A music event with a twist is giving people in recovery a safe space to have fun and perform, organisers have said.
Soba Lounge, run by the recovery group Shine, offers weekly open mic nights for those overcoming addiction.
Held at Pheonix Mill in Ancoats, Manchester, the event aims to unite those with a passion for singing and playing instruments on their journey to sobriety.
“Music is food for the soul. The impact is massive, you can feel it as soon as you walk through the doors,” said Shine founder Kate Miller.
Ms Miller was 50 years old when she decided to ask for help for her own addiction at the Change Grow Live Adult Drug and Alcohol Service in Phoenix Mill.
Now aged 57 and six years sober, she has been dedicating her life to helping others going through a similar journey.
“I went through treatment and found that when I came out, there was no happy side. So, that’s why I created Shine,” Ms Miller said.
“It started with about six of us meeting up every week and then it began to grow.
“During lockdown, it just exploded as a lot of recovery centres were shut so people came to us.”
After noticing that many of the people in Shine had musical talent, Ms Miller started Soba Lounge to help people reconnect with their love of music.
Every few months, the best performers will take to the stage at their Saints and Sinners event, a sober concert with a much wider audience.
Sophie Kirkham, a singer and songwriter living in Manchester, has been attending Soba Lounge for just over a year.
She said it had brought back her love for singing.
“For a long time I was depressed and in a really dark place, I didn’t want to sing or anything,” Ms Kirkham said.
“I did karaoke quite a bit when I used to drink so I’m happy that I’ve found a safe place to sing and enjoy myself.”
Shine member Sean Chaplin said he had lived with drug addiction for 30 years and had been through the prison system.
“Shine means so much to me. I didn’t know how to survive without drugs but Shine changed that,” he said.
Mr Chaplin said: “Anything a million miles away from a crack house, I’m doing it now.
“I’ve been singing at choir, rehabilitation centres, so many different places and I can’t even sing that well, but I enjoy it.”
He added: “It’s important to have events like Soba Lounge because one addict helping another is the best way to get through.
“These people helped me, and I’ve come from a feral lifestyle so they can do it for you too.”
Anastasia Field, who attends Soba Lounge every Monday, said it had stopped her from wanting to go out and use drugs.
“It gives you something to look forward to in life,” she said.
“I didn’t really have a good network of friends and now I have loads through coming here. It’s opened my life a lot and I love it.”
