SoFA Saturdays in May

After the success of last month’s online SoFA Music Festival, organizer Fil Maresca says he plans to keep the good vibes going with SoFA Saturdays, another virtual venture that will have a “soft opening” this week and continue for the next three Saturdays.

The idea’s pretty easy: Different channels of entertainment like you’d find in San Jose’s arty South First Area will be available from 6 to 9 p.m. at www.sofasaturdays.com. To recreate the SoFA experience, Maresca said, visitors will be encouraged to pick up take-out food and drinks from downtown restaurants and then sit back at home to see bands, hear poetry, and tour art gallery — or just hang out with other people.

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Sunnyvale police let the band play on for SoFA Music Festival

The online SoFA Music Festival ended on a strong note Sunday — with the help of some level-headed thinking by Sunnyvale public safety officers.

The fusion hip-hop band Barely Funktional planned to record its 30-minute set at Orchard Gardens Park in Sunnyvale, hours before it would stream at 8:30 p.m. The five members — mostly in face masks and spread out with several feet between them — were just getting started when they were approached by Sunnyvale public safety officers who were responding to a complaint. “We might be shut down, boys,” one band member can be heard saying on the video posted to Facebook.

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Silicon Alleys: Shelter-in-Place Takes the 'Street' Out of SoFA Street Fair—But the Show Will Go On

As the world falls apart, the SoFA Street Fair will go on. I'm paraphrasing, but those were the words of festival organizer Fil Maresca, when we recently spoke over the phone about his plans to migrate the April 26 festival online. Believe it or not, there could be yet another live music revolution coming to the corner of First and San Salvador, although no one will actually be there in person. The revolution will be virtual.

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One of San Jose's top music festivals is going on with the show this weekend.

The SoFA Music Festival organizers aren't holding anything back. There will somehow be virtual vendors, merch tables, and a live painting stream to bring the artsy vibe of SoFA into your home. Music will range from jazz, alternative, hip hop, pop, folk, metal, punk, ska, reggae, funk, soul, blues, and mash up DJs. Check out the full set list over here.

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