SokHop Live began as a need for live local music in Cedar City. Two friends, Carvel Ray Allen and Wave Young, started the live concert series when they realized there was an apparent lack of live music in Cedar City, Utah. With the “festival city” being a college town, it was strange that there wasn’t a regular spot for local college artists to play, so they decided to make one. Originally being titled “Two Dollar Tuesday”, Carvel, Wave, and a few friends started putting together regular shows for college students to attend at the Johnson Center for Community Arts & Education in 2022.

The beginning shows were intimate, but quickly grew traction. What began as a small gathering grew, attracting larger college audiences & artists from Las Vegas, Northern Utah, and Arizona. Popular local artists like the Black Cat Parade, Poolhouse, Seizer, Joey Jupiter, The Johns, Mopsy, The Lip, Grace Parke & The Spectre, and Guava Tree eventually arrived at the concert series. The venue soon became a regular staple for the SUU student body, and then, a new dream followed suit.

After the series gained momentum, the concert series was officially titled as “SokHop Live”, named after the popular but forgotten 1950s sock hop dances. Continuing shows on the regular Tuesday show dates, SokHop continues to provide new music experiences for the audience in collaboration with new artists.

SokHop Live is a space where artists, students, and the local community can come together to celebrate music itself. With every event, SokHop aims to elevate the Southern Utah music scene, offering opportunities for artists to shine and for audiences to discover new sounds.