I would’ve brought my podcast mic with me. During our chat, Zara smiled and said, “I can’t wait to see you again someday.” So who knows — maybe a podcast interview with her is in our future? Fingers crossed… and stay tuned.