‘One-night community’—how karaoke bars foster social capital as urban third places

The aim of this study is to explore how karaoke bars, as urban third places, can foster social capital. Data were collected in three Finnish cities. The primary data comprise interviews with karaoke singers and hosts, supplemented by the researcher’s ethnographic observational materials, recordings, and field diary entries. The findings suggest that karaoke bars can be understood as important low-threshold third places in urban environments. This study contributes to urban third-place research and leisure studies by showing how temporary, low-threshold cultural encounters can be examined in relation to bridging social capital through social participation, reciprocity, and trust.