Jamie Lynn Spears had about 200 people turn out at the Great Hall in the Memorial Union on Aug. 28. 

Spears, after a five-year hiatus from the entertainment business, is known for her debut country ballad “How Could I Want More.” While she’s more known for Zoey 101, Spears is trying to establish herself as a country artist.

The Louisiana native is on a mission to capture her southern roots, according to her biography page on her official website. She even opened for Alan Jackson earlier this year in February. 

The crowd didn’t start to form until about 15 minutes before the concert, and it was a minuscule one with only about four or five small rows surrounding the stage. By the time the opener started at 8 p.m., the size of the crowd had only improved slightly with a couple more small rows added. 

The opener, Brandon Lay, while unheard of to me, was a great way to start the night. The band was on key and I loved the harmonization. Lay played original songs as well as covers with their own twist. 

Towards the end of the opener, the crowd had almost filled a quarter of the Great Hall. Spears opened her act with “Shotgun Wedding.”

While the crowd was small, they made up for it in noise. After every song, the crowd cheered enthusiastically.

Toward the beginning of her show Spears did a tribute song to her home state of Louisiana with the help of a Student Union Board member who played the tambourine. 

In the middle of her concert, after playing some of her original songs, Spears covered “Walk This Way” by Aerosmith and “Stand My Ground” by Tom Petty. 

After a few more original songs, Spears covered Paramore’s “Ain’t It Fun.” 

The crowd never grew bigger than the almost quarter of the Great Hall, but the band didn’t seem to mind. Spears commented that she loved the intimate setting.

The crowd left with more excited cheers and Spears ended the concert with “Miss Mississippi.” She even played an encore with “Bad Moon Rising” by Mourning Ritual.

I’m not sure what expectations I had for Spears, but she met them. Her music was enjoyable and her personality on stage was pleasant and engaging.