A growing number of top-tier artists have played free or cheap shows at Belly Up on their way to breaking out as national stars, often returning with higher-priced, harder-to-get tickets. Did you shell out $125 for one of Kaskade’s two shows celebrating the club’s tenth anniversary in January? Well, fifteen lucky music fans saw him there eight years ago for $20 apiece. And he’s not alone.

THE AVETT BROTHERS
October 2006: $10, 69 tickets sold
February 2007: $15, 84 tickets sold
August 2007: $15, 111 tickets sold
Today: Haven’t been back; sold out a three-night run at 9,525-seat Red Rocks Amphitheatre in July

KASKADE
February 2007: $20, 15 tickets sold
January 2015: $125–$275, nearly sold out two nights

BASSNECTAR
February 2009: $18, 394 tickets sold
March 2010: $25, sold out
May 2014: $136–$246, sold out two nights

PORTUGAL THE MAN
March 2010: $12, 110 tickets sold
July 2013: $28–$55, sold out
April 2015: $38–$65, sold out

SKRILLEX
December 2010: $35, sold out
January 2015: $135–$325, sold out

ALT-J
April 2013: $35, sold out
Today: Haven’t returned; sold out 18,200-seat Madison Square Garden in March and 9,525-seat Red Rocks in July