They weren’t “crying in the bleachers,” but Ethel Cain fans were camping out on a sidewalk in hopes of being the first to hug the stage at her show in Tallahassee.
Scattered along Lafayette Street, strangers turned friends, some dressed in camouflage attire, camped out in tents the morning of May 5. They sat in lawn chairs drawing, playing cards and anything else in between, just to pass the time until they get to see the singer-songwriter at The Moon.
The Perry native – known for what’s been called her “Southern Gothic dream‑pop” – is coming back to her north Florida stomping grounds for two shows, May 5 and May 6, at the live music venue.
In one song, “American Teenager,” Cain sings about a girl “crying in the bleachers” – a snapshot of small‑town high‑school anguish, an ordinary scene turned into a haunted memory.
Her shows at The Moon are part of The Willoughby Tucker Forever Tour. For some, it’s a reunion. For others, it’s their first time seeing her live. Fans came in from across the Sunshine State from Pensacola, Orlando and Lakeland.
The gates didn’t open until noon, the doors wouldn’t open until 7 p.m. and Cain wouldn’t start until 9 p.m., but that didn’t stop anyone from camping out in front of the venue early – even as early as 6 p.m. the night before – to secure their spot up front.
That included 29-year-old Shallie Patterson, who showed up at 1 a.m. This is her ninth time seeing the artist with her girlfriend Kai Leduff, another devoted fan of Cain’s.
The couple was in New York 24 hours before for another concert. They drove in from New Orleans to make it to the state capital in just enough time.
When a reporter asked what it was that kept bringing them back to Cain’s shows, Patterson said her music “feels like home, truly. She’s really the only artist that I found that makes music that kind of captures the northern Florida kind of vibe.”
They agreed her music is an acquired taste, but once it clicks, Cain’s songs resonate deeply.
Patterson said the artist’s Southern Baptist influences throughout her music, including the 2022 album “Preacher’s Daughter,” is what drew her in. She’s been along for the ride ever since.
Nearby, David Goldman and girlfriend Noelle Cornett joked they might be the oldest fans camped out in front of the venue but that hasn’t stopped them from seeing Cain for the fourth time and collecting merch along the way.
“I can relate to a lot of her stuff from my youth; she touches on everything” Goldman said, adding that he discovered her on TikTok. As soon as he heard her music, he knew he was a fan.
Cornett added: “She’s great, she really helps you get in touch with your emotions.”
Scott Carswell, The Moon’s owner, said he anticipated an early crowd. He was warned by Cain’s team that this is a common occurrence. Carswell has been passing out water bottles and checking in to see if folks were OK.
He says nearly 3,000 tickets for both shows sold out on the first day they were released, a clear sign of the excitement and “passion” surrounding the artist.
The last time he recalled people lining up like that were from rock shows he hosted in the ’80s or for artists like indie singer Faye Webster.
Kyla A Sanford covers dining and entertainment for the Tallahassee Democrat. New restaurant opening up, special deals, or events coming up? Let me know at ksanford@tallahassee.com. You can also email your suggestions for a future TLH Eats restaurant profile.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Fans camp out as Ethel Cain returns to Tallahassee for show
Reporting by Kyla A Sanford, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
