Name Act Concerts You've Attended With The Smallest Audience

Drjohnrock · 02-09-2025, 04:14 PM

I see this as a companion to the Sold Out Concerts You've Attended thread. Looking for acts that tour on a national and/or international, not local or regional bands.

I went to a solo acoustic show by Steve Katz several years back. Katz is best known for his work with Blood, Sweat And Tears, Blues Project, and American Flyer, but his roots are in folk music. There were between 9 and 12 people there, including me, which was surprising given that the show was in my area's premier club for "Americana" (I hate that term!) music. The show wasn't well promoted, which was likely accounted for the low attendance. I thought at first I would be the only person in attendance, but others showed up right before show time.

Some of you are probably familiar with the PBS show Song Of The Mountains. It mainly features bluegrass, old timey music, and some country. In what was probably an attempt to appeal to a larger audience, I went to a TV taping of the show over Labor Day weekend in 2017 which featured Jim Lauderdale, Sherman Holmes (of The Holmes Brothers--look them up in Wikipedia), Judy Marshall ("Christian" bluegrass and the only type of performer that appears regularly on the show) and Webb Wilder, who is more of a rock and roller than "Americana". In any event, the place wasn't even 1/4th filled. Tim White, the on air host (and producer) was clearly pissed about "sparse" crowd and appeared to barely hold back his temper. I personally didn't mind the small crowd. Parking was no hassle, and I got front row tickets. In what was proabaly an inexplicable attempt to "punish" Wilder, he was demoted from headliner to opener. He played a fine solo set, though, and Sherman Holmes as fine as well, Marshall was OK, and replacement headliner Jim Lauderdale sucked. If you ever get a chance to to to one of the show's live tapings, do so. The Lincoln Theatre is an amazing venue with incredible, detailed architecture.

SweetHeartHolly · 02-09-2025, 07:34 PM

The smallest crowd that I've been a part of was most likely Mason Ramsey last year on March 22nd. He was at a place in Knoxville, TN named Open Chord Music, and it was my first and only time being there so far. According to Google, the place has a capacity of 250 people. The only other thing that I can say is that the show sold out for Mason.

God bless you and him always!!!

Holly (a girl who only loves him more every day)

P.S. His VIP gathering before the show was also sold out. I was there too.

Buckeye Randy · 02-10-2025, 05:02 AM

One comes to mind. My son and I saw The Saints on the first night of their 2007 U.S. Tour, 10/25- Beachland Ballroom- Cleveland, OH.

There were no more than 40 people at most.

Psy-Fi · 02-10-2025, 05:24 AM

The smallest audience where I've been in attendance, was at a show by Kevin Coyne in the late 90's. It was at a popular club in Cambridge, MA, on a Friday night in September and there were about a dozen people there, including four or five of the club staff who were working at the show. When we got there, there was another band that was finishing their show from the previous time slot (not an opening act) and the place was packed and probably sold out. After they finished, the club emptied out and only a small handful of people trickled in for the Kevin Coyne show. He and his band put on a fantastic set, even though there were only about 7 or 8 fans there, which made it seem all the more surreal. He came out onto the floor after the show to chat with me and a couple of friends and I mentioned that I was surprised how few people there were that showed up for the gig and he replied "as long as you enjoyed it, that's all that matters."

Psy-Fi · 02-12-2025, 09:10 AM

I went to see Robby Krieger play a show back in 2012 at a club. I got a couple of tickets early, figuring it would sell out. The night of the show there were still tickets available and by the time Robby and his band started playing, there were only about 40 to 50 people there. I was very surprised to see such a small crowd for someone of his significance to rock and pop music.

Drjohnrock · 02-12-2025, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SweetHeartHolly

The smallest crowd that I've been a part of was most likely Mason Ramsey last year on March 22nd. He was at a place in Knoxville, TN named Open Chord Music, and it was my first and only time being there so far. According to Google, the place has a capacity of 250 people. The only other thing that I can say is that the show sold out for Mason.

God bless you and him always!!!

Holly (a girl who only loves him more every day)

P.S. His VIP gathering before the show was also sold out. I was there too.

And you're probably the only board member who attended a concert with (1) the smallest crowd of any other show you've seen, and (2) it was sold out. Congrats!

