That is nice, that's where you see and experience a performance, and not a mass crowd being blown away in a stadium by it being overly loud.
Granted it was only Donavan, but he played in a bar about 20 years ago in St Paul. It was one of those old wood 2 story bars with a 360 degree balcony and lower level. The stage was in the middle. He'd talk and reminisce a bit and then play some songs. It was one of those times that sticks with you.
In Houston, where the symphony used to play with conventional stage and seating, but obviously was built for sound, used to bring in some of the slightly older, more conservative talent (it was around 1985 - 1992). I saw Ray Charles, Joan Baez and Chet Atkins, who I admired for his clean guitar skills and sound. He said he was recovering from the flu and might not be at his best, but he didn't miss a note. It was a tour for this album, I believe.