These days when Luke Bryan plays live, it’s likely to be to an arena full of fans, thanks to his blockbuster 2011 album, Tailgates & Tanlines, and such hits as “Country Girl (Shake It for Me).” But earlier last night (Feb. 6) in Boston, the genial Georgia native played to a much smaller crowd of about 400-plus lucky ticketholders at the Cavern Club at the Hard Rock Cafe.

The show was a benefit for the Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center and, before he hit the stage, Luke took time out to chat with a young woman who is a patient at the hospital and a big fan. “I never get to do small stages, so it’s fun for me to just sit up there with my band. And then when you do it for a great cause and people are getting directly affected by it, it’s pretty awesome,” Luke said, after posing for pictures and signing autographs for Allie Hawkes, 19, who had a special front-row seat.

The benefit concert was part of Boston country station WKLB’s yearlong 20th-anniversary celebration. WKLB recently won a Country Music Association award for Major Market Station of the Year and promises to bring more country acts to Beantown to commemorate its two decades on the air.

Look for more on Luke and his new spring break album in the March 11 issue of Country Weekly, on stands March 4.