I just got thinking: since when were Brand New ever that big? I know they have a dedicated fanbase and all but really, a 10k+ capacity show? Wow.

And then I remembered at Wireless last year The National played really high up and iirc headlined the Royal Festival Hall too? Which is around 3000 people.

I'm looking for examples of bands, I guess more contemporary ones as well, who despite a discernible lack of record sales or chart placings or overall mainstream awareness have crept up into pretty big on the touring circuit/festival slots.

I guess people who have a thick back category like Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds don't really count either, they're in a seperate category.