medicine show

American  

noun

1. a traveling troupe, especially in the late 1800s, offering entertainment in order to attract customers for the patent medicines or purported cures proffered for sale.

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Etymology

Origin of medicine show

An Americanism dating back to 1935–40

Example Sentences

And Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show led the crowd in the Christian hymn, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” which brought many to tears.

From Washington Times

Tuttle will spend much of this year on the road playing headlining shows and festivals including Bonnaroo and opening gigs for Old Crow Medicine Show, with whose Ketch Secor she’s in a romantic relationship.

From Los Angeles Times

This cozy show, which features country music stars doing acoustic sets, is coming to an end this week after a star-studded second season: Jason Aldean, Old Dominion, Brett Eldredge, Brandy Clark, Jon Pardi, Old Crow Medicine Show, Clay Walker and Tracy Lawrence have all been around the campfire to perform their songs.

From New York Times

Yet Watson, a former member of Nashville’s Old Crow Medicine Show, says the camaraderie extends offstage.

From Los Angeles Times

Dressed in black jeans and a black T-shirt, his hair in two long braids beneath a black cowboy hat, Nelson shuffled onstage halfway through Kacey Musgraves’ headlining performance at Palomino, a new music festival that brought the two of them along with Jason Isbell, Orville Peck, Zach Bryan, Old Crow Medicine Show and about a dozen more left-of-center country acts to the leafy grounds surrounding the Rose Bowl.

From Los Angeles Times