By any measure, Cain’s Ballroom should be too small for Charley Crockett.
But on a sweltering August night — when the Oklahoma heat and humidity gave the air conditioning system of Tulsa’s timeless honky-tonk a battle for the ages — Crockett didn’t get caught up with the size of the venue. He looked back at the sold-out dance hall, with all its history, and let himself get caught in the moment.
“Cain’s Ballroom, the home of Bob Wills!” Crockett cheered from center stage. “I kind of got lost there, looking back at them blinking neon lights. Thought I saw my granddad back there, but he already went on up to glory.”
Crockett’s sentiment has been a universal one at Cain’s throughout 2024. The ballroom was built in 1924 (though it was years before it regularly hosted concerts) and is celebrating its centennial this year with a run of high-profile shows. Crockett’s came early in his $10 Cowboy Tour , showcasing the album of the same name. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit played back-to-back nights in early May. Corey Kent did the same in June. Elle King and Muscadine Bloodline headlined in late summer. Those are all artists who routinely play to crowds much larger than the 1,700 capacity at Cain’s. As an example, Isbell and Crockett played sold-out shows at the 9,500-seat Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado within a month of their Cain’s dates.