Sozo Coffeehouse ー located in Chandler on Alma School and Warner ー has provided an outlet for local musicianship and artistry for the last six years. Owners Lori and Scott Morgan act as event coordinators and sound engineers, creating a comfortable atmosphere for self-expression. On Aug. 19, five Perry alumni and one current student gathered to play a two hour set. 

One performer that night was Junior Lois Zozobrado. She joined former student Madison Williams on stage to perform a set of both original songs and covers.

“I met Lori last week for the first time and it was awesome. I always hear so many stories about people becoming known and getting fans here and I think that’s really important for new artists,” Zozobrado said. Sozo has become a large part of the exposure of new musicians, as open mic singers can potentially be transformed into Saturday night performers in no time.

2015 graduate Jacob Morris also played, performing with Justin Tullis, Pablo Bastidas, and Garrett Bowers who all graduated the same year. Morris began performing at Sozo in Nov. of 2014 after hearing about another student band – Bears and Airplanes – getting a gig there.

This start has played a huge role in Morris’ path to recent success, as he just finished filming a music video for his song “Storm.” He has also performed in music festivals (Mesa Music Festival, Glendale Glitter and Glow) and even travelled to Nashville to promote himself.

“I think definitely I owe Sozo a lot in regards to kick-starting my love for performing music,” Morris said. “It’s propelled me to grab a band. It’s propelled me to start booking my own shows.”

Right after making this comment, Lori Morgan burst into the room, shouting: “You slayed that!” in reference to the show he had just performed. The two have been close friends since Morris became a regular there, a norm for any local musician that seeks a cup of coffee and a place to perform. One can feel the sense of community that is associated with the shop upon first visit.
Sozo is open to all ages and houses live music every Friday and Saturday from 7-10 p.m., including open mics twice a month.