The Mercury News

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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Krystal HenriquezThe San Jose Blog
The Mercury News

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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Krystal HenriquezThe San Jose Blog
Metro Active

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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Krystal HenriquezThe San Jose Blog
The San Jose Blog

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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Krystal HenriquezThe San Jose Blog
The Mercury News

How a San Jose music festival is pivoting around COVID-19

SoFA Music Festival acts will play from home instead of at downtown San Jose stages. The lineup — still in progress — includes singer-songwriter Socorra, rock band Ashes Fallen, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Casey Wickstrom and rock/soul/funk band Sweet HayaH. And because it’s all happening online, the bandlist isn’t limited to acts based in the San Jose area.

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Krystal HenriquezMercury News
The Mercury News

Photos: San Jose’s SoFA street fair brings music and sofas to the streets

“Music and sofas filled the streets of San Jose on Sunday during the 10th annual SoFA street fair.…Live wrestling, arts and crafts, vendors, and a new indoor swap-style marketplace were also part of the event. Festivalgoers had their choice of craft beers, wine, and food trucks.”

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Krystal HenriquezMercury News
Metro Active

‘SoFA Street Fair’ Returns to Downtown San Jose

“This year’s fall installment of the SoFA Street Fair marks a number of milestones. It’s the 10th edition since the festival returned in 2014 after a 10-year hiatus. Interestingly enough, the original SoFA Street Fair ran from 1994 to 2004. You can do the math there.”

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Krystal HenriquezMetro
The Mercury News

‘Hoppy’ Easter at SoFA Street Fair in downtown San Jose

“When he saw that the date for this year’s spring edition of the SoFA Street Fair coincided with Easter Sunday, organizer Fil Maresca decided to just roll with the holiday.

In addition to the usual lineup of artists, vendors and scores of bands that’ll be playing on more than a dozen indoor and outdoor stages in downtown San Jose, this year’s festival will include an Easter egg hunt aimed at the 21-and-over set.”

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Krystal HenriquezMercury News
Metro Active

The Dangerous at SoFA Street Fair

“The Dangerous—a brand new reggae project started by Edgar Fernandez and Kevin Azavedo, formerly of San Jose’s proggy alternative outfit Citabria—drop their debut, Made of Gold, on 4/20. It’s a seriously kind nugget of kinky upstrokes and eyeball rattling downbeats. As with any great reggae record, the 11-track album is packed with good vibes and heavy riddims.”

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Krystal HenriquezMetro
Metro Active

SoFA Street Fair: Second Spring Edition

“As dedicated cosplayers descend on the final day of Silicon Valley Comic Con at the McEnery Convention Center, local music and art fans will be feasting on a buffet of opera, alt-rock, wrestling, beer, food and much more in the SoFA District.”

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Krystal HenriquezMetro
Metro Active

SoFA Street Fair: Free For All

“As has been the case with the past three fall SoFA Street Fairs—and 2016’s inaugural spring event—the focus will be on local bands. However, Maresca says, there is another focus he and his team have been devoting energy to this year: keeping SoFA Street Fair free and putting a little cash in the pockets of local artists.”

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Krystal HenriquezSan Jose, Metro
Metro Active

SoFA Street Fair 2015: Six Can’t-Miss Bands

“Last year, seeing the effects of Silicon Valley’s second big tech boom—the new restaurants, bars and young professionals filling up the newly built apartment towers—Maresca felt that the time was right to “reupholster” his beloved SoFA Street Fair.His instincts were spot on. With veteran ska-punks Fishbone headlining, and more than 50 local and national acts supporting, the festival was a success—drawing large crowds and garnering favorable press from a number of local outlets.”

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Krystal HenriquezSan Jose, Metro
Content Magazine

The Return of the SoFA Street Fair

“The lineup featured over 50 bands, several outdoor stages, and many indoor venues such as South First Billiards and Heroes. In addition to a variety of food trucks (Mexican food, ice scream, strawberries with spongecake and cream, to name a few), the festival’s booths promoted San Jose private businesses and local artists, such as the Vape Bar, the 7 Stars Bar, the Aye Dios Mio! shop, and Classic Loot (featured recently in Content’s print issue). Everything was uniquely San Josean- you could distinctly feel the pride. People were thrilled to have the community support the music scene again, and many of the attendees and performers alike, expressed the hope that it will continue for another decade.”

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Krystal HenriquezSan Jose, Content Magazine
Metro Active

SoFA Street Fair returns to San Jose

“After more than a dozen years' absence, the SoFA Street Fair returns to a district that's once again thriving.Now, the festival is coming back, not to relive the past—and this is important—but to take advantage of the present. Several brand new waves of 20-somethings and early-30-somethings are screaming for live music again. For the festival, many bands from the original SoFA era are reuniting and a slew of newer bands will perform. Organizer and original SoFA instigator Fil Maresca says the SoFA Street Fair brand is one that still resonates with thousands of people.”

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Krystal HenriquezSan Jose, Metro
The Bay Bridged

Interview: SoFA Street Fair returns with eclectic day of free music in San Jose

“The Bay Bridged: How would you describe the San Jose music scene for those unfamiliar with the territory?
Jimmy Arceneaux: There are a ton of great, talented young bands in the region that are kind of hidden, because of their location, to the greater Bay Area music scene. The problem is there are so many bands and not enough venues for them to play, especially if they’re underage. Most of the venues here are twenty-one plus, and it’s really tough for the kids to gig when all their friends can’t come to a show.
Gary Avila: I agree.  The live music scene is definitely improving around here, but the kids do need some venues of their own.  I think SoFA may help kickstart the push for more all ages shows in the area.”

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Krystal HenriquezSan Jose, The Bay Bridged