Don't pay for concert tickets for your favourite band, find out when they are headlining a reasonably close country fair and get to hear the band and have free fair admission too.
And in general, smaller venues have better prices (and free parking if you have to drive a distance) and better acoustics and you are closer to the stage. Blue Rodeo for $41 and free fair admission, Leahy for $50, Nutcracker for 2 last Christmas for about $65 (student and senior). These are not National Arts Center prices, and are more fun.
And since I mentioned parking, yes, the downside of living in the country is I have to drive to things like this no matter where they are (unless it is my own fair, of course).