The Art of Playing Small Rooms

Why Intimacy, Connection, and Conversation Matter More Than Crowds

Hitting the Road

Going on tour and taking my music on the road has been one of the biggest thrills of 2025 for me. I’ve met some incredible people along the way (looking at you, Nick in Chicago and Candace in Madison/Milwaukee). These connections have helped me discover some of the best small venues in the Midwest — places that feel less like stops on a map and more like communities I’m grateful to now be a part of.

While touring isn’t always a financial success, this year’s run has given me something much more valuable: a roadmap for how I want to approach touring in 2026.

The Beauty of Intimate Venues

What I enjoyed most about touring this year were the smaller shows — the coffee shops, the house concerts, and even the quirky storefront venues that somehow had a stage tucked in the back. The crowds at these places weren’t just present; they were listening. They came for the music, the conversation, and the connection.

Bar venues were fine (shout out to Comet Club in Cincinnati and my friends at 40fi Creations for their Freeform Concert Series), but I truly found my stride in spaces where people came to engage rather than drink over the noise.

Moments That Stick

Just this past weekend, I played at Cargo Coffee East in Madison, Wisconsin. I opened for an Americana-ish band called The Shotgun Holler Collective — fantastic musicians and even better people. The stage was small, the crowd was modest, but they hung on every word. They listened, they tipped generously, and they created an atmosphere that felt more like a living room than a performance venue.

That night reminded me why I do this — because it’s not about the size of the crowd, but the depth of the connection.

The Rooms That Resonate

When I think back on this year’s tour, the places that linger most in my mind are The Mill in Vicksburg, Michigan, Rage Club in Peoria (a house show with a name that made sense about 10 years ago), The Spark Coffee in Indy, The Transmission Shop at the Jenks Building in Ohio, and Uncommon Ground in Chicago.

These rooms may have been small, but they were full of warmth, conversation, and genuine engagement. It’s in these spaces that I felt my music landed — not because the audience agreed with every lyric or idea, but because they were willing to listen.

Why Small Rooms Matter for Big Ideas

I know my music isn’t for everyone. I’ve written about political deconstruction, depression, faith, and my next album explores political protest. Future projects will tackle themes like spiritual reorientation, mercy, and even the rise of authoritarianism and Christian nationalism in America.

So no, I’m not expecting millions of streams or a sold-out stadium tour anytime soon. But smaller rooms? Living rooms, coffee shops, churches — those are the places where real conversations happen. Those are the spaces where my music belongs.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As I plan for next year, I’ll be a little less aggressive about chasing out-of-state shows, and more intentional about where I play. I hope to return to many of the venues that welcomed me this year, but I also want to lean more into house shows and church concerts — spaces that align with the message and intimacy of what I’m creating.

Earlier this year, I attempted to launch a Winter Chrysalis Tour, a string of house shows in the run-up to my spring tour. It didn’t pan out — hosts fell through, and messages went unanswered. And that’s okay. I’m still committed to trying again. Because I truly believe that in these environments, my music can thrive — not just as performance, but as community building.

If you’d like to host a house show at your home, church, or small venue, click here to express interest. It’s not a commitment, just a conversation starter.

Join the Conversation

What’s the most memorable small room you’ve ever been part of — as a listener, artist, or host? Was it a concert, a living room jam, or a quiet night when music made you feel seen?

Drop your stories in the comments — I’d love to hear how small spaces have shaped your connection to music.

And if you haven’t yet listened to Ghost Stories: Songs of Disorientation, you can stream it here on Spotify or grab a physical copy from my store.

Here’s to smaller rooms, deeper conversations, and louder hearts.

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Remains of Time (aka announcements)

Check out the latest Ghost Notes: Stories Behind the Sound podcast wherein I do a lyrical breakdown of my songs. This episode covers the song O Help My Unbelief.

Upcoming Dates

• Oct. 30 - Full Band performance at The Melody Inn, Indianapolis, Indiana

• Nov. 8 - Full Band performance at the Musical Family Tree Local Music Showcase at The 808 in Broad Ripple, Indianapolis, Indiana

• Nov. 15 - Uncommon Grounds, Chicago, Illinois