Although soon-to-be daddy Keith Urban easily played for a crowd of 50,000 at the CMA Music Festival, he happily performed for a group of only 50 right afterwards.

The private show on June 7 was dubbed a "backyard barbeque." Fifty lucky contest winners were treated to an intimate show and meet-and-greet with the country superstar. Urban signed autographs, posed for photos and then performed a 45-minute set for his small audience.

"Meeting the contest winners today was great, because most of them came to a show we played last night," Urban told PEOPLE magazine. "There seems to be more sort of energy when people have just seen you play, and we all get to meet each other. . . That's the perfect crowd to play to."

Urban's fans were thrilled to get the chance to mingle with him.

"He doesn't have his arm around you like he's barely touching you -- he gives you a big hug, and he's just very genuine. He acts like he's your long lost friend," contest winner Lori Bryant told PEOPLE.

"He was adorable, very conversational and seemed completely at ease," a new fan wrote of Urban on CMT's Keith Urban messageboard. "He didn't talk about the baby, but he did say that it had been a long time since he had performed for such a small group."

Urban's wife Nicole Kidman is due to give birth next month. The couple know the sex of the baby but are keeping it a surprise for friends and fans.