Ask Hearby is an AI chatbot helping music lovers, artists, and venues through live music discovery.

What is Hearby?

Have you ever wondered- what live events are happening nearby? Hearby has the answer. 

Designed to connect fans with amazing local concerts, it is a go-to platform for discovering live music, supporting artists and venues alike. With its innovative approach, the platform aims to make smaller-scale live events just as accessible as large-scale concerts by stars.

“Giant shows for artists like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift are only one-third of the market. The rest of live music events in smaller venues is scattered and difficult to find.”

Ian Condry, Area4Labs Co-founder

Area4Labs, the creators behind Hearby, have set out to solve this problem and connect fans with lesser-known but equally exciting live music opportunities. Their mission: to elevate local music scenes while ensuring that artists gain the exposure and income they deserve.

Meet “Ask Hearby”

Taking your discovery to the next level, Hearby has introduced Ask Hearby, an AI-powered chatbot. Developed over five years, Ask Hearby acts as a virtual friend who provides personalised live music recommendations. Whether you’re looking for a jazz night, restaurants with some live music ambience, or something more experimental, this chatbot has you covered.

Unlike typical AI apps, Ask Hearby goes beyond simply offering personalised recommendations, and instead tries to simulate the experience of getting curated advice from a knowledgeable friend.

“Our coverage of live music shows across UK cities and towns is second to none, and we look forward to extending discovery of North American shows in 2025.”

Gary Halliwell, Area4Labs CEO

How does it work and is it really functional?

Using Ask Hearby is simple. Just type a specific prompt into the chatbot’s popup on the Hearby website.

While no new technology is flawless, Ask Hearby is a promising tool for music lovers. When testing the feature I found it easy to use, with the chatbot offering helpful prompts when it couldn’t fulfil my exact request.

For instance, when testing the feature, I vaguely requested a “chill event in London for New Years Eve.” While the chatbot recognised its inability to guarantee a specific chill music event, it compensated by suggesting alternatives, from jazz gigs to events that were likely to be more relaxed.

Screenshot taken from Hearby’s website.

Although unable to directly help my initial request, I was quite impressed with the response as the chatbot adapted and offered alternative recommendations.

The future of music discovery

As Hearby prepares to expand its reach into North America in 2025, the company envisions further improvements such as personalised show lists that users can share on social media.

In a time when AI’s role in the music industry often sparks controversy, Hearby stands out by using AI to celebrate and uplift artists, venues, and fans. Whether it’s uncovering your next favourite gig or shining a light on an emerging talent, Hearby is redefining how we discover live music.