Drjohnrock · 02-12-2025, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckeye Randy

One comes to mind. My son and I saw The Saints on the first night of their 2007 U.S. Tour, 10/25- Beachland Ballroom- Cleveland, OH.

There were no more than 40 people at most.

For such a seminal band, that's a pathetic crowd.

Drjohnrock · 02-12-2025, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psy-Fi

I went to see Robby Krieger play a show back in 2012 at a club. I got a couple of tickets early, figuring it would sell out. The night of the show there were still tickets available and by the time Robby and his band started playing, there were only about 40 to 50 people there. I was very surprised to see such a small crowd for someone of his significance to rock and pop music.

That's sad--Robby deserved a bigger audience than that.

SweetHeartHolly · 02-12-2025, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drjohnrock

And you're probably the only board member who attended a concert with (1) the smallest crowd of any other show you've seen, and (2) it was sold out. Congrats!

Thank you.

Mason just announced his spring tour schedule yesterday. My area isn't there, but I understand. Several of the cities are places that he did not go to at all last year. Maybe more dates will be scheduled for the fall just like last year.

God bless you and Mason always!!!

Holly (a girl who only loves him more every day)

Psy-Fi · 02-13-2025, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drjohnrock

That's sad--Robby deserved a bigger audience than that.

Yeah, he probably should've brought Ray or John with him. On the plus side, he and his band came out onto the floor after the show and mingled with anyone who wanted to chat. I ended up getting a couple of Doors albums signed and Robby even posed for a photo with me.

02-09-2025, 04:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Drjohnrock Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 503	Name Act Concerts You've Attended With The Smallest Audience I see this as a companion to the Sold Out Concerts You've Attended thread. Looking for acts that tour on a national and/or international, not local or regional bands. I went to a solo acoustic show by Steve Katz several years back. Katz is best known for his work with Blood, Sweat And Tears, Blues Project, and American Flyer, but his roots are in folk music. There were between 9 and 12 people there, including me, which was surprising given that the show was in my area's premier club for "Americana" (I hate that term!) music. The show wasn't well promoted, which was likely accounted for the low attendance. I thought at first I would be the only person in attendance, but others showed up right before show time. Some of you are probably familiar with the PBS show Song Of The Mountains. It mainly features bluegrass, old timey music, and some country. In what was probably an attempt to appeal to a larger audience, I went to a TV taping of the show over Labor Day weekend in 2017 which featured Jim Lauderdale, Sherman Holmes (of The Holmes Brothers--look them up in Wikipedia), Judy Marshall ("Christian" bluegrass and the only type of performer that appears regularly on the show) and Webb Wilder, who is more of a rock and roller than "Americana". In any event, the place wasn't even 1/4th filled. Tim White, the on air host (and producer) was clearly pissed about "sparse" crowd and appeared to barely hold back his temper. I personally didn't mind the small crowd. Parking was no hassle, and I got front row tickets. In what was proabaly an inexplicable attempt to "punish" Wilder, he was demoted from headliner to opener. He played a fine solo set, though, and Sherman Holmes as fine as well, Marshall was OK, and replacement headliner Jim Lauderdale sucked. If you ever get a chance to to to one of the show's live tapings, do so. The Lincoln Theatre is an amazing venue with incredible, detailed architecture.

02-10-2025, 05:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
Buckeye Randy Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2024 Posts: 321	One comes to mind. My son and I saw The Saints on the first night of their 2007 U.S. Tour, 10/25- Beachland Ballroom- Cleveland, OH. There were no more than 40 people at most. __________________ Billy Don't Be A Porter Last edited by Buckeye Randy; 02-10-2025 at 05:18 AM.

02-09-2025, 07:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
SweetHeartHolly Music Addict Join Date: Jul 2024 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 141	The smallest crowd that I've been a part of was most likely Mason Ramsey last year on March 22nd. He was at a place in Knoxville, TN named Open Chord Music, and it was my first and only time being there so far. According to Google, the place has a capacity of 250 people. The only other thing that I can say is that the show sold out for Mason. God bless you and him always!!! Holly (a girl who only loves him more every day) P.S. His VIP gathering before the show was also sold out. I was there too.