[cassianoleal]

Back in my home town, we used to have free events all the time. Outdoor concerts, theatre, even indoor concerts and festivals.

They were almost always full to the brim.

Anecdotes are fun, but not much more than that.

[MyHonestOpinon]

If the artist is someone already famous, the people will always show up.

With a less famous artist price is perceived as a signal. So if it is free, people would think that the show is not worth bothering.

[cassianoleal]

I think there's a pretty big cultural bias driving assumptions in your position.